Smyrna times., 1857-06-24
Society Its Government.

There are but few persons, however embit
tutes for strict moral regulations, who, whe
questioned on the necessity of unbending jus
tIce and moral intrepidity in the administrator
of civil affairs, that would not at once acknow
necessary for the protection of the weak ant
helpless. aud an indispensable in government
as a ground of civil confidence. Were it no
for such regulations, the weak would be entire.
ly at the mercy Of the strong--their property
would be insecure, their civil and religious lib
erty would be trampled upon, they would be
subject to every whim and caprice of their
strong foes. and their lives would even be in
constant jeopardy. This spirit seems dominant
among a certain class of men we have but TO
look around, and we clearly see an exhibit of it,
For few paltry picayunes, the spirit of de-
st'uction, like the destroying angel, is sent on
i ! mission of sorrow, robbing the devoted wife
Of a once kind and affect.onate husband, the
widowed mother OF her only support. aud the
dOting father Of h hopeful son. This is only
one of The channels through which courses the
tide Of despOtiSm. Avarice. ambition, hatred,
envy, aud many other evil passions. rule and
rankle in the human breast, and, when unre-
strained by civil cOmpacts, make man the veri-
est demon. Moral responsibility is utterly I'M
potent in controlling the actions of mankind,
aud it is only in legal enac,ments, regulating
aud cIrcumscrlbing their affairs, that society
can be properly governed. And how necessary
that all such legal regulations should be strict
ly enforced! Every civil COMPACT, to be an
object of trust. order and prosperity, demand |
the most exemplary fidelity and rigid obser-
vance of duty. THIS is true not only of the |
general powers belonging to any civil consoli- |
datOn, but it is also true Of every special branch
OF authority, which derives its existence from !
the general source. We may commence with |
our common justices AMI reason upward until |
we arrive to the supreme head OF the general
vernment; or we may commence with him
and reason down tc the lowest officer of civil
authority, and We cannot fail to observe the
close manner IN which the body polite is united
nection aud relation which one Office bears to
the other. And tina! It is as impossible for one
Of the functiOns of this civil body to became
lax in duty without most seriously effccting the
whole system, as it would be for The physical
system of living being to be h. calrhy and one
Of its organs derangcd. II this deranged organ
should be one Of the most vital ones, the effect
on the whole system would be still greater -
And if the derangemen, of one function of the
IOsy produces such an unhappy effect, what
must be the result when almost every impor-
tant one is more or less diseased,
This We conceive to be the present condition
Of our government. Many of the most vital
paris OF our system are becoming NEST fearful
ly diseased if we dare 10 Judge the Internal
cOndtiun of the body, from the sickIy aAl cor
fupted exterior The noble beacon stars of {
ruth, honesty and justice, are no longer to be [
The objects Of gaze on the part of many func-
iave been circumscrbed within the narrow {
bounds Of self-nterest, aud lowered to the /
mere furiherance of party ends or individual
avOrs. Ii laws are to be enacted, or Justice to I
'e dealt out to the hewers Of wood and drawers .
u water of the nation, there is a remarkable 1
IIsPlay of unbend'ng justice and moral Intre- |
'dity; but when exalted guilt and meanness a
re to come under the lash of law, there are to h
e found many formal deficiencies 10 indictments {
no an unusual wanr OF technical terseness and l.
Ompactness M our prohIbitory and positive e
;atstes."