Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-12-11
TOO MUCH GOVERNMENT.

TOO MUCH GOVERNMENT.
AsParadOxical as it may seem, too much govern
nent has been the curse of the world and hence
the aPhorism that "the people who are governed the
least are governed best" Under pure despotsm
the people are governed most, and, consequently,
.0OrH; whilst under strictly Democratic in its
character, they are governed least and, consequent
ly' 6s's. Nedo not mean that laws should be loose
administered, but the very reverse. Such laws
as are necessary, Of character that should be
ngldly enforced. They are such laws as involve
''hfs, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" These
are the insenable rights of every freeman and are
to be guarded with unceasing care Our reference
Is to government in its original sense, and as ap-
Piled to the sovereign power.
Through ages upon ages, the incapacity of man
for self-government has been denied and the MANI
have been subjected to the JfeV. Kings, claiming
BY Divine right, have ruled the world the poor
have been the vassals of the rch and the osqk the
Abjest servants Of the strong. Humanity has never
submitted willingly to this bondage, but has strug-
ged from age to age, through interminable wars to
free itself from It. Inch by inch it has achieved its
victories, but IN no instance has the triumph Of
principle been made without great sacrifice of hu-
man toll and blood
But government has, nevertheless. been progress
EiVe- The science of politics, like most other
sciences, hiss received great improvement The eff
oaoy Of various principles is now well understood,
winch were either not known at all, or mperfeetly
Known to those who have preceded US 1t is diff
cult to realize that ours is the only free government
upon the globe, and that it has scarcely yet ceased
to be regarded, as with our revolutionary fathers.
as mere experiment. 1t may not be an expert
nent now, and yet it may cease TO be perpetual 1t
has been wisely said that eternal vigilance is the
price of liberty" and that without the price, we can
expect to enjoy the blessing. Power is constantly
stealing from the many to the few. Instead of les
SEEMING the inequalities in life, there is never-ceas-
ing tendency to increase them. Those who have
wealth, want more wealth. and those who have pow
err strive to aseit. Poverty and weakness, on
the contrary, have reverse tendency, and left un
aided. grow poorer and more poweress.
The theory of our institutions is in positive con-
Hiet with the theory of al other governments in the
world Their policy has been to ssntralizs power
and privileges in the hands of the m Ours has been
to distribute them among the many. Their policy
has been to vest all sovereignty in the government.
Ours has been to recognize sovereignty in man and
preserve it with the people. They have labOred to
make the people subserve the government We have
abored to make the government subserve the psopLs
Government with them is for the good of the tsy:
with us it is intended for the good of the manu-.
Their motto has been-rank, prerOgative and privi-
lege-whilst our boast is the perfect liberty and po
itcal equality of all its citizens
Such government requires but little legislation,
and may be greatly damaged from having too much
Of it. What is there to legisate for But few laws
and they of permanent character, are neces-
sary to define the general rights of the citizen and
provide the penalty for their violation All egisla
ton aside from these general aims and ends, en-
crOaches upon doubtful authority; is delicate in its
character; is but seldom justified and tends to the
establishment of customs and presidents exceedingly
dangerous in their character.
What free people most need, is to be let alone.
They understand their material interests, better
than the government understand it for them. With
US the government is thing of our own creation,
and in its bOunties is but presumng to distribute to
us our own wealth. As far as we concede to it the
right to do so, encourage authority that may
turn and rob US. So in the exercise of privileges
free people have all the prerogatives that govern
ment can legitimstey give them; and whenever the
Legislature assumes the authority Of charging the
privileges Of feV it takes that much from the
equality Of the many, ana to that extent destroys
the republican character of our institutions.
Have not this character of dangers seriously null
tiplied upon in the last few years Has not pow
er been rapidly CENTRALIzING, and institutions
losing much Of their republican simplicity? Why
ig n inf md n
more rapidly in population, than the country? How
is it that privileged corporations with peculiar grants
of power which the many have not, have become 20
numerous in ell the States? How is that all of
leading interests, affecting and controlling every
GLASS of society, in the hands of these char
tered corporations and monied powers? How is it
that the idea has obtained general belief that CAPT
tai can do nothing without chartered privileges, and
that simple labor can do nothing with theml Why
is it that the great masses potent with the for
tunes of politicians during canvass, have become
90 poWe-less after it?
These questions about which the people should |
think The time is at hand when they must think, |
their government will in another quarter of q |
century have assumed form which nothing but |
revolution change. The few are every day |
growing stronger while the many are growing freak
sr. The few are growing richer while the many are
growing poorer. The few have the purse, and m0y |
in time have the sOord 1t is necessary, therefore,
that the great interests of the people should
be looked to, and that the barriers in society," which
class legislation has been building up, should be
broken down 1t is necessary that a change in the /
system Of legislation, which has marked the country
for some years past, should be had Let honest |
democrats look to it. Let the subject be agitated.
Let the sense Of the people be aroused to the facts
as they exist and once understanding their danger,
they viii not hesitate to apply the corrective.