Daily national Democrat., 1858-12-23

ing past questions tnan present issues Ad-
hitting this latter proposition to be true, we
think Mr. Buchanan's chances for an indorse
ment at the hands of posterity are more
doubtful than if the precise contrary were
the case. But, however customary it may be
to talk about posterity reversing the iudg-
ments of former times, there is more or less
cant in it. Posterity as frequently confirms
as it reverses the judgments of predecessors.
But, whatever its decisions may he, we con-
tend that after generations are no more ca
pable of moking up correct conclusion up.
on matters involving vital principle than
were those who lived before them especial
ly in regard to those affairs which affect the
character of the Government under which
they live There are always two sets of opin-
ions where political questions are discussed,
on every Issue of principle which is raised
The principle involved does not die out with
the time in which the issue was raised but
lives on through many and varions issues
which subsequently arise in the history of
the country. Succeeding generations do not
lose their interest in the discussions and agi-
tations of former period, because the same
principle affects them, although it may be in
different way as well. Those men of a
subsequent period who happen to be consti-
tuted in the same manner as those of a form
er period, will be very apt to look upon any
given question of that same first mentioned
period in very nearly the same light, and, the
same facts being before them, will come to
precisely the same conclusions So that two
sets of opinions on one and the same thing
will run along down through the whole
length of history. The policy of the Gov
ernment becomes settled in a certain path,
and so permanently that it cannot be changed
without revolution, ard yet there are always
subjects or citizens Of that Government who
still think that the policy determined upon
was wrong and that a wrong principle was
incorporated into the body polite. The pub.
lie sentiment of England, for instance, crush
ed out the pretensions of the Stuarts as to
the divine rights of Kings" and the unlimi-
ted extent of the royal prerogatves But
there are men in England, to this day, who
think the Stuarts were right and regret the
defeat of the measures for which they con-
tended in the face ofa angry and determined
people. There are always a class of persons
in every country who are naturally inclined
to bow the knee to power, to play the syco-
nhapt IN 10 I,il1 ~, blootoJ o,;,
tccracy at the expense of the happiness ofthe
general masses, to let principle go for expedi-
ency, and to do all those acts and things /
which tend to consolidate power in the hands
of the few and to steal it away from the ma
ny. Snch men, we say, are il every country, |
and in every generation. They are common
to all climes and seasons, and when they come !
to sit in the capacity of this much vaunted
impartial posterity,' and to pronounce upon
the acts of tyrants, or of those who in any
manner seek to rob the people of their
rights, their verdict may very readily tie an
ticipated. But, men who love liberty, who
prefer principle to expediency and justice to
policy, win as manfully oppose tyranny and
as rigidly adhere to principle and justice, in
one age as another. The honest indignation
which met the attempt of James Buchanan to
violate the great doctrine of the individual
and collective sovereignty of the American
people, and their right to frame their own
fundamental laws, in their own best way and
manner, will as naturally burst forth in the
generous bosoms of posterity, when they come
to read the history of the events which are
connected with it, as it did in the first in
stance in our own day and generation. But,
Federalists or those statesmen and thinkers
who, for the sake of a temporary expediency
would not hesitate at any time, to rob the
people of their sovereignty, and to establish
precedents for encroaching upon those rights
which are constitutionally guaranteed to
them, will, probably, to the latest period of
our Unions history, make haste to declare
that Mr.. Buchanan was right to disregard, as
he did, the will of the people in the matter
Of the Lecompton Constitution. The "impar-
tial verdict of posterity," when it is pronoun-
ced by Federalsts and those who have but
little faith in the capacity of the people to
govern themselves, will undoubtedly be for
Mr.. Buchanan; but, when it is pronounced
by the true friends of liberty, of American
liberty, the liberty whose palladium is the
Ballot Box, it will be one of condemnation
against the present venerable" Chief Magis-
trate of the United States, for his course in
regard to Kansas
The only manner in which Mr.. Buchanan
can prevent such a verdict against him, is to
do as one of the Chinese Emperors did, who
was desirous of being handed down to pos
terity as very great man when he was
quite conscious that he was not-kill off all
the writers opposed to him, burn up all the
records eotemporaneous with himself, and ap-
point historian with special instructions, on
pain of death, to write him up" in the most
approved style, put halo of glory around
his head, and send him down to coming gem
eratons with "a good recommend" of his
crackter.