Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-06-29

difference ni opinion 10 the proper limitations and
exercise "i power by guNernmcntihc one party Sill
wing to enlarge the other To restrict the cAerciSe ni
luwer-the former party disiristing the hitter con-
liiing i'll tue prople Tile Tory and Wing parties ot
England.the Federal and Republican parties "fths
country afford Illustrations OF the historical kind
The Anti Masonic party which some years ago nnln-
mated Mr.. Writ for the Presidency, may be cited as
belonging to tie class Of ephemera and transient par
ties To be durable, party must be based, not up
on one idea, but upon broad and comprehensive prIn-
ciples. The time has passed, if indeed ii ever was,
that u political purity operating by secret association,
mysterious signs an, midnight consultation could at
tract the confidence Of the people, and secure the"
tasting esteem.
The absence of parties in country like Great Bri-
tain the United States, would imply the existence
nt unnnimy upon all sui,jrc uf government This
unanmity would not hc desirable, if it were atalna-
BILE. Unanimlty would superinducc indifference and
nrpor. To the conduct OF government, the nalorlty
of are ordinarily lisess and they need powerful
incentives To induce them Ia bcstow proper attention
and exercise due vigilance. The conflict of different
npinious slIarpeng mems WITS extends the circle "i
knowledge, aud mpGrts boih elevation aud energy 10
the popular mind. While parties are eomtendnS i"r
pUwcr their discussions tend 10 elicit aud make
nest the amount OF truth which belongs TO the tenc,s
Of each that The great mass belong to the party
of their country may be both easily and understand
ngly guided in the path they pursue. Unfortunately
political parties often 10 commit great abuses,
during periods of high excitement. An excessive
party spirit tends To produce se-deccptlnh ITO
arouse malignant passions-to lessen regard Tor JUS.
iice and reverence for truth. ellis experience oi
party movements mast be exceedingly limited, tsays
l4"rd b. "who cannot at once point To numerous III
stances of men, in all the other transactions al c to-
erably honest and pure, who invc grailncd the nnsi
selfish propensrs ui our mature, ur gwen vent 10 tt
most spiteu feelings, while they covered over llr
naturally hicous aspect "t their mtrlgurs or th"r
rancor with the party varsh ot Zeal for The good
cause, and vehement hostility To In enemies.
In the work before Us, Lord b. gives his views oi
the Democratic puliiy-that system when, without
any monarchical or arisiocrac admlxurr, vests the
supreme power in the people lie observes that the
Fundamental peculiarly by which tiis Is distinguish
ed from other forms of government, 49, that the pco-
pie, having the administration o tlicr own comcers
in their own hands, the great cause vi misgovern-
ment the selfish interest OF rulers, Is wanting and II
the good OF the community is sacritced II must bc
owing To ncapacty, passion or ignorance, and not to
deliberate design The sovereign III amonarchy pur-
slcs his persOnn interest ard that Oi his family the
public good is thus sacriicrd and mlscheis arise t"
the state when its interests clash with those o the
prince. The privileged body i'll a aristocracy seek NJ
ter the individual interests ci their ORDER or lis Im
vidual members, still more nurously 10 the cnlnInu-
nifty, because they area more numerous D"dy hfur-
ed persons than the sovereign with his family ana his
courters But no such detrment can arise 10 the
public good under purely popular government. AZ
least the chances exceedingly small ami the mis-
chief can only arise from some party, or some 'Ii-
uas obtaining much favor with the people ai large
90
c,s.nrilv rare occurrence because there will always
be conflict of parties n free Satc, AMI the people
are prone jealousy ana suspicion Z" great men, IL
iI PERHAPS only another and more limited" form al me
same proposition, that great cause U pernclus
wars und of injurious negotiations Is wanting also III
Il Democracy iVol. 3D. p. HOY
"Thc course of legislation III the commonwealth
must always keep pace with the Improvement oi IN"
age. The people, whether acting themselves or
through their Delegates, aud whether these delegates
merely follow the instructions Of their constituents or
| deliberate and decide for themselves must always
communicate to the laws that are made ihr
| impression of their own opinions. IL The iiSh'7
| aud wisdom of their representatives, or ol the
| leading men among them, exceed, rs it must,
| those Of the people at large, their legislation ne.
Yer can fall short of the prevailing civilIty ana
refinement No sinister Interests can interfere 10 ceh
the progress of Improvement in the legislature. NO
prejudice Of class selfish views, can have any
! weight. The alarms Of sovereign anu his court Z"
the advances made in this dlrecton Tie tehiS vi
privileged order at the progress inhur III t"n''
,n sp nny measures useful 20 the frame ol society.
| Thc advancement NAV be too rapid; rash experiments
may occasionally br tried crude c;s may htIi 'cr
place in tho ot the Legislature hu' 'l', progress
ri social improvement, the intellectual advances 4"
th. age will be- reflected III The laws wIch INC Dc-
| ,nocratic councils adopt.
| "Ihe administration "t public affairs III Deh"cra
ry il more certainly pure than III any other form o
| government This arises. first, from the pubirhy
| which must always be given Ia every pruccc'ilI
unI secondly from the entire responsibility OF every
public iconarv, 10 the people ar their Representa-
ives Pcculatinn or abuse of any kind becomes
hardly possible in jrnlnusiy watched and sure
10 he so severely punished If detected. In proper
tion as nny mixed government approaches to the De-
mocratic model the same purity III MS administrator
becomes more certain. But III 10 mixed government
can the administration ever bc r" pure lie III De
morracv because whrrcvcrtherc are either privileged
orders or princes and courtcs, there are parties pos
srss,l Of certain powers and privileges VIII" have an
interest real or imagined III the selfish proceedings VI
Themselves their a,lhcrcniS, that VIII moi D'nr
close scrutiny, aud who are rih''cd !" lr"cc!, III
uuuy instances, those who are guilty ol abuse. In u
| Democracy no such powers ur privileges exist.
"Nu risk is run III Democracy, rs III monarchy
Of incapable or of wicked men holding the supreme
direction of affairs. either III The legislature or III ui'
| executive department. Inc gret'eSt vi tiic t
which beset monarchy have therefore no place here
No infant in the cradle, no drvcllIng idiot, II" furious
| maniuc no corrupt vicious proiligate, can ever
govern the State and bring n authority I'M" ha,r'u
or contempt. In tree STATE tue nblcst nnu pGs'
m.o ,nny be expected hnve authority. The ord-
nary administration of affairs well IN the course "i
lcrslaon benefits by The intcrposltlon oi the P"pu-
Ior y,r, All measures IRE fully discussed, and the
chances of great errors or oversISs ocliiS cohtcu
are exceedingly diminished
"Th. prcnt chcapness OF the Democratic govern
mont il Justly To be numbered among lis fiTtucs.-
| The support of monarchy requires oi Necessity !"
lorre ypcnliturc. The sovereign must be surround
cd with costly magniticence. An army, co'lsluera
"a
ar the external defence of the country requires must
bo maintained to secure the sovereign from all oSs'
bity Of attack in amy domestic event that may nap
pen. ;l, :; q =
work IN he done; no more officers employed than
tha requires; is paid for their labor than If
IN adcGuntc remuneration for it. Even the respon
;Lility Imposed upon the public iunctlolary is mol
bv salary: for That the honor oi serving
the State is deemed an adequate remuneration' y"
u..l.ss functiOrarrs cinpluycd and no troops IT,
uurrl but for the public service.
"The resources of Democracy for public defence,
are naturally greater than those "i any oter o :"
goveru,nent. The incredible eXerons when ircc
S,ntrs hnye made in their defence, when assalicn u!
fnrres apparently overwhelming, are taInlar 10 every
reader they ill the brightest page III the history VI
nil times. For examples ul this Democratc slhr'i
we need not travel back to Athens, ana oparta ana
Rome TO tho days of Marathon and lhernlopylr.-
Modern history records the devoted Vaior oi tue
Switzers perishing for liberty, an9 our own uays
have witnessed in wonder the Americans ohiiiiS lhe
.kil and repulsing tho force of the best troops Ill Tile
world" o. -. orv
"The greater purity in Democracy Is moi oy any
means confined to public conduct; general sopriey
and el,.cun,nand, with the necessity OF conforming
to tho public opinion ever IN ny"r "a U" The
luxurious Indulgence inseparnble from n c"ur', en-
p.ndcrs unavOdably certain corruption nil.' '''5
Siccs attendant upon indulgence are never lr""hcu
down by courticrs, nor DISCOURAGED ny c"u,,'! oA
Mo Ru, tha republican nature is essentially severe
,I virtues Of temperance honesty, public spirit, sell
denial, which are cxoiics in court are the c"'H'nn
nroytI of the Democratic soil. No party cl!ie'' III"
SSor,r idnI can eyer So far ur long obtain pre-
rnsice En W as to nculcate the habits of subservieHcy
onJ oi fswuinr and of falschood which too often
grow up under the influence of royal or patricia"
authority" -, ,u,.;o ,,s,,,,
| T .t M nn, undcryuluc them. They all conducc dl.
rscy @ O and H' greatly @ t" the happiness Of the people ali
increase their comforts, maintain their liberties pre-
serve their tranquility improve Their virtue xL" We N" r
crrj f., examine the other side Of the account ana I"
view tn. many considerable vices naturally Inherent
in this form OF po!ity."-(N"l Sd, p. Hal
The first and the worst and effect oi r''putr Gos
crnmen is, that the supreme power Is pAced III ilrs
] ,,s;ii LnnL. The nennlr exercise power account