Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1853-03-30
For the Portage Sentinel,

- For the Portage Sentinel,
Governments are instituted to guarantee wrongs
Humanity has progressed towards amelioration
always in opposition to, and in spite of govern
ments.
GENTs-If there is anything wrong In the above
propositions, let it be laid to "Guizots History
of Civilization" They are legitimate conclusions
and inferences from the great facts and truths so
skillfuly and correctly arranged in that work. It
is singular how mind so vast in its conceptions,
and generally just in conclusions that of Guizot,
could become a minion and dupe to one of the
falsest of those governmental contrivances that
ever hseaened he-general heart, or, damned up
its genial currents. With all his knowledge of
what civilization is, and what it ought to be,
what has he done for it! Absolutely nothing.
He has shown up in the plainest light what all
history proves, g that mankind have always been
governed too much;" yet when, and where, in the
plenitude of his power and influence, did he ever
show disposition to reduce and simplify-to
tear out cog or wheel from the cumbrous and
complex political machinery of which he was a
part! He has played false to man and humanity
intentionally. His book shows that he knew
better, and the same may be said Of most of our
modern statesmen, both In Europe and America.
They are not entitled to the same excuse, and
have no such claims to forbearance, as the legis-
lators and statesmen who created and Influenced
the civilization of ancient Europe and Asia. They,
the ancients, may be excusable for cropping their
way through social and political systems, and re-
1 boJ IN
To them had no one come from the dead, reveal
ing the truth to their enquiring minds. Guizot,
with his vision clear and distinct as to all the
consequences of his position, and the share he
was playing in this sin of &c governing too much,"
yet proudly and tenaciously held on to his minis
terial robes and regal magnifeence, until the op-
pressed masses stripped them from him, and like
WoolseY, he crawled away too much debased to
make suitable atonement for his crimes. To
the charge of aiding and abetting governments to
do what they have no right to do, history will en-
ter the plea for him Of "gulty," and condemn him
on the proof. a Is
This side of the water, too, power is becoming
no less aluring and vitiating Government ma
chinery more than keeps pace with population
and wealth. All parties concur now in a system
of taxation securing the largest possible amount
of revenue, because it feeds and fattens SO many
out of, and above, the fields of common labor.
There are no advocates for a system which will
certainly drive from our federal center all drones
sinecures, and stipendaries; and Danish from our
capital meanness, perjury, fraud and corruption
8. We don't govern enough is the general cry;
and though the land swarms with brood of fede-
raj officers and lawmakers, consuming some sixty
millions of revenue annually, still we republi-
cans are all looking up to government for room
and supplies, rations and other fxings, each one
claiming something like the old " divine right to
a share in this matter of :" governing too much. ,
This being called souereigns does not seem to an.
swer our purpose at all. 1t is not quite prac-
tical enough. 1t does not pay-like getting
twenty-four thousand dollars for doing nothing in
London, Or st. Petersburg-or what is equivalent
to eight acres of land for day spent in the
purlieus of Washington.
These pretended modern civlizers would be
out of business, out of funds and out of glory, il
governments were reduced to their rightful pro-
portions. Wrongs are multiplied and adhered tc
for specific purpose. Without wrongs there
would be no dangers, and without dangers there
would be no diplomacy, no armies or navies ano
but little necessity for legislation. But political
wrongs, though they generally attract the great.
est attention, are of not more consequence thar
the ten thousand social evils which tester under
the protection of law, and lay the foundation fol
courts, jails, and penitentiaries.
Legislators live upon wrongs, as physicians dc
upon disease, and priests upon rim. They all, up
ON the whole, create that they may cure, anc
cure so that they create. The highest duty il
their profession is to sustain their profession
Against this sort of old fogyism in society ane
government, humanity has always had to contend
and though progress has been made, yet step has
consumed ages VERGNIAUD.