Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1856-11-13
Dolittjtal.
MORE LEGISLATION.

tical reform, as this is particularly noticeable
and no where more than in South Carolina,
while other States are enleavoring to keep
peace with the rapid progress OF democratic
ideas and institutions, and to develope prac-
tical and useful results from the theories
which are presented to the human mind, this
State steadily adhcrcs to that old policy and
maxim, "qnictd non morere; In her ex-
trer,c desire to be conservative, (that is con-
serrotiec in the wrong sense her enterprise
and energies grow bcnumbed, until she is
more on the retrograde than the advance
Conscrraiism, Gin relation to government,)
properly defined, does not mean simply a
conservatism of what We possess, and seec-
ton of everything in the shape of innovation,
whether good or bad-it means more emphat-
icaly a treasuring up of what is good in the
past, with a disposition to increase and ad-
vance in every species of wealth, material,
tntcHcctual and political, provided such ad-
vancement be made with the sanction of
wholesome and just laws.
Aside from cur predictions for old cstab
lished institutions and usages, and our rev.
crcncc for whatever in law or government has
been sanctiGed by age, there are certain un-
deniable truths which become part and parcel
of every good government. Any State that
irrcvocably pledges itself to a policy exclu-
sivcly conservative in opposition to an ac-
quisitivc, or progressive one, is ill.adapted to
form useful member of such republic as
ours. The very vitality of nation consists
in its growth, and the development of its re-
sources, and to healthy government sup
ported by vigorous and enterprising people,
there is no old age. Decay and ruin and
death are the inevitable consequences of a
nation that has passed its manhood, and con-
sidcrs itself as having attained the maximum
of glory. This evil befell some of the proud
est States of antiquity. Let us beware of
such policy as might endangcr our exist
ence.
We have been unfortunately welded to
certain notions which ill-accord with the re-
publicanism of which we boast In repub-
licanism there are rights inherent to which
the moro expansion you give, the sccurer
they are, and the more effcctual are their
guards. \ government which processes to
be popular, should consider that the keystone
to its success and duration, does not consist
in coufning the bonds of Popular power, but
in teaching those entrusted with it, its pro-
per exercise, in enlishtcning the understand
ings, libcralzing the views, and Christening
the impulses of the popular heart.
Mans vanity is such that he is prone to
cherish and exercise with considerable eau
ton and prudence, whatever power is freely
and literally entrusted to him, and the great
aim in the government of free people,
should be to elevate the citizen to due ap-
probation of the privileges Who are chief
ly interested in this exercise of authority, and
the due administration of Government? Are
they the governors or the governed? Who
are ultimately to be benefited or injured by
the use Of power? Those upon whom au-
thority acts are the benefciaries or sufferers,
by its exercise, and consequently should be
its depositarcs. In Republic it is en-
phatically vested right of the people, and
comprchcnds the whole idea of political sov-
ereignty. The people of every important
State in this Union have testif a to the truth
of this proposition by their past legislation,
with the exception of South Carolina. Nor
can We perceive that the people ofNew York,
Maryland, Virginia or Georgia, our sister
State, arc less happy and wise, in constitut-
ing the people the direct source of power;
and making political Office -rcferrable to their
tribunal The choice of Chief Ruler of the
nation or more Immediately of Governor of
each separate commonwealth, should reside
in them, and it i'll becomes us any longer to
persist in that exclusive policy by which we
have been characterized.
The privilege of choice in the hands of the
people neither dctracts from the dignity of
the office, nor rcaxcs the aim of constitution
al power; it rather ennoblcs the officer, gives
character to his acts, and decisionin the dis
charge of his functions. Independence is
not by such means compromised to popular
caprice, for the great basis of freedom of con-
duct is the confidence of sound constituent
cy. Unbiased popular sanction is the best
foundation for authority. Is the reflection
Just, then, that the people are not fit judges
of the fitness and capacity of the officer, and
that passion too often regulates their choice !?
Is it necessary qualification of an elcctor
that he should be acquainted with the duties
that devolvc upon public functionary?-
If so, then the very course pursued by US
precludes the attainment of this knowledge
by withholding the means that would natur-
ally induce inquiry and effect popular en-
lightemcut on such subjects. Unfortunate
ly, we have not to travel far beyond our own
limits to furnish an example of this test; we
behold too manifest around us the fatal re-
suits of policy which contracts the span of