Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1853-02-05
Fer The Southern Standard
First VOIun nc of ]. c. CaIhOuG'S Work S.

First Volume of ]. c. CalhOuG'S Work S.
Mr. Editor Protesting, as do, to be one of the
authors greatest admirers avaled myself of the first
opportunity to procure the above work. after issued
from the press last year. And, desire to present
to the public through your columns some of the i'm
presSiOns made upon my mind by careful perusal of
it.
The volume contains two prominent parts,-the
hrst, running through LOT pages, consists of "A Dis
guisitiOn on Government and the second, Discourse
on the Constitution and Government the United States "
These two productions, though the one is purely
philosophical treaties the nature of in
general and the other an analysis of our twofold
political SYSTEM the author seeks to harmonic by
means of a single governmental continuance consti
tutes the leading object as take it, in both, namely
that in our own as well as all other political sys-
tens, "cOncwring gjorities, in opposition to ALSO
le potOer in Despotisms and numerical mqjoriteS in
Republics, is an indispensable requist in the organic
structure of all good governments. And whilst
ding the book the presentation of the doctrine by the
author struck me as being new, until had nearly
reached the end when somewhat surprised to
find an illustration of it, in the structure of the exist
ing Government Of South Carolina.
In regard to the "DsquisitOn" on government, con-
regret to say, that compelled to object to its
doctrines almost entirely. Coming from the greatest
mind undoubtedly in some of its powers, that this
country has everproduced cannot understand how the
author could have fallen into the gross blunder, as
conceive of founding all political governments alike
upon the lowest instincts of human nature And is
the be regretted because of the plausible and
to the unphIosophica mind, seemingly conclusive
manner in which the subject is handled If he had
been called upon to construct government for the
lopest barbariGnS that existed on the EARTH the
views presented in this reatesc would have been pre-
cisely correct. But, that he should have laid down
such foundation in treating on, in erecting suit
able political superstructure for highly civilized peo
pLe-men in possession Of all the arts and sciences
known to the worlds wonderful, and extremely I'M
fortunate for his great fame. He justly argues that
mankind cannot exist without government; but, is it
not equally true, that all governments that have ever
existed in the world wrong when viewed in COM
parison with the scenifcaL forms of this age
tits admitted that every nation heretofore must have
had precisely such political institutions their social
and intellectual condition required and so, ALSO ofthose
now existing in the world But it does not follow in
my view, that those systems founded upon the
same natural rights and scientific principles, which
must necessarily sustain the superstructure of govern
ments erected by highly civilized people The one
originates &c neceSSitate the other naturally springs
out of high state of intelligence And the differ.
ence in the two cases, is exactly like that which uni
Versay pertains in the establishment of rules for the
social conduct of children, and the former must
be kept under constant parental or other restraint
while the latter free, in that purticular, and amen
able to the laws for their misconduct.
But, without intending to argue the subject at length
1t will be sufficient for my purpose here, say, that
government suited to the condition of highly civil
lied people, must be founded upon their absolute natu
raj rights to govern themselves and the moral princ
pl-do unto Others you ,coud hdue then. do unto no,
under like circumstances, which right and principle be
ing alike Interchangeable, political system erected upor
them must be Scientfca because certain and lust ant
desirable, because true. Governments therefore, il
the true and highest meaning of the term, when prop
ery established is science,as truly, certainly anC
permanently so, any other philosophical system
whether physical or intellectual.
The second part of the work under considerations
"On the Constitution and Government of the United
States' with the exception of the Importance sough
to be given to concurrent ajoritieS" and the suq
Sestion of the "duaI erecutiOe, as remedy for VIVA
the author considers defect in the Federal Constitu
toni regard as the most mastery and perfect ana
ycal exposition of the origin, nature and practica
operations of the United States Confederacy that ha
ever been, be given of it. 1t is true to the let
ter and unanswerable and if the system should Ions
continue, this work will become the universal poltca
text book of the student and the statesman in ever
part of our country.
IRA v. DoDsoN