The Yazoo Democrat. [volume] (Yazoo City, Miss.) 1858-18??, 1858-12-18
POLITICAL spECULATIoNs,


without reason and left solely to the proMptings
Of animal instinct, But nature bestowed mind
upon her favorite md excelling work for the
parpose of rendering the human race inprOvable
and of enabling succeeding generations to profit
by the wisdom or folly Of their predecessors.
Reason was given to man net alone that he
should kaow what wOuld result in his own advan-
tage, but also that ne shoald see what would
benefit or damage his posterity, and shape his
actions for their profit and the gradual improve
ment Of his race. A disregard for future genera
tons and devotion 10 present ease and enjoy
rnent have characterized particular races of
mankind, as history will shew hut this spirit has
always been productive of despotisms and slavery
We read Of others which have reached high
point of enlightenment and knowledge and then
gradually descended into state of ignorance and
barbaiism far below the original level from which
history and tradition trace them. An improve
lnent in frsedom has always marked the increase
Of knowledge, and tyranny has invariably sprung
from the ashes of science.
There is cause for the ebbing Of the tide of
civilization and the downfall of nations, The
hrst is the immediate cause of the last. What
causes the first what starts enlightenment upon
its backward motion what begins the decay of
the national mind, and wcakens the mental ener-
gies of the body polite 1t would be well il
philosophy could determine and craftsmanship
could remedy. 1t is a fair presumption that
national wealth makes the people idle, (the law
giyers class, are ever the wealthiest,) and
that long security us the watchfulness of the
people. Men who have known nothing else but
freedom are hard to convince that any measure
could accomplish their subsection, and their very
incredulity frequently effects the destruction of
their liberties by binding them to the stealthy
,enCroachments of power.
The Anglo-Saxon race has unquestionably been
the most remarkable of any for energy and mental
improvement and no other has been half 50 Jealous
Of its freedom. But who shall, consequently, say
that it will always be the freest? Others have
arisen strengthened, enlarged, and fallen before
our race was developed; and they have attained
their position by innate enterprsing spirit and
y cautious scrutiny Of and resistance to every
symptom of usurpation, and have fallen because
long enjoyment of liberty had led them to think
it indestructible and riches had made them too
indolent to battle against encroachment Is not
ours liable to the same fate?
IL is also true that nations, although founded by
and composed of members of the same race, are
widely different in their characteristics, and vary
greatly in their moral, social and intellectual
positions. One branch will make but slow ad
vances, and be ages in maturing, while another
will make rapid strides and attain its full devel-
opement and maturity in few generations.
Nations are like the individuals of family
One member has the strength and that organism
which makes the ruler; and this the family ac-
knowledge and bow to- Another has plodding
genius with untirihg industry, natures slowly,
lives long and does much; while the third is the
brightest light, the blazing star of the whole
whose precocity suddenly places him in advance
Of all in mind, but whose unnatural light has not
the fuel for long life.
SO in nations we see the gradual eulighten
ment and the meteoric fash, military heroes and
clustered students. But nature appears to have
established one point of resemblance in all her
works. 1t is the destiny of brutes and men. and
nations, even the world itself, sooner or later to
perish. and man probably never can reach that
inventive perfection necessary to eliminate plan
ofgovernment which will resist through all those
many evils which afiict the body polite and escape
that inevitable finale of men and Governments
death. But yet it is the duty of citizens, when
they have Government which affords them pro-
lection and liberty, if they cannot eternize it, at
least to make it as strong possible, that it may
last through many generations of posterity to the
end that under its protection the people may
Improve in morals and in knowledge Upon the
other hard it is equally the duty of people, when
convinced that the Government under which they
dive will tyrannize their posterity-when they
sare satisfied that the tendency of the ruling
power is such as will inevitably operate to the
'euslaving of coming generations-then, whether
1hey themselves Immediately feel the effects of this
tendency or not, il is their duty to overthrow the
SCOSernnent and establish another that will ensure
the liberty of their children
" II man lived upon the principle that he should
mot act until the effect of measures bears directly
upon him and he feels the oppression, there is no
nation which would not have been ensaved by the
efforts Of designing and ambitious men. The rea-
sonisthat Is our freedom is gradually encroached
upon we nabaEaIly begin to gradually lose our
-perceptiebs Of right rntl our liberties are gone
Men accustomed to tyranny in time adapt them
selves 70 its severity lose al appreciation Of other
than sensuai happiness and the worst of despot
ism has its ceptsnted serfs; while the freest Of
gepablies Oh the Oties hand. has its disconnected
citizens who sigh for hi CHER privileges The true
spirit which ssstains the liberty Of the people is
that keen sense ef natiOna honor ever on the alert
ever watchfal and ever suspicious Of the ruling
power When this begins tn fade, the prospects
-Ofposterity darken, and it taoomes o safe predic-
dion that their destiny IL to be easlaved. 4
Pie characterised Of generaSdens differ, and one
is easily daped by measures whisA would be fire.
brands 70 arouse all the indignas6en Of another.
The Amerisan Union resulted from revolution
caused BY that sense of independence which mark
edthose pioneers who worked their own fortunes
by Industrious eHterprise without assistance from
the mother eountry High spirited and self