Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-05-28

property IS the main object Of society. Mr. King
said, property is the primary object Of society
Mr.. Butler nteudedstrenuOusly that property was
the only just measurer OF representation. This
the great object Of government; the great
Of war; the great means Of carrying it on. Mr..
Madison said that in future time great majority
Of the people viii not only be without landed, but
any other sort Of property. These will either COM
bine under the influence Of their common situation
--in.Which case the right Of properly and the pub
lie liberty will not be secure in their hands-or,
what is more probable, they will become the tools Of
Opulenoe snd ambition Gouverneur Morris again
said give the votes to the people who have no pro-
perry, and they viii sell them the rich who will
be able to buy them. We should not confne cur
attention to the present moment The time is not far
distant when this country will abound with meohan-
les and manufacturers who will receive their bread
from their employers. Will such men be the secure
and faithful guardians Of libertyr Madison re
marks that those who oppose the property basis Of
representation, did so the ground that numbers
Of people was fair index to the amount Of proper
ty in any district"
These are not notions entertained by me; but
they are important as the notions of some Of our
public men at the early formation Of our Govern
ment. 1 entertain no such notions If, however,
the Senator from Alabama holds that property is
the main object and basis Of society, he, above all
other men, ought 10 20 for this bill, to place
every can in the possession Of home and an in
terest in the country. The very doctrine that he
lays down appeals to him trumpet-tongued, and
asks him 10 place these men in condition where
they may be relied upon. His argument Is unan-
sWerable, if it be trde, in favor of the homestead
bill. 1t is taking men out Of a dependent condl-
ion It is preventing this Government from sinking
into that condition that Rome did in her decline.
l ask him now, if he entertains these opinions, as
promulgated il his speech, come up and join with
in the passage Of this bill, and make every man.
lie held inf Cd in ia
country, give him basis to settle upon, and make
him reliable at the balot-bOx.
His speech is a fine production. I heard it with
interest at the time it was delivered l hold the
opposite to him. Instead Of the voice of the peo-
pie being the voice of q demon, 60 back to the
old idea and favor the policy Of populaTiziDg ali
our free institutions. We are Democrats oocu-
pyiBg position here from the South; we start to-
gether, but we turn backs upon each other very
seOn. His policy would take this Government fur
Their from the people. go in a direction to POpu-
larZe It, and bring ii to the people. There
is better illustration Of this than that old maxim
which is adopted in all cur ordinary transactions,
that eff you want thing done, send somebody to
do it; if you want it well done, 60 and do it your
self" II applies with great Iorce in governmental
affairs in individual affairs and as we can ad-
vance and make the workings and operation Of our
Government familiar to and understood by the
people, the better for u.s. lssy, when and wherever
1t is practicable let the people transact their
business; bring them more in contact with their
Government and then you will arrest expenditure,
you will arrest corruption, you will have a purer
aud better Government.
1 hold to the doctrine that man can be advanced
that man can be elevated; that man can be more
exalted in HE character and condition. We are
told, high authority, that he is made in the i'm
age Of his Coo; that he is endowed with certain
amount Of divinity. And believe man can be ele
waited; man can become more and more endowed
with divinity; and he dses he becomes more
God-like in his character and capable Of governing
himself. Let gONon elevating our people, per
feeling our institutions until democracy shall Teas
such point Of perfection that We eXelaim with
truth that the voice of the people is the voice Of
God.
As I said, have entertained different notions
from those iDculcaed by the honorable Senator. If
Ientertsined his notions, then should be for the
homestead l hold 10 my hand a document that
was proclaimed in l776:
" We hold these truths to be self-evident: that
all men are created equal; that they endowed
by their Creator with certain inalienable rights
that among these are life, liberty, aud the pursuit
Of happiness; that to secure these rights govern
ments instituted among men, Just deriving their
powers from the consent of the governed"
Is property laid down there as the great element
and the great basis Of society? Il is only one; and
Mr. Jefferson laid it down in the Declaration of
Independence that it was a sef-evident truth that
government was Instruction. what? To protect
men in life, liberty, and the pursuit Of happiness
That is what Mr.. Jefferson said And who endOrs ed
it? The men who framed the Declaration Of indie
pendeDce, not going upon the property idea, that
that was the only element of society. This was the
doctrine established by those who proclaimed
independence. Life, liberty, and the pursuit Of
happiness were hr,e great elements OF government,
and not properly exclusively When the declara
Jion forth from the old Congress hail. 1t came
forth Of fro nd 10Th Ii 6eola cd
that the security IF life and liberty and the pursuit
Of happiness, we're the three great elements of gov
eminent. Mr. Jefferson, in his first inaugural ad-
dress, which is the greatest paper that has ever
been written in this Government, and l commend il
to the reading of those who say they Democrats
by way Of refreshing their memories, that they may
understand what are correct Democratic principles,
says:
Sometimes it is said that man cannot be trusted
with the government Of himself Can he then, be
trusted with the government of others? Or have
we found angels IN form of kings to govern him
Let history answer this question
Mr.. Jefferson seems to think man can be trusted
with the government of himself In the the Deca-
ration OF Independence he does not embrace pro-
perty in fact, 1t is not referred to- But am will
ling 20 cOneede that it is one Of the primary and
elementary principles in government Mr. Jefferson
declares the great truth that man is to be trusted;
that man is capable Of governing himself, that
he has a right to govern himself In the same nau-
gUral address Of Mr.. Jefferson, we find the passage
usually attributed 10 RashingtOns Farewell Ad
dress which has got universal circulalion-that we
should pursue our own policy; that should pro
mote own institutions, maintaining friendly re-
lations with all, entauging alliances with none
Let US carry out the doctrines Of The inaugural
address Of Mr.. Jefferson; let carry ont the great
principles laid uown in the Declaration Of Iudepend
ence, which this homestead bill embraces
But wish TO call attention to some other authority
on this subject. As cOntradistinguished from the
views of Senator from Alabama, Ipresentthe views
of a recent writer as in accordance with my own
notions Of Democracy:
'The Democratic party represents the great priu-
ciple of progress. 1t is onward and outward in its
movements. Il has a heart for action, and motives
for world. It constitutes the principles Of ditfu
si0o snd is to humanity what the centrifugal force
is to the revolving Orbs Of universe What motion
is to them, Democracy is to principle, 1t is the soul
in action Il conforms to the providence Of God. Il
has confidence in man, and an abiding reliance in
his high destiny. 1t seeks the largest liberty, the
greatest good, and the surest happiness Il aims to
build up the great interests Of the many to the least
detrmeut Of the few. 1t remembers the past with.
out negecting the present. lt establihes the pres
emit, without fearing to provide for the future. 1t
cares for the weak while it permits no injustice to
the strong 1t COnqUers the OppressOr and prepares
the subjects Of tyranny for freedom Ii mehs the
bigots heart TO meekness, and recOnces his mind 10
knowledge. IL ulspels the clouds OF Ignorance ana
superstition, and prepares the people for instruction
aud self-respect. It adds wisdom to legislation, and
improved judgment to government Itfavors enter
prise that yields a reward to the many and indus
try that is permanent It's the pioneer of humanity
the conservator Of nations. It fails only when
il ceases to be trueto itself Vor popuF Uoz Del
proved to be both proverb and a prediction.
''It is mistake TO suppose that Democracy may
not be advanced under different forms of govern
ment It's own, 1t should be remembered, is the
highest conventional form, that which precedes the
lofty independence of the individual spoken of by the
Apostle to the Hebrews, who will need government
but from the law which the Lord has placed in his
heart.
"Iu one respect, all nations are governed upon
the same principle; that is, each adopts the form
which it has the understanding and the power to
sustain There is in all greater or lesser power,
and it requires no profound speculation to decide
which will control A tyrannical dictator may do
more to advance the true interests of Democracy
than q moderate sovereign who is scrupulously
guarded By an antiqUated constitutions for the yraut
adds vgor to his opponents by his deeds of oppres
sion.
The frequent question as to what form Of govern
nent is best is often answered without any refer
ence 10 condition or application Of principles There
can be properly but one answer, and yet the appl-
cation Of that answer may lead to great diversity Of
views.
.sWhen 1t is asserted that the Democratic form of
is unuuestiOnably the BEST l. must be