The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1857-08-19
From the National In,clligencor.
THE SPREAD OF LAwLEssNEss.

Our readers, we hope. will be able TO bear
US witness that il is not our habit 10 indulge
in elaborate homilies on the evils OF the time,
or To despair OF the Republic in the presence
Of either the acute or the chronic distempers
by which it is from time to time afflicted.
Some weeks ago, however. IN view OF that
general spirit OF INSTRUMENTATION which found
a melancholy illustration in the riotous pro,
ceedinss that have recently disgraced nearly
all Of the larger cities in our country, we
felt constrained TO remark upon the evil aa-
guIies inspired by such excuses, as well as
| the reproach they being upon free instltu.
lions throughout the civilized world. That
tie iaw.abiling and conservative portion d
the people constitute very large majority
of the community will be qucstlOned BY none.
and, if their power is not more yisibiy recog-
nised and more sensby lelt in the practical
conduct of affairs, the fault lies mainly at
their own doors, and is the result Of their
criminal neglect in the discharge Of the civil
duties incumbent upon them.
II i quite easy. we are aware, T. utter,
ii fluentexcuse aud virtaous palliation 81 such
abstinence On their part. SET Of common
places on the "degraiation Of partisan poll.
tics" the I" low resort 81 denagngism." aud
other such descriptive phrases II the curren;
tine, WHICH. however, IN proportion to their
4 iruthfulness, should rather be cited IN con-
domination ol those whose apathy and indf.
/ ference have given room for the rise and iull
sc0pe for the development OF the malisn IN.
i fuences and tendencies which so many pro-
Tess 10 deplore. The Athenan law gIyer,
whose statutes visited with capital punish
ment the renuuciatiOn Of the franchises and
obligations Of freeman, has printed, as with
a pea of iron, the moral which enjoins upon
all who would seek To- share in the rights to
partake also in tine duties Of a common eit.
zenship. II good men refuse or neglect to
combine for the promotion OF their country ;
welfare, what wonder that bad men Should
proceed to conspire for the prosecution Of
their own selfish ends: II the sirtuOus, the
orderly, aud the conservative shall turn in
disgust from the evils they Jescry, what hope
remains that these evils will ever be eradi-
Gated from the BODY polite: Having ascer.
tanned the causes Of that melancholy decline
10 public virtue which all patriotic citizens
lame mt, il is for these latter to apply the re.
( medy which is placed within their rrach. by an
active and conscientious discharge OF the i'm
perative duties imposed upon them by the
obligations Of American citizenship. Sumo
! Of these causes lie on the surface; and Il q
! portion OF the zeal which Is now directed q
/ their apprehension were expended in earnest
and concerted effort for their removal, we
might sooner hope % stiffness the reinstatement
, u law and order throughout the land. In
view IL tie causes which have brought about
thisdeterioration Of our political morality, and
~ -
4 already descended. some 81 our cnniempora.
ries, We observe, are drawing hopes 81 a change
TOR the better from the very despair inspired
BY The alarming prevalence 81 Iawlessness il
our midst. and IS the tliiekest darkness Is said
70 herald tie approach Of Day. ;, 10 the very
. exces. u these popular maladies they dis
cern "lgerm q corrective" TO this effect 4
/. conservative journal, the Near Orleans Bee
. 10 recent article On tie reiguing spirit d
: riot aud disorder IN the country, remarks a.
: follows:
"What has come over the land! Whene,
| this fearful degenerscy which seems To pro
gtess with terrible rapidity, corrupting III,
{ very heart aud centre Of tie body poliliri
]. Is tie experiment Of representative demo
a efaey about TO prove failure Are IL,
j. American people really incapable Of self
II government. DO the evils which Oppres
v proceed from tie inherent vices Of ou
j, Constitution, and It's want Of adaptation {,
J. the mebta aud moral capacity Of tie race
/ Must we hy for refuge from criminal sedi
e ton, uBhalOWed license, aud continued out
E rage, TO another aud a stronger form Of gov
i. erHmeni; seek shelter from the irreeuess o
!. rampant democracy in political institution
similar 20 those which flourish IN the 0i,
i World; substitute an oligarchy or eUBsti
e tutionsl monarchy for rspnblieanism rui
4 mad; We think not. We cannot believe
tl,at the intelligent and educated masses
J. which often compose 50 large a proportion o
!. tie people--are more united Tor the ap
Z probation 81 the blessings d freedom, sane
i toned, protected, and regulated By law, thai
Z they we're forty years ago.
!. w causes which have combined 10 pro
duce this lamentabie tendency to tumuit AM
/. disorder hsye been ID operation fur somi
] time, and are now yielding their legitimat,
/. fruit. Prominent amongst them ID the prucli
j siiy to radicalism. Dissatisfied with the buun
!. ieDus share " liberty awarded 10 every citizen
i drmagOgges have successfully sought 70 rem
der iie gIft It'll more acceptable BY gradually
= stripping L " nearly every curb and cheek.
!. FIRST one sound principle and then another
has been Obhtersied Or declared obsolete
( One u the gro.sest errors " Tie age, an e..
! rOr 10 whiCl, AZ Of Us have more o. less par