Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1855-01-02
2 81 9 4 g..

UEL WHELpLEY, an old school Federal.
ist, will be found worthy Of pcrusal.
We like its cool, downright frank
ncss.--If man believes any doctrines
to be true, let him publish them boldly
Mr. WnELpLEy's conservatism OF course
forms no part Of our creed. Still the
fears he expresses should be hecded.-
There are dangers dangers from con.
solidatcd power on one hand, and rcck.
less changes on The other.
We have thought proper TO give ;hi.
article place in the Times, not be-
cause VIC endorse il, but because We
like to present conservative doc trincs in
the shape given to them BY tho ublcs
exponen,s Of that party.--ED. SrIRlr on
THE TINES.
THE government Of the United States
seems TO be without parallel. We find
nothing like it in modern times. Ancient,
ly the Greeks had something which re-
sembled it ; but that resemblance was
indeed remote and feeble. Their Am.
phyclyonic Council was little different
from an assemblase Of ambassadors, sa'
wing that they met regularly both as to
time and place; and when convened
their proceedings were moro like some
kind Of supreme court, than q represcn.
tativc legislative body,
Our government is no less singular as
to its nature, than as 10 its origin. IL
is, perhaps, the only government which
IN all its parts tcas the result Of plan.
foresight, or design. Most governments
have been jumbled into existence from
mere accident, by concurrence Of un.
lorcsccn events. Great things have grown
from small beginnings. Men have been
latigued into compliance with the.Jic.
tales Of prompt and daring ambition :
and have acquiesccd in a system of ar
bitrary power. But In our case, a num-
Der Of men, competent to so great ,cork,
sat DOM and planned our government.
Before them lay the legislation Of past
ages. They saw the rock and shoals on
which many. had been dashed. They did
what they could for our benefit. The
plan they formed was dictated by theil
knowledge of our circumstances; and is
probably the ablest and best plan Of go
vernment ever formed by man.
In all human concerns, theory and
practice are often found 10 differ. We
shall no, so far infringe upon the sphere
Of the politician, as to NEEDLE with thu
practical part, that is, the adn,inls'ra
ton Of our government; nor shall w
take any other notice Of the theory thar
as matter Of speculation. No human
government can be perfect. or course
the bost ever devised by mortal man
must he subject to changes, inconvenl
cnces, weaknesses, and ultimately t.
dissolution. Man himself must fail, anc
can it be thought strange that all hi
works should, in that respect, resemble
him
Some writer's insis! thai a governmen
in order 10 have virtue, strength, an'
Duration, must combine the three prin
ciples Of monarchy, arislocracy, and de
mocracy. 1t cannot be doubted tha
| monarchy is the strongest form OF gov
ernment !; that aristocracy has the mos
wisdom and democracy the most viz
tue. Gould q government bc formed
which would unite the strength Of mon
archy without its tyranny; the wisdom
of aristocracy wilhou. its ambition anl
the virtue of democracy without its folly
and weakness, that form would be thu
best.
Our government is wholly without tn
monarchical branch. 1t only combine
aristocracy with republicanism. Tn
, probability is, that thoush republican i
theory, it will, in the course OF events
, become, in great measure, ariStocratl'
Our executive power is weak, and tn
aristocratic tendency Of the whole ma
t chine is too obvious to escape the motto
!. of any one who looks attentively at !
4 Power and influence can never long b
D separated from wealth. Many govern
!. ments in theory, have prolessed to cor
e fer honor and Office according to meri
r No theory has been more specious ,ha
S ours. But in this country the honol
and Offices will be controlled by chai
d of influence whose last link will be MAJ.
fast by agolden staple. True, it may b
said that our government is elective an
0 almost every man is eligible to ofiic
But what is our Chief Magistrate Il
is elevated at the head Of several mi
!. lions Of people. If there be such
thing as natural aristooracy in societ.
Q he must be from that class. He mu
g be man Of The most elevated dignity
]. man Of mind far superior to other me-
Y and whose life, character, circumstance
: and fortunes have combined to raise hi
q far above the common level. Henc
n though the Office is noninally electiv
IS yet it is as completely beyond the reat
" Of the great mass Of the people as tn
it were hereditary.
Let it be supposed that there are SO
|. en- mon in tho United States, adequa
to the discharge Of the duties Of Pres
d nent. Their depth can only be lathor
!, ed, and their qualifications tested BY MI
d of nearly equal capacity. The gre
o body Of the people never saw, and new
h will see, those seven. They must
" made known to the community by M
,C eAnvJ q