Smyrna times., 1856-10-29
The Coming Elections.

ions Tor our citizens 10 begin thinking serious IN
y .ef what they are 10 decide aud what part NJ
they will take in them. In an elective govern Fl
,nent every thing depends "pon the patriotism ia
of the people. They are sovereign-~they pos
sess. says the Philadelphia JoUraGt, supreme ds
r.ntrur over the laws and their administrat tion,
in having ,he choice Of those who make and F
.xecu,e the laws With this power is dsvolv. b
ed of course, a corresponding responsibility {,
If r.uublics have, in. former times, been unsta. Y
hle and short.liyed--lf Inconsistency III their So A
cal and civil fortunes has invariably marked {
their career, and they have made rapid pro-
ytess from prosperity to decay aud dissolution, {
i, WAS because the people. becoming indifferent
and faithless to their own liberties. permitted
sy dema gogues or usurped by tyranta A free
State 10 never in more real danger thaH when
it'd citizens neglect TO avert those evils and
periIs which threaten It's constitution.
Itisa against this indifference to tie public
welfare in times of excitement and rsshness
like The present that we would warn The CON-
maniiy. Weak or bad men may get at the
head Of affairs, legislatures may enact lnjudi-
sisus iass. Judges may err in their decisions or
prostitute their ,fanctionss aud every otheer OF
ths State. from the hamblest 10 the highest,
,.x, manifest unworthiness for his particular
place. yet the public liberties are safe. provided
the people will remain true and steadiast IN
their rloyalty to the great Fundamental principles
of their political system, and prevent by their
saffrages the triumph of those who would sub
vert them ia the pursuit of an imaginary good.
sr some temporary exped'ency. As long as
this defence is preserved, we u'ay feel assured
that 40 fatal innovation upon the Constitution
can occur. But If the concern Of the multi
,ude for the integrity of their government, as
framed and uaderstood by its founders, cools
into apathy f; if their vigilance in protecting II
against the designs Of those who are striving
to Invade it's real powers and 10 make 1t the IN
slrumeh, of enforcing false theories OF poIitI
cal duty aud policy. is superseded by istless
mess. or imposed upon by the error of Opin'o
which sometimes seizes hold Vi the poPula
mind i'm seasons of extraordinary agitation an
excitement, then. indeed. we may feel painful
.pprehensive for the peace Of the country an
the safety Of it's institutions. A...
"A co.omruity may exhibit this sort of declin
In satriosism in the manner of exercising Ii
e,xctiye franchise, or in the neglect to exerci'
Il. Judged by this criterion, our citizens ha'
ofseu betrayed, if not a want of interest IN IL
vublic welfare, an ignorance Of how direct
aud largely that welfare rs dependent on The
E votes. We are persusded that whenever
any election, fall, or anything like fall ve
can be obtained, the voice of the many is ma
ofssa ON The side of sound policy aud saiu's
measures. > The triumphs that error or CORR
tion have won--and they have won too ma
tor The honor and happiness OF the country
and the ascendancy which they have acquII
i'm the government must be attributed not
much TO the active efforts Of the dishonest |
,he ignorant, who never preterrnit The ust
their political rights aud privileges, as TO
supineness aud silence of the virtuous and
enlightened classes, who too frequently act
ifthey possessed gone of the rights and nom
the interests of citgeas. Were every II
vidusl voter, whose private felicity and
tunes, as we'll as his moral Instinct aud ju
u,eui. naturally enlist him on the side Vt v
and lest administrsti ton Of the laws, 10 exert
prerogative Of suffrage on all Ucca asions, Il
would be a sure guarantee at least, thai wi
ever other mischiefs might be suffered IN
conduct of public affairs, the government il
would never be wrested violently and gro
from the settled Limitations aud vital eondii
of its constitution, There is now we tea
crisls impending. in which the elementary &
aa,ioas and powers OF the Federal system
coastituies the Union Of the States, are ihr
eped with serious encroachmeni, it not C
pless overthrow, and we would, therefore.
monish every citizen to consider soberiy
s.leasnly the part he should act in nlo,a
nus an exigency. ln making up his iudgu
IN the matter, there is one leading truth W
he should steadily keep IN view. and iha
that If the CONSTITUTION If the Republic be
served, meFe shuses of administration ma
cnrsd, bat with the CONSTITUTION sgbye
there muul be an end OF all government,
---~~~~---
CouRr PRocEgDssGs.--The Court W
commenced at Dover on Monday, is prog
ing through the business. We have not Il
ed much concersing its doings, bu, umdsr'
that the cases are mostly for violation o.
Pruhlbslory Law. Next week We will
the proceedings. f's. ..rf .u.- IS .s
by sbe way. We understand that sever
tls yiolalors ip slaese parts whose case
been given 10 the grand jury. took leave Q
town. Oh Monday morning, TO y parts uako'
tss ! isw days, or until after the adjourn
.T Court. Can they thus evade aswIIt- wi
jyssics' 70 Nous Fsrrons. @'sat 2a+'".
-. ,,r..-.t,ertf -, fH 3df ,eltstt
Faox NIcARAeuA--ny The arrival o
.ysnB.ssee. at New Orleans. we have
..sws from Nicaragua. Prom soIn-wha
ssauecscd dispatch. il seems that Wa
tsrers spa the Guatemalians have had Iw'
lsssas 2, Masssys and Granada' from b.
.uh.rl, nl.ces the lGuatelna llans were d