Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-05-18

There is, and has always been, distinct class Of
men in the world who hold to the opinion that any
means, necessary is legitimate for the accomplish
ment Of good purpose. These men are to be found
in every avenue Of society, and, though sometimes
the best intentioued citizens, the worst enemies
to social order This theory that the end saneti-
6ss the meaus"-for it is nothing more, though
thousands who practice it would sOOrn to admit it,
has been the controlling principle Of the most dss-
picable revolutions in Europe, and is the basis Of
the most radical doctrines and the widest legsla
lstion in this country. It is q rule OF action,
which csrriedo out dsregards established institutions
overides constitutions, and bids defiance TO law.
Upou this principle every mans own corrupted or
nrssnIiqhtened conscience becomes the Law snd the
constitution to him.
There are to-day in Europe large party in favor
Of free government and opposed TO the existing
state Of things. By such, in France, the present
Emperor is looked upon as q usurper and tyrant
and they believe that the death Of such man would
be a national blessing. This being granted, they
argue that to accomplish such end, if needs be,
Il il right to assasnste. These men do not
look beyond the immediate evils they seek to RENE
dvto thegreater ones which the practical application
Of their principles would produce
We have party of fanstics in our own country,
many of whom honestly believe that the holding OF
slaves is great crime in the sight Of God and
man. and that the highest duty Of the patriot ana
biIautbropist is to rid the world Of IT, In the &C.
compIishment Of what they regard as 50 holy Pur-
nose they hsve divided churches refusing to raier-
1izs With men who made property Of human
fesh"-they have raised Southern Aid socleues
and contributed their money to send missionaries 70
the South TO preach the Gospel to US, and to supply
the moral dsstitution Of this beniglted section
thew have come into cur midst and stolen our slaves
thew have organized mobs aud prevented the eKeou-
ton Of the Iaws-they have established law higher
than the constitution-they have expressed their
willingness to see the torch of inesndisryism sp.
piled to our houses, and our women and children
destroyed by the enslayed population in order to
effect their freedom.
There is another class of men of the same order
Of mind who are crazied with EuthOpianism-WhO
believe that there should be such thing power
". want and suffering in the world, and that al
society and government must be radically wrong
and oppressive that recognises the right Of one
man to own more property than snOther-thst per
rnits some to revel in luxury, whilst others ar'
languishing in want. TIE remedy great an evil
and bring about state of society in which thes'
inequalities shall not exist and all people be brOugh
TO common level, they are willing if it we're in
their power, to disregard the laws, overthrow the
present organization Of society, take possession
the property Of the rich and divide it out equally
among the poor To this class belonged the anti
renters who figured so oOnspicuOusly in New York
few years since.
It's the same character Of imperfect and decep
tive reasoning that induces clever citizens sometimes
to usurp the authority of the Law and take its exc
cution into their own hands, as was proposed by
mob in Memphis recently. Such action can be bu
seldom justified, it is at war with every principl
of our social fabric.
There is another class Of minds, while free from
all of these excuses, psrtaking Of the same bent
which manifests itself in a variety Of forms. FO
instance, we hear the argument frequently made
and have sometimes q practical enforcement Of it
that railroads are good things, far better than dir
roads or turupikes, snd thst farmers should qui
their old way Of carrying their produce to msrke
on wagons and build for themselves railroads TO
that purpose. few unenterprising citizens think
ing differently, prefer to their money in som
other way: Whoreupon the majority, being satishe
In their own minds that these minority people don
know their own interests well as they do, deter
mine to usurp q portion Of their rights and msk
an investment Of their money in railroad for them
which they do by voting a tax upon their property
in county or town. This same class Of men becOm
ing convinced that our adopted citizens eKercis
ing too crest an influence upon the politics Of tn
country aud that the Catholic religion is a danger
Gus heresy, in their zeal to remedy the suppose
evils. disregard the constitution and the nature
our institutions and enter into secret sworn cOun
ellis practically to disfrauchise those whom the law
have naturalissd and to prescribe religious sect
whom the constitution guarantees protection. Thi
same class of men, frequently well intentioned, be
comeing alarmed at the immortality Of the world
conclude. that to accomplish SO good an end, tn
resort to any means is right that viii secure tn
reform In their zeal they make it the province ,
the State to determine how much liquor man ma
drink, whether by the glass or the quart or none
all; forgetting that they Perverting the nstur
Of our institutions and establishing precedent
which msy lead to most disastrous consequences.
Even in the Congress of the United States, Wher
we might reasonably expect more statesmanshiI
this class Of shaow-thiukeUs are constantly eKhit
ting themselves. They conclude that railroad {
the Pacific is very desirable and that if necessar
the Government ought to build it; notWithstandin
the building of railroads is far from the purpose
for which the government was created, as would
the building Of q mammoth factory, in order to ST
cure cur independence Of foreign impOrtstOus.
We have been led into these general and desu
tory reflections on the recent introduction by MI
SEWARD, and its passage, of 8 resolution through th
Senate, and we believe the House, also, which b,
ing so benevolent in its character prompted b
noble impulses and in behalf Of so deserving oil
ieo will meet with general favor-and yet it is Of thu
same character Of unwarrantabe legislation 70 whiC
we have been alludng, and based upon the san
dangerous maxim that ''the end sauctifes Ii
means" Il reads follows:
That Congress entertains high sense of Ii
devotion 90 duty the GOODNESS, courage and COnduC
Of Commander William Lewis Herndon, U. S. n
in command Of the steamer Central America, at Sc
during the prevalence of a hurricane on the 18th
September 1857: and that the widow Of said Wn
Lewis Herndou be entitled to receive out Of an
money IN the Treasury, not otherwise appropriated
sum equal to three years full sea service 1880
pay of Commander in the Navy
Lieut. HEBNDoN was of duty, and, by cOnser
OF the Secretary, in the employ of private con
pany as the Commander Of one Of their vessels, f,
which he was receiving a salary like any Oth'
steamboat, Captain. That vessel was wrecked at sc
and Com HERSDoN, in his efforts to save the Gv'
Of others acted like hero and made willing sa'
rifce Of his own. Such conduct cannot be too higi
ly extOIled, and every generous heart should thrO
with sympathy for his unfortunate widow aud eheel
fully contribute to her necessities
But is this the business of the Federal Govern
ments Is Congress TO be occupied in looking int
the necessities of the unfortunate widows and re
wardng the virtues Of their deceased husbands?
the Federal treasury to be turned into Chart
box OR would it be better for the Congress of tn
United States to look after the legitimate affairs
Government. and leave TO the church, to the State
AID to magnanimOus aud benevolent people, {
look after the distressed families Of meritoriOu
citizens Or if we are to have such Precedents d
this, would il not be less partial and more fair fo
Congress to take into consideration the claims Of a
the widows in the country. This gratuity to Mr.
HERNDoN cannot be placed upon the ground that he