Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1857-12-11
For The CrOniele.
DUTY OF AMERICAN CITIZENS.

can citizen in these latter days, is more !
than to be Eurpean King. Upon every
station in life and. espeacily upon exhaul
ted stations, certain duties are incumbent
which cannot be neglected with impunity
and ought not to be discharged unwilling
ly. How much every individual, as a
loyal patriot, is bound to do for his coun-
try, / will not assume the province to
determine. We may do too little; but be
assured we cannot do too much: we can
not honor our country with too deep
reverence; we cannot love. her with an
affection too pure and steadfast. The
vow of allegiance to our government
which every citizen must take upon him,
involves responsibilities as much surpas-
sing those of subject to his king, as the
privileges of our government surpass those
of kingdom. ..t4.f.. .st.t .;f
A republican government is vested in
the sovereign people; and it is most
imperative duty of each individual to take
part in the administration of the govern
ment. Some we'll meaning men and would
be philanthropists stand aloof as if they
had no part or lot in the matter. To
such ] would say "You are as much
bound to help make and execute laws as
you are to obey them. IL.
If you refuse or neglect to do these
things you forfeit your right to "life,
liberty, and the pursuit of happiness
under our government. You cannot urge
that You have no interest in politics, for
your dearest earthly interests are in the
keeping of your country. Do men of in
tegrity offer the excuse that politics has
become a mass of corruption? l return
the excuse as the strongest reason why
they should have hand in it. Though
this class is small, it comprises large
share of the moral integrity of the coun-
try, and therefore would call it out. At
present our best men have the least to do
with our political affairs Our govern
ment is chiefly administered by the most
dangerous, because the most accomplished
knaves. l speak not as a partizan for /
have never sbeen one. What a state OF
things does it argue when simple allu-
sion to "higher la,o," a law of conscience,
raises general scoff through our Senate
halls-when it transpires that a large
, number of our most confidential states
: men are guilty or repeated bribery-when
the only safety to our treasury and our
government is in poverty?? We are apt
to shut our eyes against painful truths,
but not to know these things is consumate
stupidity-not to provide against them
must prove our future destruction.
Politics and integrity are divorced, and
unless there be a reunion, the stars of our
republic will be quenched in a night of
blood. The Commander of our Ship of
/ State has fallen out with the Pilot, and
unless they be reoonciled, VIC shall sink
in the vortex of anarchy. Our Legislative
halls are occupied by autometons, of no
more self significance than algebraic
symbols. They are moved to the right or
left, backward or forward, by party, like
the figures of chessboard. 1t has be.
come almost political impossibility for
an honest man to be elected to Office He
6 will not resort to the deceitful wirepulling
and foul knavery necessary. If he had
!. rather "be right than be PRESIDENT he il
not qualified for the Office. The past
, twenty years have either buried or ex.
cluded from office, one by one, nearly all
our race of patriots, Washington, oul
Father is dead; d. aps ~.
"Long shall we seek bis likeness long 10 vain
And turn to all OF him that may remain,
Signing that nature formed but one such man,
Anc broke the dis in moulding Washington
Webster sleeps too soundly to awake and
quell the fanatic shouts of New England
r sons. The mortal part of Clay lies wrap
/, ped in its mantle beneath the shades Of
Ashland. His spirit has crossed the
: boundary of worlds and can never recros'
it how much sower it may desire The
mighty arm of Jackson lies nerveess or
: his breast. We cannot rest upon it fol
t salvation "Hushed is his stormy voice
and quenched the blaze of his red eyeball.
Our hope must be in the living and moi
> in the dead. t.
], Let the dissolution of our Union b.
sacredly held above discussion. Let th'
), mass of our population be thoroughly
enlightened by an uncOrrupted press