New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-04-28
Victor Considerant on the Direct Govern
ment Of the People.


A new publication by this celebrated Socialist
has recently attracted good deal of attention in
France, and has been deemed OF sufficient i'm.
portsnce TO call forth order for its suppression
by General Castellsne in the military depart
ment under his command.
N. COnsidersnt addresses his pamphlet to the
Democrats of all nations and especially to the
Democrats Of France. Defining Democracy as
the government by the whole people exclusively,
and Aristocracy a. the government external to
tho aggregate of the people, N. Consderant an
nOunces the principle of 1.-THE universal govern
nent OF the people by ITSELF" as essential to the
fulflment Of the democratic idea.
Man lie not born TO pay allegiance to master.
Man Ia not made to obey the will OF another. II
there ia any reason why Peter should obey Paul.
there 10 the same reason why Paul should obey
Peter; else Paul and Peter would not be of the
same race. Thus far the masses have had mas
ten-kngs. emperors, Legislators, representatives
but masters, under whatever DISCUSSES they
have appeared. They will never be free until
they shall no longer have masters in any form.
There 10 no medium, argues NJ. ConsderAnt, be-
tween monsrchiosl sovereignty by divine risht-s
W
smine-snd the sovereignty Of the People, Of the
living People, the collective and actual will Of all
the adult members OF the nation.
The sovereignty of the People implies the free
will-sbsolutely free, absolutely Independent
OF the people, the absolute sutocracy Of the Peo-
ple-the people obeying only itself, that is to say,
not obeying at all. The sovereignty Of the people
il this, or it Ia nothing II the sovereignty of the
people is the foundation Of Law, Of Justice, Of
Government it follows that no Law, no Govern.
ment. can be legitimate which is anything beside
she actual expression Of the will Of the people.
Hence sovereignty which should submit to
nything external TO itself would be &C great
contradiction as a square circle or pyramidal
spt>re and hence we infer the fallacy Of the idea
OF deAegwed authority, II the people delegates
its authority, il abdicates. Democracy, therefore,
inconsistent with delegation in any form. The
people, therefore exercises its sovereignty. The
people In ihe dinprent communes vote on the
principle OF aproPosel law. The votes are counted
In each local section. all this 10 public and au-
thentic. The suHrages are added up, and the col
lectve, real and direct viii Of the people OF Of the
majority, Is made manifest. This il now the law
" III
done by the Minister Of the people, who conforms
10 their will, because they are thesOvereigus, and
because, if the form does not coincide with their
decision, they will reject it and demand another
This Ii the only legitimate method Of popular 10.
gislasion.
The idea OF actually applying the principle u
the direct Government Of the people, Considerant
admits was first suggested to him by German
writer although, az matter OF theory hehad long
held TO legislation by the universal vote In true
order Of society He believes that the time has
come for this principle to be fully discussed by the
European democracy. Heis in no doubt a. to the
character Of the result. The question will probably
be entertained by the amateurs OF speculative
novelties in the present imbroglio Of French poll
tcs but t will hardy lead to the speedy practical
consequences which II. Considerant sanguinely
anticipates.