Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1854-05-01

eans--lhen national epnhlicans--then no
party -tieu wiiigS--then democratic whigs
-tIfen back TO wligsagaiii..@
The State, Maid of all Work.
The, communication to which the fol-
lowing article allddes is omitted by u.s.
We give the remarks below from the
Richmond Examiner because t'iey discuss
subject which is of vital importance
to the State and the. country, and which
involves the integrity Of the CoDstitu-
ition;
We publish tbs fuiiovln5 comnupica
ton from sense Of the importance of the
SUBJECT discussed The Intelligent observ
Eef OF political events cannot hut remark
the tendency, both Of Federal and State
governments, TO transcend their legitimate
| functions, and to eneroach Oh those de-
partments Of duty which belong exclusive
" to individuals. This is a subject of
grave and growing importance. Unless
the tendency is resisted aud checked, VIC
shall soon find ourselves engaged in as
desperate struggle against despotism of
majorties despising constitutional res
tralnts, as oul ancestors maintained against
Individual sovereigns claiming absolute
powers and pferogatives. The popular
ideas OH the subject Of government ale ali
getting wrong. Instead eff exercising
sleePless and jealous vigilance ever the
popular liberties, the people have become
as camatose on the bject as paw sucking,
hibrlnatcd bears. They forget that one
sort OF government is as encfoaching,
sfaspthg, arbitrary az another; and that
the tyranny OF a multitude, unbrdled, is
more cruel, vindietige, pervadina and
crushing, than of single scyereign-in
proportion as there is more malice, mean
ness, cruelty ard folly, III many vicious
natures than in one. While affecting to
hold in supreme contempt the maxim Of
monarchies-.''the King can do no wrong
they are net conscious of practically as
senting to IA far more vicious end despca-
bic dosma--the sect. class or party holding
the powers of 'ropulara government can
dc ne wrong.
The great anomaly Of our republican
system Of polity, as at present administer
ed, is the practical concession TO govern
neAt oil those unlimited prerogatives, the
fesolute assertion and resistance Of which,
IA respect 10 the Gfoma caused the civil
commissions that desolated Great Britain.
the final ACKNOWLEDGMENT Of the Empire,
and the establishment Of American inde-
pendence. We practically coneede to gov
eminent every prerogative It chooses to
exercise under the usual forms Of admin
istraiion, never questioning whether there
are not some things with which il would
be rs unwise az ridiculous and dangerous
for the State to NEEDLE.
Latterly, this institution Of government
established merely fer the protection Of
the individual in those rights and immuni-
ties which constitute rational, regulated
liberty, with functions as well defined and
distinct as The balance wheel of steam
engine--has turned maid Of all work. and
gone down into every sort of pursuit and
avocaiion, great and small, in society. 1t
completes with individuals in the trades
and professions, doctors them fer their
health, and plays livery servant in giving
them airings upon its railroads, stage-liaes,
canals and steamboats,. Ii is large dealer
/ in corporation stocks, crrries on au exten--
siye business in rairoading, is monster
banker, and keeps sharp eye to the po-
puiar beverages, dletetics and hygiens. 1t
uses its superior power and capital to com
pete overshadow ingly and crushingly with
individual industry, and the more eilectu-
ally to harass and impede the citizen in
the domestic trades, picks quarrels with
him about his social manners and habits
taking old maidish offence at such small
vices as tobaoco-chewIng and ioddy drink
ing.
II affairs go on in this way We shall
soon be more wretchedly and gallingly en-
shaved by our many-headed autocracy than
the subjects OF that greatest raireading
ANA banking government in the world,
Nicholas Romanoti's; and find ourselves
besides. under as ianatical and disgusting
a system Of espionage over conscience,
| diet and all private conversation, as the
saints of the regime of such vermin as
Brigham Young.
/ The tendency Of this system of things
is not only debasing but rerrupting. The
patronage which belongs to the most care
fully limited government, in the exercise
! of administrative. legislative and i,fdicial
! functions, is, Of itself, sufficiently danger
Gus and undermining to public and social
virtue. How much more banetui and corr
EruptIng does il become when government
in addition, undertakes the offices of road.
maker, money-dealer, eommon-eafrier,
postman. bar-keepcr, and apothecary. The
tendency is to discourage individual in
dustry aud sel-reIance, the essence OF all
social and political pfosperii, and to
lead ufen TO look to government as the
source and fountain Of all that is Of honor
and profit to the individual.
The Charleston Convention has furnish
co most notable, reprehensible, and mel
ancholy exhibition OF this temper OF the
popular mind, TO refer al! enterprise aud
all labor to government. The develop
ment has taken us greatly By surprise. aud
indicates that the South IS probably as full
of the vicious political hefesies of the
times, respecting the functions of govern
ment, as any other part of the umon--as
the Tabernacle, or Exeter Hall, or the
I Tribune. What all immense variety of
subjects and rytorms did that remarkable
body breach and take ander its cognizance;
anu how persistently and tacilely WAS ev-
cry subject, great and small, general and
local, pertaining to the ocean. the land or
the skies, the State, the men, the s~1rnaI,
4