Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-09-20

the material and social NeHaEe, uOb OhIy vi was
large family OF States, but Of good governmen'
throughout the world are in the hands and keeping
of the present administrative power: interests NO
less important 10 generations that are TO come after
u.s. than to the present actors on the stage Of lie
He who would approximate to anything Ike eorrec
idea Of the heavy charge which the democratic party
has in keeping, must so back anu review the poii-
teal history # the world and calculate the tois
and struggles through which humanity has passed in
arriving at our present stand point Irrational liberty,
as now developed and enjoyed under our written
constitution and laws by the American people And
to estimate the arduousness Of the labor to be per
formed, we must learn by the wisdom Of the pas.
how easy it is TO destroy in hour p0ijes- super
structures which it has cost centuries to build up
History is full Of examples, and the American PEG
pie have no exemption from the common infrmities
which have always formed part Of our fallen
nature.
We have arrived at the conclusion, not willingly,
however, that when the democratic party for
sny length Of time to govern the country the country
as now organized will cease to exist. We say this
in no spirit of partizauism, but from earnest con
vctions We believe in the doctrine Of popularsing
cur institutions, and We know that progress has
been made in that direction and yet it IS manifest
there is, proportionably, less republcauism among
our people to-day than when cur experiment Of self
government was first started by the trainers Of the
Constitution. Who can question that If any large
proportion Of the States Of this Union occupied the
same political status that Massachusetts, does, that
our people would have reached point from which
r Ig
ure. We dc no, alu1e 70 the question Of slavery.
but to that condition Of mind and morals entering
into their political and social organizations, which
make NANTES, their he crorationi in ali The elements
of their original republican character. They have
colleges and schools, churches and cla1-ls, capital
and labor, luxury and want; but none nor all O.
these constitute well regulated liberty The mother
country had them, from which be Pilgrim T-.lsrs
fed The worst despotisus q the world have had
them
The anti-republican spirit of The times, the ab7u
dOnment and disregard of tine elementary principles
of our government, corrup.ous ana rega essacss ia
public men, are not peculiar 10 Msssae IT'S. We
only instance IL as probably ;ha ues. -.ri exam
pie for our purpose. The large proportion o. the
Northern society has given way TO E.. and II tile
present free States alone constituted the teIg-.
Government, it is questionable whether ouT Feseu
system Of free institutions could eperpg.ua.c1 luy
reasonable length oftiue.
Men are growing reckless Of principle, and pro-
portonably reckless Of consequences TO the country
The patriotism Of those who should he the standing
lights in society has heen gtyngway TO taa consider
alton Of the dollar. Men would raIer De uiIio-aircs
than statesmen, and are beginning to value p.i'ica
preferment very much they esiml.e tho stocks mt
the Exchange. Their ideas Of legislation lartaks
Of the same character. Everything is based upon
dollars and cents, and when their philanthropy
even extends beyond their own pockets to -Aelr con
stitueuls, the question is, how much richer 80 VIII
make them what additional advantages for max
max money it viii afford thom-what increased
facilities for trade and speculation il VIII give The
liberties Of ths citizeu-the rights of The CITIZEN
the actual necessities Of lie cazen-poaer .aa se-
curity. political and social equalry-Gags Dhat
concern an al sc, aul are specially dear TO .ae great
mass Of cur plain, substantial people, are -agr5-
nate, and often palPa5ly neglected
To such an extent has this eu1ancvi in leri la'i0r
gone, that many good men, forggGul uf themselves.
are filling in with The idea Er is the business o
government to take partial charge and management.
of The private concerns of its citizens. Hence SID.
hear il spoken Of pFrHa' government, SIS .a0u-a
the people were It's creatures and not il the crea
ture Of the people Hence the desire for aa..a1.f
government, as though its rsgublioauisn did not
consist in its very simp lefty.
The idea has been growing that it Is The business
ofgoverument TO make money Hence The es-h.ls.
ment o. banks and other moncyel corporation. 10
which the States have become parties Some Inv.
thought that It was the business Of government 70
build railroads for the people and carr. .a-...rts
Of the country to market. some have Though. That
it was the duty Of government to fashion a morale
of its people, and as consequence have followed
the Maiue-liquor lav-izn and all other ism. grow
ing out Of the question Of temperance reform It is
this class Of thinkers who have svarue. re oa.n-
try with petty corporations Ia .aro-s.iaa Of tle
rights Of the masses; and who would, il permitted
TO have their way, converted ou~ institutions -ato
mere corporations. centralized, unlimited il power
and ending in revolution or q king.
Against these combined evils of Inc uues-fl0at-
icism, error and corrurfion-the Democracy have
to contend; much Of which moy have creEr into
their own party. Every party has IFS household
nuisauces, and We may reasonably suppose hat U.
Democratic party has its share OF them. Tina. the
best and abes, men should be chosen TO Office a ao
necesFarv result Of our elective system, aud hose
who think aha, lhc s5unlness of the Dem. cratic
doctrine will n'wavr guarantee the party from" ..sF
ting the unworthy go honor and power, viii. .a ME-
times disappointed 70 Will happen agar, as 4 aHs
often before, that che station due tata..a. .aH.an-