The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1854-09-08
Let the PeoDie Rule.

The corner stone OF liberty, under this and IN
der every popular government, is 10 be found IN
the freedom and purity Of the elective franchise.
SkiIfuI diplomacy may add vast accesslons to our
territory happy location and the absence OF
powerful and grasping neighbors may secure to
us the inestinable blessings Of continued and hon.
ora3le peace; prosperous seasons, vast natural
wealth and commercial advantages may insure US
an overlooking treasury; but if we lose through
our own falkland il can be lost only through
our own fault-this priceless palladium, wealth
with but act as an nducement to the recklessly
ambitious to ensave their country our vast terri.
tory will invite autocracy by suggesting the me-
cessslty for an energetic central power; and
peace, of it be left US, will be little else than the
agnant calm of an irresistible despotsm.
Fraught, then, as it is with consequences of
such ma gnltude, it becomes a matter of the high
est importance 10 watch with earnest ~solicitude
every appearance of an attempt to interfere with
the purity of elections, and especially TO guard
against those gradual and almos; imperceptibIe
changes in sentiment which are all the more
dangerous since their progress is scarcely visi
Bile. Such a change is, we conceive, now going
on.
agents to carry out the will of the people choosing
them. Primarily this is the only object. Let it
be Acknowledgement such is the basis of our
federal and State constitatons-that the people
capable of self-government, and it follows
that they should be the governors. There is no
race, favored by God, with the privilege Of stand
ing between The people and the popular will-no
Heaven. ordained power endowed with the ability,
and charged with the task of governing people
capable of governing themselves; and hence it is
that in all points, not separated from human cog
nisance by the divine law, people capable of SELF
government should be their own governors. The
necessities of actual practice gave to the rep
resentative systematic system Of agency, and
the very nature OF this system requires that the
people and not the representative, the principal
and the agent, should have his will carried out.
Officers are made for the people, not for officers,
who are themselves made Officers by and for the
people. ~- - ~. --F
But while this is the theory Of our government,
what is the fact in practice?
A parcel of stock lobbers in every State in the
Union make 1t their business to stand behind the
popular voice. and control, modulate or gag it, as
suits their convenience, their wh;ms, their
pockets. The game has been systematized. Off
GERS not sought, but offices. The people do
not say let Us cast about and choose who among
Us is wise, who talented, who viruous, who capa-
bic of carrying into action our wills by means
which his superior sagacity and skill may suggest
but politicians arise and say virtually, we are wise
prudent, able and faithful, send US TO your halls
or what is more frequent and more lamentabe,
political go-betweens, who have purposes to at
tain, who have pet projects on hand. present 10
the people the names of men whom they hope &c
be able to bend to their wishes, with whom they
have before entered into compacts. And what is
the consequence in the two popular governments
OF the globe ? Charges Of the most shameless
corruption have been reiterated both in London
and in Washington for years past, and in both
there have come 20 light ofia,e instances Of un-
blushing depravity, bat can only be equalled by
those vast commercial 5swindles that history oeca.
sIonaly records affecting the happiness and
dcstinies of nations. u = @>~ -
Wide spread as is the evil, it is not remedess
We must leave off factoring, we must dismiss and
dscoun,enance political brokers. The people
must revolt against every attempt by politicians
or others to make their opinions or select their
agents for them. They must claim for themselves
the privilege capable OF making it wisely.
Southside (Vo.) Democrat.