Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1856-03-05
VIEWS OF
w. c. M0RAGNE, ESQ,
on THE
ELECTORAL TON.
10 THE PEOPLE OF EDGEFlELD DISTRlCT'
Continued from last week.

lt is autDIlteu, tudl tne representation w 'u'
House involves no uufairness or injustice
great prejudice is sought to be createo
against the organization of the SENATE
which allows Senator to each of the smal
election Districts. Many seem to mistake
entirey y the true nature and province of the
Senate. This body is designed not so much
for actual, positive legislation, as to furnish
power in the Government to check ant
to conserve: to restrain the fiery impulse:
OF the members of the Lower House, anc
to perpetuate the blessings of sautary laws
and wise Institutions. True, on most mat
ters, the Senate has the inHiatirc, that is
the power to introduce nearly all Legislative
measures; yet this, imagine, was given tc
it, more TO increase its dignity and import
ance, than for any direct practical good
Its highest duties lie in the preservation o
that which is wise and useful in our laws
and institutions, aud in perlecting the Legis.
laton OF the State. And this is broad
and noble field of labor. 1t has been said
relative to the physical world, that it re.
quires the same Almighty Hand to conserve,
it took to create. The remark may not
inaptly be applied to human laws and insti.
tutions. In these, as in those, genuine
conservative power is demanded, which
must depend, for its proper exercise, on wise
deliberations sound experience, liberal and
honest intention, and the earnest prompt.
ings OF interest and necessity. Hence, with
the trainers OF government, the organization
Of Senate chamber, has ever heen an oh.
ject OF great moment and difficulty. In
their practical task, a leading principle will,
all these wise men has been--,o form this
body upon some minority interest in the
State, not sufficiently powerful to make az
gressions Oh The rights of the community at
large, yet strong enough to impart stability
TO the Government uudcr the exercise of a
genuine spirit Of conversation And when,
in the natural order of things, this minority
interest has not presented itself, these sage,
practical men have found it necessary to
create I'll artificial interest on which to
base this body. In all the free States of
antiquity aud of modern Europe. the Senate
has been formed upon artificial classes, con.
slltutlnS Il minority interest in the govern.
Z,
said by great philosophers to have had
the best constitution of all tho ancient
States, which tourished, as Il powerful Re-
public, through 4 peliod of 700 years, till
destroyed by tue Romans" whose tranquil
ity was never disturbed either by domestic
sedIton, or the tyranny Of its government"
SO 1t was with the Athenian Senate,
which WAS composed from certain classes,
distinguished from the general population,
and exercising extensive and extraordinary
powers. This body had the right, for exam.
pie, OF celebrating upon and preparing ali
public measures before they came to be pas
sed upon by the people in their public AS
sembIes. And as Il still stronger safeguard
to the laws and institutions Of The State, the
Athenlau wise men formed the famous Court
OF Arcopmgas, consisting Of such only as had
held the chief office of !trchon, and exercis.
ing special guardianship over the laws, the
public Treasury, and the public expendi.
lures. So dstrustfu were this free and in
tellegcnt people of their own powe's in the
administration OF government, they willngl ly
suffered themselves to be restrained in their
legislative functions by these wise political
bodies, though, in the component parts, they
were far from having an equal representa-
ton. They went further: They imposed
restrictions upon their own immediate action.
They enacted, that to make measure bind.
ing as a law, it should have the sanction OF
at least 5000 votes in their Assemblies.
They ordained, also, that he who proposed
any measure against the established law ot
the State, was liable to severe punishment
and if even the law passed, the proposer
mig Int still, at any time afterwards, be ar.
raigned before court and punished, it the
court thought the law prejudcal to the pub
lie. These, they designed as checks upon
the ambition of their popular leaders. among
whom We're many rash, political agitators
and unsciupulous demagogues; men who
like some in our own day, can see nothing
valuable in existing things, and make great
show of zeal for the public good, while pro-
noting their own selfish ends, by constant
efforts to introduce wild and frivolous po
litical changes. Yet all these checks did
not rescue the Athenian people from ruin
by rash exercise Of freedom in their pub
lie Assemblies.t And it is worthy Of re.
mark that this Republic, after having enjoy.
ed its freedom for 600 years, degenerated
into an odious Oligarchy, not till the power
of the Senate became so weak and ill-defin.
ed as to lose its conservative influence, and
::he power of the populur Assemblies so great
ay 10 make their uubrided will the law Ot
the land clearly demonstrating, that, in all
free governments, there must exist con.
trolling, conservative power to check the
natural extravaganza Of Legislative action
and to preserve the rights of tue people
against the foolish innovations Of noisy, un.
reflecting political agitators.
The Senate Of Sparta had % members
elected Tor life from among the principal
class of citizens, over GO years of age, and
exercised the high conservative power o
preparing and digesting all laws and ordi
nanccs for the assemblies Of the people
From want of proper accountability fo
its administration, this body grew too indie
pendent of the people, and frequently cxer
cised undue power and influence. Phe
Ephori subsequently placed a check upon il
legislative will but they, in turn, became too
.Arsto,ls-Poli,ics Book rr.-and De Russell. Lib
H. Cap.2.
tCicero.