The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-06-16

direct taxation for all the resources OF Govern
ment would not secure economy OF exPenol-
ture. as the free traders allege it would tor 1t
is fact found that the States, cities, counties
and villages of our country, are about as reck-
less in contracting debt for all popular objects
as if they never expected to see the tax assess
or and collector about it afterwards. Public
measures must be put upon sound principles
Nothing else will certainly take care OF their
workings and results The election OF honest
men to Office proposed as the only preventive
of abuses, is a sound principle, certainly and
NAV be relied upon when the electors them
selves become honest in politics as they gener-
ally are in other things. In the mean time
we must try to inaugurate such policy and
push such measures as will take care OF them
selves in the hands of the middling honest
men whom the Indifferent honest voters elect
for their representatives.
We do not recommend, for the present any
over.fond reliance upon the official integrity
of any party strong enough to take the rule
of the country.
With respect to the protective policy,
question of practicablity intervenes just now
The party devoted to it are not in condition
to re-establish it. Several authorities in the
Wing school are convinced that their tavorite
measures will succeed better as free questions
of general policy than as party issues; and 1T
is not likely that they will again array them
selves upon an omnibus platform for some time
to come.
G. j. objects to the Free Trade resolution in
the Ohio series He does not object to the
sentiment in the ranks, but to the declaration
in the creed. Strenuous protectionists would
perhaps object as decidedly to silence as to
opposition on the point. For our own part, IN
or out, we give it no more regard than we
think it otherwise entitled to- and if We were
nominated for Office, with such declaration an
nexed, we would neither accept nor refuse on
account of it, but would avow our own opin-
ion, and let the voters do the compromising
The people of this country must learn, some
time or other, how to secure their ends without
REFRESHING the intelligence and integrity of their
public servants, and without dead-locking their
own liberties of opinion and preferences among
measures; and the sooner they set about it the
better. Free Democratic conventions may just
say what they please about subordinate issues
their agents ought not to be bound by them,
they cannot be effected, one time in ten, in
legislative assemblies, at any rate and the
constituency must even treat such matters in
the same way; that is, look upon them as the
opinion of majority of the leading men of the
party, and give them just that much respect
and consideration, and no more We would
not just "spit upon u decenty clean plank in
the platform, but we would stand only on those
that have the right spring in them. MAORI
ties do not settle principles, but such as are set
tied ought to have the whole force Of MAORI !
ties to carry them and it is not wise to dispute
about any thing that hinders any other right
thing from being done as soon as it is ready to
be done.
The idea that "there is no principle in pol
tics" cannot mean that political science Is
without determinate laws, or that political con-
duct is not governed by moral duty; but it
nay render good service as a caution to those
who would "put new wine into cid bottles" at
he risk of bursting them, and patch an old |
garment with new cloth, which, in the process
# fulling up tears out the stitches, and makes
he rent worse. Conscience is the better for
he guidance and restraints of discretion, for
he reason that abstract truths are often too |
road for the pattern of the case that is to be
obbled. The conduct of affairs requires the
est management of the circumstances in hand,
nd an honest expediency has place and use
lere, if wisely considered and bravely applied.
)ur republican organization is not so all-per-
ect that the absolute right is the instant rem
dy for ell its abuses Swedenborg says 81
aw great truth let down from heaven into
ell, and ii became falsehood theren An
onest man can be trusted with the truth of
lis saying for use, and wise man will respect
in his administration of public affairs. There
direction in it for the settlement of this
reat question of slavery, as well as of others
1t will be observed that we have not touch
d the main question here. IL will be attended
as time and occasion serve f..