The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-12-10
From the .Naichez Free Trader.

IlOW Do hESOLU BEblN LII I'LL uSeS IlleTe
has been tyranny and oppression; sometimes
people eXerting supremacy over another. And
in all ages there have been revolutions and
changes of government, by the uprising of the
oppressed against the expressing.
In general, however, whatever may have
been tho wrongs and expressions which hurth-
ened the people, it has required some tangible,
overt act, some shedding of blood, or remark
able incident, to rouse The masses to action.
In other words, we can recollect of no revo-
luton which has had its origin in the mere intel
lgent and intellectual attributes of the mass of
the people.
Probably our own revolution approached
nearer this character than any, and yet, although
the most prominent and intelligent men in the
colonies saw for years that y rupture with the
British Crown was inevitable, it is doubtful if
the masses of the community were aroused to
revolutionary state till England garrisoned Bos-
ton with royal troops, and they fired on the i'll
habitants and killed several citizens. This tang
be, visible act did more to terminate the latent
seeds of rebellion than all the arguments ofsages
and statesmen.
In the revolution in England, which brought
the head of Charles l. to the block, it is prob
able that the seizure of her members of Parlia-
ment, and subjecting Prym to the pillory and
cutting off his ears did more to arouse the mas
SEES than all the outrageous extensions of Prero-
gative, or the writings of Sidney or the manly
eloquence Of Hampden.
Both the revolutions in France, by which the
regnng monarchs were expelled, were prccipi-
tated by the firing of the ii oops on the citizens
twenty dead bodies, paraded through the streets
of Paris, are more powerful argulr ents with that
excitable people. This was peculiarly the case
at the recent revolution which expelled Louis
Philippe from the throne.
When the emeule commenced, it was on ac-
count of the decree suppressing the banquets,
and the unpopularity of the Guizot ministry; it
had no other object than n change of ministry,
and the dismissal of Guzot and placing Theirs
and other republicans in power But in the col
lsion which ensued, the troops fired on the popu.
lace and killed twenty or thirty. Their bodies
were paraded through the streets; the King be-.
came alarmed dismissed Guizot, and appointed
Theirs and other popular leaders, the new min
stry issued proclamation, and it was expected
that the commotion would cease. But no, the
people were aroused; they said "it is too late"
and Louis Philippe was fugitive-the monar.
chy was ovcrthrown.
The ravishment of Lucretia by the son Of
Tarqun, and the bloody dagger Of Virginius,
changed Rome from monarchy to a republic,
the most powerful and renowned in history.
Another instance, which, though not revolu-
tionary, is analogous thereto, strongly illustrates
the principle. During the career Of Napoleon,
Prussia, for several years, was on the point of
Joining with Austria and Russia and had she
done so at the proper time, it might have turned
the scale against the great conqueror. The
King and Queen were excited, the mobiles were
anxious and the people were enthusiastic in
their hostility to France; all the elements and
feelings of strife existed; but still, Prussia did
not declare war. After the battle of Austerlitz,
when the proper time had elapsed, and when it
was rash and imprudent for Prussia to assail the
giant power of Napoleon, she was precipitated
into war by the popular excitement occasioned
by the arrest of Palm, the bookseller, and his
being shot by the judgment of court martial.
We might allude to other instances to illus.
trate our proposition, but this is sufficient for
the application we desire to make.
There are those who believe that an ntelli-
gent and intellectual change may be made in our
Government without waiting for accidental col
lision or bloodshed to set Are to the combusti-
BILE material existing in the Northern and South
ern States. 1t is evident that the people of the
different sections agree in nothing; in habits,
associations, mode of thought, institutions, po-
itical opinions, or in interests, there Is no con-
currence or harmony between them. Indeed,
there has been so much abuse, hard words, and
wraagling between the North and South, for
twenty years. that it is doubtful if greater dis
like and hostility ever existed before between
any two people who had not been engaged in
actual conflict.
1t is evident that collision will take place,
or that it can only be avoided by peaceabe
separation.
Those who believe that a change may be ef.
fected by the mere operation of intelligence,
foresight and craftsmanship, rely on our peculiar
form of Government and on the powers re-
served to State sovereigntes, and on the read
ing and thinking character of our people. In
these respects we certainly have advantages over
the people Of any other age or nation. But
still it is an important and interesting problem
to be solved, whether the great mass Of any
people can be reused to action without some
striking and tangible occurrence.