Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-11-12
GENIUS AND MISSION OF DEMOCRACY.

Our readers may remember that IN making refer
ence a few DAYS ago to the recent Inaugural Ora
ton Of Gov. ANDREW JOHNSON, of Tennessee, we
took occasion to state that it contained certain in
genious and maize expositions on the philosophy of
Democracy, which we purposed, if we could find
leisure, to make the subject of some future COM
ments. We proceed to-day, though not SO fully as
we could desire, to redeem our promise.
Gov. JOHNSON commences his address with few
of the stock rhetorical filings at the Federal party
as he is pleased to call it; party which, he in
forms u.s. from the time Of the formation of the Gov
eminent down to the present moment, " has most
generally viewed the Constitution of the United States
as paper wall through which they could thrust
their fingers at pleasure, piece of gum-elastic
that could be expanded contracted at the will and
pleasure of the Legislature" AS some doubt seems
still to rest on the minds of certain persons as to
the existence and constituents of the Federal party
the foregoing statement of the worthy Governor
will at least we hope settle the question to the sa
tisfaction of that numerous body of fellow-cti
zens who are engaged in paperhangng and in the
manufacture of caoutchouc. 34
Our present Constitution, we learn from Gov.
JOHNSON, "is less republican in many of its lead
ing features than desired lat its formation1 by
those who had confidence in the integrity, honesty,
and capabty Of the people to govern themselves"
and accordingly Gov. johnson advocates the expe-
dency Of such alterations or amendments of the law
and the Constitution as will make them conform,
from time to time, to mans "advanced and con-
stantly advancing social and intellectual condition J"
remark, by the way, which does not seem quite
consistent with the hope he entertains of the Demo
cratic party at this very period of time; )" that it
will recur once "more to first principles-to the
sorginal design of the Government; and, if posi-
BILE, bring ii back to its primitive republican sim
splicity and economy and also confne it within
sthe ancient landmarks as laid down by Jefferson
and his patriotic associates the earlier and purer
days Of the Republic" What does the Governor
mean by "ancient landmarks" and "earlier and
purer days of the Republic" when, in the very next
breath, he exults in that political progress which
justifes the hope that man is approximating per-
fiction, and that he WILL in the progress of time
reach this grand and most important end in all hui
man affairs 7" Gov johnson, as one of /" the De
mocracy proper, which is progressive" surely does
not intend to say that this most important end" is
to be attained by recurring to first principles We
far at least as old fogies have any hope of reach
ing tthis mostimportant end in all human affairs;
which hope, we suspect, is not quite SO sanguine in
their breasts as in the bosom of Young America"
From the Pisgah on whose summit he surveys in
the future this promised realm of political per-
lection and beatitude the worthy Governor sudden
ly lapses into the following apocayptic vision, de-
signed to foreshow the dangers arising from acade
mics and colleges which beset the Democracy, and,
at the same time the ultimate success of its divine
mission in spite of their inimical tendency. We
quote at length from the Inaugural:
81 have not deemed it improper out of place. on
this OCCASION to make single allusion the young
of our country. Many of them tchie at our academies
and colleges, and pen IN the study Of their professions i'm
perceptbly imbibe notions predGlto Democracy Their
wealth. and too frequently their preceporsmany of whom
are bgoed and supercilious Of their literary
cadiamsqts and assumed superior information most
subects-nspre their students with false ideas of their
own superiority mixed with superabundance of self
esteem which them feel that the great Of
mankind were intended by their Creator to be hewers Of
wood and drawers Of water that it is in this Govern
men in olden Rome between the Patricans and
Plebean; where in fact the people enjoyed for
moment the pure liberty and freedom Of thought and
Of action which is enjoyed by the people of the United
States To this class Of young have few re-
marks to make reference the great principles Of De-
mocracy the scope and design Of which, greatly fear,
they have, yet wholly failed to comprehend, and If
comprehended, not duly appreciated. And in doing so
do intend this occasion, to enter into any anay
teal metaphysical dsquisiton upon the great prnci
pies of Democracy. At present shall content myself
by assuming, and taking it a conceded fact that De-
mocrdcy mans capability to govern himself is prin
cpe that e1ss that it is inherent in the very nature Of
man; that it is that ingredient in the compound called
man which enables him to determine between right and
wrong in all political affairs. In this principle called
Democracy, consists his capabity Of selfgovernment
II is that which enables him correctly and to
lift himself above all animal creation 1t is this prnc
pie that constitutes the intelligence Of man. or in other
words 1t is that In which partakes most highly Of
the and character Of Him in whose image he is
made: which term the Di0iaiy Of Nan. And in pro-
portion this Divinity enlarged the Man becomes
and more capable Of sefgovemmen and still more ele
waited in his character will also assume what know
none will venture in to deny that this Diriay Of
Man can be enlarged and that become more God
like than he is IL the business Of the Democratic
ty 10 progress in the work Of increasing this principle of
Divinity Democracy, and thereby elevate and make
man more perfect hold that the Democratic party pro-
per Of the whole world, and especially Of the United
States has undertaken the political redemption man. and
sooner or later the great work will be accomplished In
the political werd corresponds to that Of Christianity
in the moral They going along not in divergents,
nor in parallels, but in convergng lines; the one purify
ing and elevatng regiousy, the other politically
Democracy progressive corresponds also to the Church
Militant; both fighting against srror-one In the moral,
the other in the political field AT what period Of time
they will have finished the work Of progress and elevation
IS not now for me to determines but when finished, these