Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1850-06-13
EASTERN TIMES.
National Politics.

National Politics.
No idea in political ethics is more erroneous,
and yet more generally entertained, than that
government, composed of various and in some
instances, antagonistical interests, can be sus-
tanned or perpetuated without the existence of
a spirit of forbearance and a disposition to yield
little prirate opinion for the public good We
always pity the man who assumes infallibility,
even if really contending for correct principle.
One could hardly suppose that body of
men, in which the variety of sentiments enter
tanned is equal to the number composing the
body, could dwell together in harmony under
any circumstances-but there are certain strong
bonds, involving dear interests, such as life,
liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. which
outweigh and swallow up all minor considera-
tons and ensure concert of action. To this
principle we owe the establishment of our glo-
rious republican government, which has fos-
tered those institutions which have made us
eminent. This principle is the embodiment of
national politics.
| National politics, then, is national concern
Il al lHteItSt III tAS Soiihioh SoSN' nav SS'AAA.S--
welfare. 1t knows no classifcations, no sec
tional denominations North, East, South,
or West, as entitled to separate privileges
! Our government ives intended to be strictly re-
Fundamentally government of the people
the sovereign power existing in the people,
and all public business being transacted by the
| whole people but what at an early period of
our history was practicable. the increase of
population socn rendered impossible, and the
present, representative government, was estab-
lished.
To a misconception of this form of govern
ment, or the principles of it, in our opinion,
can be attributed the sectional discussions and
illibcral animosities which now so generally
prevail throughout the Union. The misappre-
hension consists in total misunderstanding of
the term representative, in its political sense.
| Legislation is either public or private, and as
legislation, which is simply political action, ad-
mits of this distinction, the representative char
acter, comprehended in this political action, in
like manner, admits of the same distinction
A Representation is both p,sGic and pirate. A
Representative is both public and prirate ser
want. But we are too apt to merge the former
into the latter. For instance, our legislation,
as people, is transacted through national
! legislation, composed of members from all Sec
tons of the Union, according to a fair and equal
apportionment. Each member is and should
be no less representative of the ,rhole country,
than of his immediate locality. In fact, strict
&C acknowledgement of public duty admits of no
private considerations. When the good of the
country, then, is in ISSUE all should confno
themselves strictly to their public duty. This
we apprehend to be the only true, liberal idea
of national politics, and we now propose glanc-
ing at our political condition, in comparison
with the above standard.
A thoughtful, dcliberative review of our po-
itical history for the past few years, forces
upon US the melancholy reflection that the
public character of the representative has been
almost entirely lost sight of. Representatives
have allowed themselves to be the mere echoes
in too many cases we fear ''the clamor of fac
ton or fanaticism has been mistaken for the
voice of the people," Rank discussions have
been the result of this which must finally ter
inmate in political ruin.
We deprecate such state of affairs-we re-
greet to any democratic organ occupying
such a sectional altitude as to endanger its per-
manance-we still further regret to see news
papers which profess to have at heart the per-
petuity and success of democratic principles
such as the Bangor Democrat and Jeffersonian
-arrayed in such hostility against each other.
What democrat can look calmly on and APP
prove of such course ;
We approve of conservative policy on all
questions tending to produce only discord and
confusion. We hold to no such fallacious idea
as that .the end sanctifes the Means Aswas
beautifully said by the talented Clay recently
-"Our whole life is a compromise of life with
DEATH"
| The old Hartford Convention movement is a
striking example of the effect of entertaining
sectional views, and the stigma which has ever
been associated with its very name will attach
to all who participate in that medern exhibit
ton of fanatical, sectional folly, the Nashville
| Conuention-which SO nearly proved an abor-
ton in its inception, and which bids fair to ter
inmate in anarchy and confusion.