The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1858-11-11

~ Mr.. Jefferson formed the governmental ma
chineryr in strict accordance with this princi-
pie. AS many measures are necessary for
one portion of community and not Of anoth-
er, he insisted that local affairs should be
placed. in the hands OF Icca, authorities. The
integrity of his system depends not only upon
the Limitation of the governing power, ina
general sense, but as we'll upon the division
and dispersion Of it.
The principal objection which Jefferson
made was in respect Of education. But, ac--
cordings to his view, this can hardly be regard
ed as an exception The general safety depends
SO directly upon that recognition of mutual
rights which is not to be, found except among
il telligent men, that he advised the establish
ment, not only Of common schools, but
likewise Of colleges and schools Of Art. Z ""
To those who objected, that this system
would limit the action and decrease tile splen-
dor oil, nation, Jefferson replied, that its 'ef-
fects were quite the reverse. In proportion
as a government assumes. the duties which
ought to'he performed by the citizen. it acts as
check upsn.individnal and national Develop
ment. Under a despotism, culture must be
confined to a few, nor can there he much va
reiy of effort and production. Under gov
ernment which is confined to its proper field,
the talents Of each man is freely usei and he
will not be forced into relations FOR which ne
is unsuiied The absurd prejudice, that pub
lie employment is the most honorable, will
pass away. The man of letters and the man
Of science. the poet, the artist, and the inven-
tor, the financier, the navigator, the merchant,
every one who performs beneficial service and
displays great qualities, will be rewarded.-
Every Ole who is conscious that he possesses
such qualities will be stimulated to strive for
that reward. The universal action will give
birth to all the things which adorn state
Social. disturbance will excite investigation,
and evils which governments have never been
able to reach may be removed. Competition
will make the accumulation of large estates
difficult, property will be eqnalzed, but no
motive to effort destroyed Every day will
! add 10 the number Of fthose contrivances which
facilitate labor, increase production, lessen
distance, and raise, man from the degradation
of an existence wholly occupied with provd-
in, for his physical wants. Under these elias
tic laws, religion, philanthropy, art, learning,
I the social amenities, the domestic Influences
| all hamanizlng agents, will have opportunity
aud work harmoniously for the advancement
of the race. ,..Tt .., ,.,. a .....-,. ..,,rf
1. will be seen that Mr. Jeiferson's politlca
system was that which, in The language of thu
n,oi.r:i schools, is called the individual theory
Ii has been said, that it is based upon too fa-
vorable an estimate of human character, ant
that he obtained it from ,h. French phloso
pliers ~ g<l giEafl So sE,Ha1 1s5l 5
II soems to us that the r.pfoach Of Uiopiar
opinions may more Jns'iy be thrown upon his
opponents. The latter do not escape the evi
from which they fy. Tney proceed upon the
belief ,hai man is unfit for self-government
but since every gnvrriimen, is one of men, n
he cannot control himself, how shall he rnl'
over others? Whatever may be said about tht
superiority OF men of genius. it is certain there
never has existed an intellect capable of pro-
viiiing for all the minute and VARYING recessi-
ties of each individual among many millions
The history of legislation shows that the best
disciplined minds find it difficult to devise 9
single statute affecting a single interest which
will be precise III its terms and equal. i'm It's op-
Grafton. These railers at the majority of
their kind seem TO expect in the ininority a
49, t,.,.,r, ,a,ear.;on Nfr ~ STA r.
son proceeded upon more moderate estimate
OF the abilities, and sinDre jast appreciation
of the weakness of imen. II .sbecaGss We are
easily led astrsy ard blinded by passion, that
he thought us unfit TO govern others, and that
we should limit our efforts 20 seif-goyernment.
His con6d nee in man was no greater thaii That
which is the foundation of Christianity. The
whole Christian scheme is one of the broadest
democracy, The most important truths are
there submitted to the general judgment and
conscience Of mankind, with no other recon-
rnenda,ion than their value aud the force Of
the evidence by which they are attss'ed. Can
it be SAID that We are ,tnot ht to- DECIDE our
fate for all the mysterious future? if Jeher-
son was an enthusiast, every clergyman who
calls his hearers to repentance must be
mad He did have confidence in his fellows
he did believe that we are not helpless slaves
of sin,-,hat the evils which af6ici Us are not
ineyitsbl., that we have power 70 lead
lives OF justice and virtue. Who will accuse
him because OF this confidence?
The charge of French principles originated
in a political contest. Ii was true in the,nar-
row appl cation which it lad at first, but false
IL that which was afterw ards given TO It -
There is marked distinction between him
and The politicians OF France Rousseau, per-
haps the ablest, certainly the Iuost popular, of
those who preceded the Revolution, is anex'
ample. The Central Social constantly carries
tile idea, that the government Is the seat OF
all power aud the source Of all national ctIon.
No suggestion is made, that there are indi-
vdnai functions with which the state cannot
interfere 10 advantage. The same opinions
prevailed among the Encyclopedias and Econ
omists, they were announced blythe Gironde
aud tAe Mountain, aud practically carried out
by ftotespierre and Barras. The Gironffsts
made cautious approaches towards federalism,
but one looks in vain through the speeches Of
nE