Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1849-05-23
FOR THE ADVERTISER.
Nc. HI.
The same subject Continued.


we have stated, in The great City and State
Of New York. as from gushing fountain,
is growing into a mighty l"od, which is
destined, we fear, TO overspread this whule
land, carrying with it ruin aud devasta.
ton. Already il has done much injury.
1t has affected mure or less every State in
The Union. lis bsneful effects have been
seriously felt even 10 our own little COM
monweaIth. in which conservative prin.
ciple has been strongly inculcalcd. Ii has
raised among US luud cry fur chdnge.
To what excess Il will ultimately lead,
is known only in the iuscrulable wis
dom Of an Ailwiso Providence. GId
giant, It's consequences may not here, as
elsewhere prove fatal TO order aud rational
liberty. 1t is needless To say, wherever
This reckless spirit has gone lis influence
has been sad aud pernicious.' lis inevita-
ble tendency is 10 unsellIe alfairs-to pro-
duce anarchy aud faction; in word, to
break down old things however wise aud
venerable, aud 10 establish new howsnever
fimsy and unsubslanliul. l's incidental
consequences are TO cause TO he glecled
talent, learning and virtue, and to- give
full scope to all the evil passions OF licen'
tious demssogueism. 1t requires no phi
osophic eye TO discern, thar, unless check
ed, il musl end eventually in low state
of political morals and organizatiOn-in
word, in the overthrow Uf all rational
liberty.
Having given, as VIC believe. The true
historical origin Of this radical spirit in The
country, it may not be amiss to inquire
into The causes that have given it birth,
aud that favcr its rapid progress among US.
The physician, in order to apply proper
remedy, should know moi only when a
disease originates aud on what part of the
body il frs, shows itself, but should search
out likewise the causaive agencies thai
produce il. We know Of but two main
causes to which 10 ascribe the evil alluded
,o-one is the character Of our liberal goO-
crnment and Institutions; the other is. the
defective moral and political knorledge
among the people.
it is not our intention, al present. 10
institute anything like philosophical
analysis of these causes. That would be
in short essay like This, entirely out Of
place. Our design is only to make sus-
scstlons,
We do mol believe, then, il is The inhe-
rent tendency Of our institutions to produce
the eveling spirit now Iife in The land.
TLis is, duuLlless, an ercreseence from
our admirable poliIy-.he result of a
failure 10 comply with its true intent aud
high demands; the omission to practise
rirlue aud promote knouledge-lhe firm
subslrucinreS on which rests our govern
meul. In country like this, we think
our present Federative system, Tho best
slyle of government fur population Of
frcemeu. 1t is we'll adapted in our juds-
meni, 10 check anything like despntic pow
er on the one hnnd, or isvsling democracy
OIL the other. 1t is highly fitted to preserve
order and right. but at the same Time
ampIy to secure popular liberty. Indeed,
when we look to the admirable structure
of our constitution, and sec he nice adap-
,arion of its paris to the wants and happi-
ness Of free people; The Just balance Of
all its powers as between The party gov
ernins aud The party governed how
well it checks on one hand The encroach
mems Of Executive power, and on the
other The aggressive tyranny OF numerical
maioriles or iactions-we are struck with
wonder al the wisdom cf It's Trainers, and
are forced to conclude, that so long rs the
government shall he fairly administered
according to the wise provisions Of that
noble instrument. il will, better than any
oher polly, secure 10 our people pros.
perIy and happiness. If in the experience
Of our na,i,nal legislation olher results
have appeared, they are not asrribable TO
The government itself, but to its mal>Gd-
ministraiion
To the other cause, then, viz:-Io the
defective moral and political information
among the people, must be referred The
iereling effect Of the political spirit of The
age. Where morals aud knowledge arc
wanting, things have a certain tendency 10
disorder and M Justice. and the best gov-
ernmcnt that can be devised caunot control
this tendency Ii is alone moral inteIli-
gence uniled With just notions Of govern.
neu. that Gun sustain The political economy
of the world. Without these in pre-
eminent degree, political society is nalu-
rally prone to faction. Clashinginteresls
uncontrolled by spirit oi enlightened palri
otism. will produce combinations, in which
opposite parties arc sure TO disregard the
rights of one another, and the coud Of the
whole. This is The case Of our country at
rresenr. 10 The riolcncc IF tacfion may
,re trace nearly all the Legislative tyranny
and oppression Of The day. Now, as in the
days when The Fedcraisl was penued, the
political evils that ut1lict US, must ho
chiefly If not wholly effects Of The unseadi-
ness aud injustice with which a faclious
spirit has tainted our public admiuisra-
lions."s
Now Ibis "factious spirit" is greatly
increased by want among the people of
proper notions as to their rights and privi.
leges, and as 10 their political relations
with one anober. The vagucness Of their
knowledge touching lheso mallers, ofeu
5ctrays The people into acts Of gross inius-
lice, aud opens wide field for the tricks
and Vaccinations of demagosues-the
worst enemies of q free country. Under
The guise Of friendship these men impose