The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1858-04-15

the eternal dlStates or justice, and FOLLOW them,
these dictates are divine and consequently nat
ural. Again: Government ought to prescribe
such limits to individual acton as are sane
toned by reason and natural morality" Nat
ural government does thus prescribe; some
times the uniust institutions of men do not.
Government imposes no restraints upon human
conduct, whose justice is not acknowledged
by the mass of INTELLIGENT beings. The only
true test of the legitimacy Of regulations
which are enforced ,is the promotion Of the
greatest possible amount Of happiness to all
mot the greatest number-but to all; for so.
ciety has not the power to make me suffer
though every other individual Of the race be
benefited thereby. The moral power If So
cietv is the only rightfnl executive, and this
strengthened by an enlightened intellect, will
rarely be tyranhous, but always conform to
the true rule Of happiness, which is: s'to graf
lfy all the desires of mans nature, under the
sanction Of the moral sentiments, enlightened
by the powers Of the cultivated intellect
This is the fullest enjoyment of human rights,
the exercise of the ''largest liberty" To such
a government no natural right is surrendered,
neither does good man feel its restraints.
"Government must result from the consent
of those who are bound by its laws" This
doctrine Of 'consent," is false from the bot
tom. Government in no manner results from
be governed by laws that are from everlasting
to everlasting, and there is no s'consent'' in
the matter. Man may choose to disobey all
Laws, but government is above him notwith-
standing, lashing him into submission BY her
penalties. Society has no right to make any
laws for my government. All the laws am
justly called upon to obey are older than socie-
ty, and were formed with ut the consent of
any man. They result from the moral and in
tellectual constitution of man. Ttey acknow.-
edge the equality of all men in rights, and i'm
partial in their application. All partial leg
isation is an outrage and the country is full
Of it. "Government has nothing TO bestow
upon any man; i. can only serve to protect him
in all that be hath" 1t cannot be.tow special
privileges; for all private favors are at the
public expense. Man demands free course
and clear way for the exercise of his natural
powers. "What position then. ought Just
Of charters confering special privieges?,
answer; the ground of general legislation, and
consequently'the denial of every special ap-
plication. Genera laws should be made for
satisfaction Of claims against the State in the
courts Of Justce-for the Incorporation Of
towns ard cities-and if necessary. Oh the
subject Of banking. No local or partial leg
islation should be tolerated II is the source
of much of the political corruption that af-
hicts us. The legislator, who is but the ex-
FOUNDER Of natural law for the people should
know no individual, bat have regard solely to
humanity at large. A few general laws are
all that should find place on the statute book
The extremity of physical powe: should be
rarely called into. requis'iop in the admins
tration Of government. The silent potent and
reforming moral power. should be left as far
as possible to administer its own government
'There 10 public necessity for the adop-
A Republic cannot long endure witto it.
Public virtue will perish in the halls Of spe-
cial legislation. The laws must cease to con-
fer privileges, and become the bulwark of
human rights. They must be directed to the
restraint Of vice, and not to the restraint Of
business. All laws which have not natural
morality for their foundation are the tricks of
ambition or avarice, to defraud mankind.-
The sovereign Of the world wide has legisla-
ted for man; has stamped his laws on his NOR a |
constitution; and thus provided, man needs
nothing from human legislation but the pro.
lection of his natural rights"
We have thus noticed the chapter on the
origin of human rights, ana also chapter Sec
ond on the function of government. A few
remarks or chapter third, on the constitution
of government.
The rights Of man will be insecure as long
as there are bad men in society. Hence the
necessity Of central, physical arm, as we'll
as morsl and intellectual head to restrain
the wicked and protect the good Let this
not be construed into an opinion OF ours tha:
physical government is absolutely necessary
to human happiness. This is question we
have under consideration.
"The power Of government must reside
somewhere. A few men in society are vio-
lently at war with the rights Of others New
ertheless, almost all civilized men are capable
Of appreciating the rules of right. The en-
actment and execution Of these rules consti.
tute the functions Of civil government. This
power resides with those who are entrusted in
its exercise. The American constitutions uni.
fornly declare that the people are the source
OF all political power. 1t is both their right
and duty to discharge this high moral func-
tion in their primary assemblies whenever il
IS practicable; and when they seem to relin-
quish the power Of governing, by delegating
to State officers the exercise Of certain public
functions, they do not enounce their sovreign.
ty, but are still master OF the State, retirin ,
from the direct control Of its affairs from mo-
tiyes Of convenience only" Wherever the
people directly exercise power, there is no
need Of Constitutions, their intelligence and
moral sense are the rule of action. This is
pure democracy, and is confined to small por-
tions Of territory. But great extent Of terri
tory presents an obstacle to this mode, and
hence power must be delegated to agents who