Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1856-02-27

| i e5, tnlS IS the tdilStllanlc WaDu Wy WhCi
they hope to achieve the sovereign good
of society. But prudence bids US, appeal
from judgments so slightly and so rashly
formed, and to take few lessons in the
school of reason and experience. From
these, we may gather solemn warning II
is principle of our nature that" change be-
gets change )" and no propensity with which
we are endued is more than this to be held
in restraint. This feeling continually grows
by what it feeds upon, and is never content,
when allowed even the most libertine indul,
gence. Like the leech, it perpetually cries,
+" give,"" give" till drunk to safety, it be.
comes devouring element, destroying all
the conservatism in community, and scat.
tering horror, bfoodshed aud ruin in every
direction. Look to history. Look to nearly
every government, ancient or modern, and
you may trace the ruinous work of this rash
and ruthless spirit How many grand EN-.
pires, how many excellent republics, how
many admirable institutions, how many bril-.
liant national prospects has it not pulled
down, destroyed and forever blghted How
much innocent blood has it not shed! Like
some dreaded Gorgon, it has stalked forth
over the nations of the world, poisoning the
stream Of public sentiment, converting the
hearts of men into stone, and spreading ruin
and havoc in its bloody train. And in this
our own country it has already made fearful
ravages. Look at its progress here
After our Revolution there arose in these
United States system OF REPucLrcs the
excellence of which has never been surpassed
in the history of the world. Beautiful in
theory, admirable in practice, they seemed
to combine all the desired virtues within the
scope of human government. They served
to restrain the many, and to protect the few.
They kept down vice and corruption: they
elevated virtue and intelligence. They Sc
cured liberty and happiness to all. They
produced race of statesmen of which the
superiors were never before seen. In a word,
they commanded the admiration of stales-
men and philosophers, and drew eulogiums
from whole nations Mankind, seeking for
ages, after perfect scheme Of government,
looked to these as the bright Eutopia, which
had so long been the subject of the patriots
dream.
Yet in less than four.score years, how
serious the changes in most of these admira-
Bile Republics How sadly have they de-.
parted from their former purity and excel
lence! Some have changed and changed
till they are now little better than the shack
ling democracies of old Greece and Rome.
Where once order and virtue, intelligence
and patriotism reigned supreme, the turbu-
lent spirit of heartless majority controls
the affairs Of State. The great principle of
vicarious power, so wisely recognised in all
free governments Of modern times, has, in
measure, been laid aside to give place to a
formless, irresponsible exercise Of the popu.
lar will while third and fourth.rate talent
and attainments, adorned by no remarkable
virtues, are, in some places, more in demand
than the best intellects of the country. This
is no fancy sketch. Look around over this
broad land. Look to New York-the great
empire State of the Union. Her original
Constitution, pronounced by ALEXANDER
HAMILroN to he one Of the best in the world,
has already undergone its third radical
change, scarcely enough of the original be-
ing left, to mark its identity. The old two
third rule-so common in al! good govern.
ments, and so necessary 10 the preservation
of the fundamental law Of the State-has
been discarded, and bare majority may
now alter the most solemn parts Of the Con-
stitutioD. The whole clog-work Of govern
ment is effectually thrown back upon the
people, whoain addition to their Offices under
the Federal Government, now elect all their
State officers-Governor, Judges, Secretary
of State, Attorney General, Comptroller,
Treasurer, Canal Commissioners and all.
And what have been the practical results :
Has the liberty Of the citizen been increased
No: diminished rather. A wild spirit of
mobocracy has seized upon the people there.
Native Americanism, Fourierism, Socialism,
Abolitionsm, Hunkerism, and all the sense
less isms Of the day, welding for the time
the most despotic power, have been engen'
dered there with the most astonishing facili.
ty. All over the North, secret societies and
formless conventions control the most i'm.
portant affairs of State; and confusion and
anarchy reign in all their councils.
To some degree this infectious spirit has
extended South-affectng more or less, the
political institutions of Virginia, Georgia,
kentucky, Tennessee and Mississippi. And
where it will ultimately carry these States
the wisest heads cannot foresee, unless his.
tory shall be guide to their Judgments.
Shall we, too, embark our little vessel oi
State upon this broad sea Of innovation
Can we expect to avoid the shoals and
breakers upon which others have been wreck.
ed, and are fast running themselves 1t were
madness to indulge such hope. The change
proposed, if carried into effect, would soon
bring its hundred other changes. Party as.
tendency would give tone and color to all
our Legislative enactments and each rival
party would come into power on ly to undo
and overthrow the work Of its adversary, and
to appropriate to itself the spoils of the con-
quest. Wings would, in turn, displace Dem.
ocrats, and Democrats, Wings; and every
barrier to party success, though at present
deeply planted in the Constitution Of the
State, would be thrown aside with ruth.
less hand. TO reap the full harvest Of party
conquests our people wonld be annoyed by
the election Of all our State officers; The
present just distribution Of power in the
State, and our system of representation, the
wisest known to any government, would be
destroyed before two Presidential campaigns
shall have closed upon US.
Even now these various projects Of reform