Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1850-05-20
POLITICAL.
SPEECH OF ). F. BRENT,
OF r PID Es,

On the proposition to elect the Judges by the d.
rec, vote OF the People. Delivered in the
Louisiana Convention, Oh the 2al April, 1s45
Mr.. Brent said-the amendment before ,ls
embraces IN important measure Of reformation
and 1t should be examined with cal,nness and
deliberation, and fixed determination on our
part 10 be guided by Truth and principle Hi2h
and important Interests have been coniided to
our charge and our decision upon this matter, as
upon al! other Matters should be made will.
reference to the good OF our common country,
the advancement OF cur morals, and the security
OF public and private rights
admit Mr. President, said he. that changes
should not be made in the organic law fer li.ht
and transient causes yet | cannot but recognize
the truth, promulgated in the Declaration of In
dependence, that all experience has silewn that
men are disposed to suffer while evisare suffer.
able, rather than abolish the forms TO which
they have been accustomed. Man has been de-
fined by an English philosopher to be :, shunlle
OF habits u and in nothing lis the force OF habit
so conspcuously shown as i'll the blind attach
ment which too frequently binds him 10 that
particular system of laws under which he has
ilved+ lcould refer to many curious and sine.l-
lar instances to illustrate this position bat will
content myself with abiding to one, familiar to
those conversant with the history Of the day. Ii
is we'll known that the people of Rhode Island
continued to live under a royal charter, granted
by the second Charles, until, within very few
years past they were compelled BY the action
OF the public sentiment out of the State to abolish
that charter, and establish government more
suited to the intelligence of the country, and
the free and liberal spirit of the age. This in
stance of itself, is sufficient TO show the power
aud tyranny of habit over the mind of man. If,
then, we have not already reached the acme OF
political wisdom-it there is anything left for us
to do, in ameliorating the organic law or the
country, such improvement must be looked for
III the new, and not in the old States of the
Contederacy. The older members OF the Union
never will be pioneers in the march of improve
ment. From habit, they cling to the particular
forms 10 which they have been accustomed; moi,
because they are good, but because they are in
different-not because they are excellent, but be-
cause they are tolerable.
Amy government to answer the wise purposes
for which all governments we're established,
must have lis foundation laid deep III the respect
and affection of the people. And this is partic-
ulary true as relates to government which,
like ours, reposes on the broad foundation of the
popular sovereignty. A popular government can
never De energetic and efficient, unless it is sus-
tanned by the strong arms and stout hearts of the
People. Upon what other power can that gov
eminent rely, but on the power of the people !?
Laws may be framed whsle volumes of statutes
may be enacted, but they cannot be executed
and entorced it passed in defiance of the popu-
lar will, The popular feature is the strongest
feature IN our constitution. When President
Jackson encountered nine hundred banks of pa
per money, what was it that sustained his atl
minstration against the colossal strength of
these institutions but the fact that he was the
great tribune OF the people If, instead of being
elected oy the popular suffrage, he had held his
office from The vote of the Senate of the Nation
al Legislature, powerful as he was, he would
have been crushed and overborre by the hydra
blood that Kissed around him, and nothing sus-
tanned him but the fact that he was upheld and
supported by the strong and mighty arm of the
American yeomanry that elected him. The
greater participation the people have in the 60
vernment, the more they are taught to believe it
is their government, the greater viii be its en-
ergy ard efficiency, and the better will it an
swer the purposes for which all laws were franz
ed, ana all governments established.
may be mistaken, but Lbelieye that the a.
doption OF no measure which has yet engaged
the attention OF this Convention. or which will
engage its attention, would dfiuse so much Joy
into the hearts of the people, as the adoption of
the measure now under debate. When speak
of the people. do not speak of those who occu-
py distinguished stations upon the bench and at