Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1856-06-11

voice of God; aud i! would seem that some,
in their deiGcation cl the people, verify be-
!ievcd that they had only 10 will an end 10
accomplish il, even without the use of means.
But in the very necessity for sell govern
ment, we found an ir:clragabIc dcteuce oF
constitutional rppnliic. For, il that '"ol'
vdual is Misest who places himself most
under wholesome restraint, why should 1t
not be esteemed folly in the sau'e Ind'v'dnai
a, IL constituent Of government, 10 remove
from himself aud others checks imposed by
themselves aud Which eXpe!i,nc has proved
to he salutary!
The world will never be wiser until it
learns that spccalatous are to he confined
to matters of luith, aud that it is impossible
10 make them rules of action. The carry
ing out pure abstraction in prac''ce' Is Il
task far above the power OF corrupt human
nature. Were community beginning a'resh
to construct rcra5Iic, it coald fashion it
after no ideal form, for though it would
clec!lulIy acknowledge the great Iandamcn-
tal truths, that all power slings lrom The
| pcuplc, and that all arc free and equal, 1t
would still be obliged to limit these abstrac.
,ioHs by the sense. in all time, found rccrs-
sary for human ilnperlection they would be
obliged to blend with their poli;y, that great
unwrlten system OF liberty, which has
grown up through centuries OF experience,
under the genius Of the common law. ills
great system, Incorporated Into all Tue habI'
tudes Of our penple, is ir'bedded in our
constitution, and forms indeed, the staple OF
all the liberty we enjoy; though no parch-
mcnt scroll, under the inoss solemn SaAcIi1rS,
can by any skill compress its noL!c frame
into mcditatcd form.
We have been thus particular, Ecranse
we feel very sure that notions tho most crude
orc abroad as to what constitutes true re.
pullcanism; and that every species OF the
veriest radical;sm is vuci!crated in its name,
By men calling themselves (hut Ia!sety) the
progress party, and untruly claiming to be
ihe only friends OF the people and Liberty
In pursuance ct our argument, we assert
that pure republic can only be admins.
tered by system of well appointed agencies
4 proxy must lead its armies; for all cannot
WELD tie sword of command. AmothcI
must preside over lis treasury; for all can
not dispense The purse. Large numbers can
not readily combine; therefore, 10 smaller
bodics must he entrusted all matters rrquir'
ing skill, promptuess and energy. Foreign
policy must be conducted with system, and
therefore is conG!rd to statnsna" unity i:
not TO be expected of shifting r,njoiitics
The law must be stalle; lumuliuous masses
cannot make, administer, Or execute i; aud
thus the Legislative, Judiciary, aud executive
bowers mnst be delegated 10 sricc!ed hands
L,rrc bodies of men are never uncXcited
to twelve sworn inrors must 10 entrusted
all trials relating to property or '!e. IN
short, the power Of the people, and al t!'t
hirh preroga,ive OF government, beirG, from
the nature Of the case, exercised by proxy
over every right the individual citizen car
possess-,losc Of life, liberty, property ant
reputation, and over the sword and purse o
goycrnmcnt-why should it bc deemed uare
publican that the simple functions should
from motives OF policy, be administered, as
the one now under consideration has lol
nearly seventy years been, by agents, chosen
by the people themselves, and responsible II
them!
We maintain, therefore, that ii is Hai uare'
publican for the legislature, Tie common or,
gan Of the people, to appoint the electoral
college of the Sta:e
UPPER COUNTY,.
Friday Morning, May o, 1855.