The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1847-04-17
For the Spirit Of Democracy.
TO THE PEOPLE OF OHIO.
Friends and fellow citizens:

Il
} Friends and fellow eit,zens:
The question which we ar
now discussing is, whether it is safe 10
the body Of the electors at large to TAX
the election Of Judges into their owl
hands. In considering this matter, W,
may almost lay it down as an axiom
that the more the people are engaged
in political affairs, the more capable
will they be of managing political at
fairs. This is only an exemplifcatior
of the old but true proverb, "practice
makes perfect" Men talk and en-
quire, and reason, and discuss, and
argue about those matters in which
they are Immediately concerned
Hence light and information are every
where diffused. Hence the immense
difference In political intelligence, be-
tween the citizens Of free republic
and the slaves of despotism. Is any
man insane enough to believe, that a
nation in the latter condition, suddenly
breaking its chains, and recovering its
liberties, would use its newborn prlvi-
leges with as much moderation as the
citizens of the United States9 That
newly enfranchised men would use the
elective franchise as discreetIy, submit
to the will Of the majority as implicitly
and obey the behests of the law as
readily as the elder born Of freedom, or
show an equal aversion to the employ
ment of brute force? On the contrary,
does not every man kno w that the sud-
den and complete enfranchisement Of
an enslaved nation is q fearful expert.
ment? Witness France;-learned, po-
lite, ingenious, eloquent, brilliant, admi-
rable France! Did the sun IN his
course, ever look upon nation better
calculated to captivate the Imagination
by display of every noble and splen-
didmental qualification than the French'
Yet the history. Of their revolution. is a
history Of the most atrocious crimes
and most appalling mseries. lnsurrec-
rection succeeded to instruction and
disorder to disorder with the most
frightful rapidity. They had parties,
violent and embittered parties. But as
the minority never thought of waiting
for change Of public sentiment, the
slow product Of reason and enquiry; so
the majority never thought of appealing
to mild and equal laws to punish or re-
press the turbulence Of the minority
Bo tn porties were alike ready to appeal
to physical force against opponents and
the land was filled with crime and
drenched with blood. Anarchy ran
short course and ended in despotism,
iron, military despotism.
Our own ancestors revolted from the
dominion OF an imbecile tyrant, and as
serted the inalienable rights of men
long and bloody war, their
annals unstained by single crime or
a single massacre. except those COM
mitted by the myrmidons Of tyranny
upon the friends of liberty. What in
ference ought to be drawn from histo-
ries so very dissimilar9 Are we, as
nation, superior in moral and mental
endowments TO the French? The sal
lor stands or even sleeps securely at
the top Of mast, where 4 landsman
would instantly fall and break his neck.
Is he superior in natural endowments
to the landsman? Not at all, but habit
has gradually accustomed him to his
situation. So long habits Of self-gov-
ernment and selfcontrol have prepared
our people for the discreet exercise OF
civil rights. In the infancy ofrepubll-
can institutions, the people, intoxicated
with their new liberties, may require
some guardianship, and may need a.
gents to appoin. their most important
public fi,nctionaries for them; but in
The vigor and maturity of those institu-|