The Kansas herald of freedom., 1858-12-11
DisceiiaiQeous.
Tho Question Of Colonial Government.

The other day, in long harangue de-
livered at Richmond, before an Agricul-
tural Society, Caleb Cushing, the late
Attorney General of the United States,
and at present claiming to be one Of the
leaders of the Democratic party, argued
in favor of extending the jurisdiction of
our government over the neighboring
provinces of Mexico. What enlargement
of our boundaries in this direction may
yet take place, we cannot say; we have
already acquired a portion of the Next
can territory as large as the area of the
original thirteen States Of the Union, and
as it is the tendency Of strong race of
men to extend their power, influence and
possession, it may be that more of it is to
be merged in our Republic. If it should,
an important Question will arise. What
sort of government shall be provided for
those who inha5it it?
Shall we give them a colonial govern
ment, in imitation of ancient Rome and
modern England?
1t seems 70 Us that this question
answers ITSELF Rome exercised over her
colonies a tyranny which has dishonored
her history. The excuse for holding
Spain and other countries under such a
government was, that unciyilized races,
Speaking barbarous dialects and practising
customs wholly diverse from those of
Rome, were not fitted to form part of
the same great community with the Ro-
mans. Accordingly, Rome governed them
proconsuls, as the present and previous
Administration has sought to govern Kan
sas. The Roman proconsuls were, even
under the Republic, the most rapacious
and cruel of men; they pillaged and
wasted the provinces they governed; the
Roman people were debauched and cor
rupted by the wealth they brought home,
and the conquests and colonies of Rome
brought on her decline and fall. The ex-
ample of England is not one for us to fol-
low. We rebelled against her colonial
government as a grievous tyranny and
threw it of. Her government of India
By proconsuls and other officials, has
proved dsplorable failure, and she is now
occupied reconstructing her system o.
dominion with the uncertain hope of Z
result The possession of her colonies
makes large standing army necessary
with numerous and most costly navy
ard places in the hands of those who rule
al enormous patronage and vast means OIL
influence. We can desire none of these
things for our own government.
Ii the history of our country be pro-
test against colonial government, so also
is the spirit Of otir institutions. A simple
government, as inexpensive as may
be, as little numbered with magnificent
and costly establishments, and endowed
with as few means Of influence by the
power Of dispensing gifts, are peculiaritie:
which form part of the essential idei
Of our government. In their origin, tht
communities which now form our repub
lie were grounded on the great republican
idea of the rightful power of the people
In their own homes. Hence we prize tn,
town system of government. These form
should only give place to more genera
ones when more general interests are t.
be secured, requiring more power and NOR
extended combinations but in all case
the idea Of an external authority is abso
lutely excluded. 7l
The effects of nonresident govern
ment upon the governed is to repress men
tai activity and keep them always un6
for governing themselves. Men are SLOW
to acquire powers which are never to b
called into action. Another deplorabl
consequence is to make them ignorant o
all matters of government Nor is tn
effect more friendly to morals. ALI his
tory shows that communities and races O
men kept in an inferior condition los
selt-respect, and acquire the vices of
degraded caste. There are not wantin
those who think they see, in the popula
ton OF the District of Columbia itself, tn
germ OF these evils, already rising int
growth. Governed, as it is, by a powe
which lite Inhabitants do not aid in cor
shutting, and which they cannot hold
any responsibility, it forms an anomaly j
our political system. Its people, denie
tne rights Of American freemen, are with
out any stimulus to understand the scienc
Of government and the proper duties
legislation. A large population is grow
ing up IN the shadow of the Capitols car
oidAtes for this state Of ignorance an
degeneracy, and it will be for the state
men OF our country to see whether an
practicable system can be devised to mak
them the equals of the people of Il
States. rs,
We have witnessed for years the abus
which spring from this system Of govern
lug q country by POWER stationed with6u
we have seen q Democratic Pfesidel
sendingou his prOconsuls tosfule pc
pie with whom they had no identity