Washington sentinel., 1853-10-20
PRoGREss--Nor RUIN.

PROGRESS--NOT RUIN.
1t is strange and unaecountable thing to
us that man cannot declare himself friend
of progress, without being at once proclaimed
foe to the Constitution, and reviler of its
honored trainers. If he pronounces those who
oppose progress "old fogies,' it is instantly
caught up as an attack ON Washington, Jeffer
son, Madison, and our earlier statesmen. This
mode of replying is manifestly unjust. No one,
we presume, would be thoughtless and stupid
enough to apply the term old fogy to the glo-
rious old heroes and sages Of the revolution.
The truth is they were the "young America"
of that period. They were not satisfied with the
then existing state of things. There were errors
to reform, abuses to check, expressions to op-
pose, burdens to throw off. The old fogies of
those times were their opponents the tories"
who dreaded change and abhorred innova-
ton. They were against the war and the de-
claration of independence. They went for
King George, and were content to submit to
all the errors, abuses, expressions, and burdens
that the enterprising patriots of 'Yoang Ameri-
ca" so vigorously and successfully attacked
Mark what one of our respected contem-
poraries says of us. 1t refers to one of our
editorials, and after stating its propositions,
it says: s'The inference follows as by mathe-
matical consequence, that the Sentinel desires
and advocates progress over and above the
limits Of the Constitution and laws of the coun-
try" Again, it says: "To them the Constitu-
| ton and laws of the Union and the usages Of
our earlier statesmen are antiquated and time
worn'
Too fast, entirely too fast in your reasoning,
if not in the matter of progress. You construct
your theory and draw your inferences, without
due regard to that modern and universally ap-
proved mode Of reasoning developed in the
"novum organum" of Lord Bacon. Perhaps
your love of old things and venerable modes in
duces you to reject the inductive system. We
believe in that system, and respectfully suggest
that you should infer your theory from the facts
/ You know we expressed ourselves as being in
1 favor of "proper advancement We said that
progress loves law and order as much as they
(the old fogies) do. 1t keeps treaty stipulations
as faithfully. 1t advocates peace as warmly 1t
is quite as honest and just as truthful"
Is there anything hostile to the Constitution
i in these doctrines? Are we the destructives
that they would make us appear? Why, we
love the Constitution, and it is our peculiar
weakness-if such it may be called, to sickle,
perhaps, too much for it-and it is worthy of
remark, for it presents striking contradiction,
that those who are most noted for loose and
latitudinous interpretations of that sacred in
strument, are the worst enemies Of progress.
They adopt a mode of construction that Just
makes it next akin to no Constitution at all. and
yet they are always talking about preserving it
from the attacks of "Young America" 1t is
in no danger of violation from that source.
But we are not of those who believe that laws
should never be repealed, and that constitu.
tions should never be modified to suit exigen-
cies and necessities-for that is the very essence
of fogyism. If a law is bad, it should not be
violated, but repealed. If constitution is ex
| perimentally ascertained to be defective in any
| Of its provisions, it should be amended in con
| sttutional manner Washington, Madison and
Jefferson held the same opinion. The Consti
tutioa Of the United States has been amended
and iffound needful, it should be again amended
We only desire to set ourselves right. We
are not Goths or Vandals We would not reck-
lessly pull down or deface any institution built
by our venerated forefathers We only go for
what is useful and what is needful--for meeting
all exigencies and occasions as they arise We
do not 50 much regard the form as the sub
stance of things We do not suffer our attach.
ment to old things that have become useless, If
not hurtful, to prejudice us against new things
that are useful