Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1849-10-24
FOB THE ADVERTISER.
-. No.. XVI.
The same subject Continued.

ion, and Of the morals, manners und customs
Of a people.
), First, as to reform in government. If
radical defect be clearly thought 10 exist in
the fundamental organic law Of a Stale.
il is the part Of wisdom TO reform, ii, in
curing the defect, no evil is likely 10 result
The good to be effected.
Hence before taking the steps Of reform, it
will be necessary 10 weigh well the nature
and extent Of the evil: then, The remedy
proposed : aud afterwards theleGects of The
change. If The evil be serious. and the
remedy be thought sufficient, yet, If the
consequences likely to ensue from the
change will, in reasonable probability, lead
10 evils, greater than those, the correction
of which is designed, the genuine Refor-
mer will long hesitate before adopting the
change. IF, for example from a profound
knowledge of the human heart, and Of The
character and tendency of the institutions
of his country, he becomes convinced, that
an important change, wrought in the lun-
damental organic law. will so ken in
the minds Of his countrymen, affection for
The existing government, as 10 open the
way to repeated changes, tending Ultimate
ly to destroy its blessings altogelher-he
will exert the might of his influence 10
stay the innovation. He will nationally
conclude, il were better to submit to one
defect. or 10 one striking inconvenience,
Than to run the risk of upselling the whole
fabric of his constitutional liberties. The
experience of.the world teaches The fearful
dangers Of innovating upon the lundamen-
tai laws of a stae-especially when they
are embodied in a pritten constitution.
Founded usually in wisdom and Puri-
ty OF intention, these laws can seldom be
replaced without great evil. In all gov
ernmen,s Of free character, political par
ties, governed by variety Of interests
and passions, are sure to arise, efleclually
preventing, in the adoption Of lave, that
wisdom and impartiality so necessary TO
constitute The organic structure OF gnvcrC-
ment. Changes introduced under party
feeling and excilemen, (and after the long
continuance ofgoyernmenl nearly all chan
ges are OF this kindly arc almost certain 10
parlake,of party bias, and to affect some
interests much more fayorobly than others.
The dominant party will be apt TO guard
and favor its own interests, even al The
expense Of the interests Of The weaker
party. In other words. the change is sure
TO be the work of faction. This is prin-
ciple ofhurnan nature that may be referred
TO with certainty. All hstnry altests, its
truth. All history proves, that 10 the sue
ceedng administration Of government, it is
almost impossible TO bring inIo action
the same disiulerestedness of Geeling-lhe
same patriotic and benevolent design, that
wrought in its formation. The work Of
the sases that usually prepare constitution.
al charters, is nearly always free from
faction-is generally The resu, of cool de-
liberation, Of sober reflection aud phian-
thropic design, Hence the great wisdom
Of their productions; and hence arises the
notion OF some great writers =, "that The
preservation Of states depends upon little
more than reforming and bringing them
back to their ancient customs" There is
great wisdom in lhe remark ; and it is wor-
Thy of special observation that the early
history of all nations is most remarkable
for individual and political liberty. Near
ly all charters Of rights and Liberties OBJ
lained in the succeeding history Of nations,
are little nnore than acknowledgements Of
ancient rights
True wisdom, therefore, teaches US 10
hold on 10 these originally secured rights.
No good, but great danger is TO be expect.
ed by changing Them. The true patriot
should not give way 10 The rash spirit in
his community which urges him to this
change. II is not fiji 10 carry out Ihe
wishes Of faction, when that faction con-
stlu'es even 'he majority of the people.
against importan, charter rights. All
power, it is true, belongs originally to The
people. and all lawful governments rest
upon their authority; and the people, Of
consequence, have The right. if duly exer-
cised. TO reclaim the power they have
granted, and 10 convey it in another form !:
this cannot be questioned; but by reason
9flhe awful dangers likely TO ensue, how
long should a people pause before taking
so fatal step? Experience clearly points
out The imminent risk. The powers origi-
Tally granted in our constitutions, were
delegated by the people in their political
sovereign capacity: in primary conventions.
fully representing the interests of all, and
actuated by the good of the whole-nol
knowing yet which interest," under the
operation Of the new government, would
be predominant, and throwing, therefore,
salulary safeguards around each anG every
one. Rules for Legislative action thus
formed will certainly be better adapted to
the maintenance Of a nations rights and
liberties, than lhe interested conclusions Of
a prevailing faction; and hence to yield
the former 10 The clamorous demands of
faclious majoriles would be as unwise as
fa,aklo all rational liberty.
As 10 reform in the nero laws or legis-
la,ive acls of a stale or nation, though less
important in its effects, w hen not conflict
ing with constitutional provisions. we are
bound 10 believe there are many erroneous
views which deserve TO be corrected. 1t
is thought by many that laws should be
changed merely TO crafty clamors from
the people or portion of the people with
out any reference to the merits of the
change. Nolhing would sooner put an end
10 all real liberty. We believe when the
noonIe ,ri,h some sort of lndnimitV seri-