The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-02-22

m NAL
We are authorized to hope, that a proppr oryani
cation OF the whole with the auxiliary aeenev "a
governments for the respective subdivisions will
afford happy issue to the experiment. II Is well
worth a fair aud full experiment. With such DOW.
erful and obvious motives to Union, affecting all
parts Of our country, while experience shall not
have demonstrated it's practicabiity, there will
always he to distrust the patriotism OF
those, vino, in any quarter may endeayor to weak.
en- its bands.
In contemplating the causes which may disturb
Union it occurs, matter of serious concern.
that any ground should have been furnished for
charactcrizing parties by geographical discrimina
tions-SOTthern and Southern, Atlantic and West
eru-whenCe designing men may endeavor to excite
belief that there is real difference of local in-
terests and views One of the expedie1ts of party
to acquire influence within particular districts, is TO
misrepresent the opinions and aims Of other dis
| tricts. You cannot shield yourselves too much
against the Jealousles ana heart-burning winch
spring from these misrepresen tations; they tend
to render alien 10 each other those who ought 30
be bound together by fraternal affection. The in
habitauts Of our western county have lately had
useful lesson this head they have seea in the
negotiation by the Executive, aud in the uHanI-
| nous ratification 10y the Senate Of the treaty with
spain, and in the universal satisfaction ut that
event throughout the United States. decisive
proof h.w unfounded were the suspicious propo.
gated amsng them, of policy in the General Go
vcrument, and the Atlantic States unfriendly TO
their interests in regard to the Mississippi they
have been witnesses to the formation of two trea-
,ies-that with Great Britain and that with Spain
which secure to them every thing they could de-
sire in respect to our foreign relations towards
confirming their prosperity. viii it not be their
wisdom to rely for the preservation of these advan
ta2es on the Union by which they were procured /:
will they not henceforh be dea! to those advisers
if such there are who would sever them from their
brethren, and connect them with aliens?
To the efficacy and permanency of your Union. a
| Government for the whole is indispensable. No
alliance however strict between the parts be
adequate substitute; they must inevitably expert
ence the intractions and interruptions which all
alliances, in all time, have experienced. Sensible
of this mOmentouS truth, you have improved upon
your first essay, by the adoption of Constitution
| of Government better calculated than your former
tor intimate Uuion. and for the eficacious mali-
| agement OF your common sc0ucerns. This Govern
ment the offspring of our own choice, uninflu-
enced aud unawed adopted upon full investigation
aud mature deliberations, completely free in its
principles, i'll the distribution of its powers uni
| ting security with energy, and containing within
| Itself provision for its own amendment, has Il
| inst claim to your confidence aud your support
Respect for its authority compliance with its laws,
| acquiescepce ia it's measures are duties enoined
| by the fundamental mExms Of true liberty. The
basis of political systems, Is the right OF the
people to make and to alter their constitutions of
| Government: but the Constitution which at any
| time eXists. till changed by all explicit and au-
thentic act of the whole people, is sacredy obiiga-
| tory upon all. The very idea of the power, and
| the right of the people to establish Government,
| presupp0ses the duty Of every individual to obey
| the established Government.
| All obstruCtions to tho execution Of the laws,
| all combinations and associations, under whatev-
er plausible character, with the real design to di-
rect, CONTROL Couuteract avs the regular delib-
Grafton and action of the constituted authorities.
are destructive to its fundamental principle. and
Of fatal tendency. They serve to organize faction
to give 1t ali artificial and extraordinary force to
put in the place Of the delegated will of the na-
| the will of a often "a small bnf arttEi
| enterprisng minority of the community; and ac-
cording to the alternate triumphs of different par
ties, to make the public administration the mirror
Of the ill concerted and incongruou5 projects Of
| faction, rather than the organ of consistent and
wholesome plans, digested by common cOunsels.
and modified by mutual interests.
However combinations or associations of the
| above description may bow and then answer pop
ular ends they are likely, in the course OF time
| and things. to become potent engines, by which
cunning, ambitious and unprincipied men will be
enabled TO subYert the power OF the people. aud
to usurp for them selves the reigns of dUyernmeu l.
destroying afterwards, the very engines which
| had lifted them to unjust dominion.
Towards the preservation of your Government,
and the permanenCy of your present happy state,
| it is requisite not only that you steadily discoun-
| tenance irregular oppcsitions to its acknowledged
| authority, but also that you resist with care the
| spirit of innovation upon its principles, however
| spacious the preteXts. One method of assault
NAV be 10 effect in the forms of the Constitution
| alterations which will impair the energy Of the
system, and thus to undermine what cannot be di-
| rectly overthrOwn. In all the changes to which
you may be invited, remember that time and ha-
bit are at least necessary TO fix the true char
| acter Of governments OF other human insttu-
| tions; that experience is the surest standard by
| which to test the real tendency OF the existing
constitution of country; the facility in changes,
| upon the credit of mere hypothesis and opinion,
| exposes to perpetual change, from the endless va
| riety Of hypothesis and opinion; and remember,
| especially, that for the efficient management OF
| Your common interests, in a country 30 extensive
| as ours, u government of as much vigOr as is con-
slsteut with the perfect security OF liberty Is in
| dispensabe. Liberty itself will mud i'll such a
| Government, with powers property distributed
| and adjusted, it's surest guardian. 1t is, indeed
| little else than name, where the Government is
too feeble To withstand the enterprise OF faction,
| 10 coufne each member of the society within the
| limits press ribed by the laws, and to maintain all
10 the secure and tranquil enjoyment Of the rights
| of person and property.
have already IuLImated to you the danger OF
parties in the state with particular reference to
The founding Of them on geographical discriulina
ton. Let take more comprehensive view,
| and warn you, in the most solemn manner against
the baneful effect OF the spirit Uf party generally
| This spirit, unfortunately, is inseparable from
our nature, having its root in the strongest pas
| sions of the human mind 1t exist under different
| shapes in all Governments more or less stified
controlled, or repressed; but in those of the popu-
lar form it is i'll its greatest ranknsss, and is
| truly their worst enemy.
| The alternate denomination of one faction over
another sharpened by the spirit Of revenge, natu-
raj 10 party dssension, which in different ages and
countries, has perpetrated the most horrid cnor
| nities, is itselfa frightiui despotem. But this
| leads, at length, to q more formal aud permanent
des Iotisln. The disorders and miseries which
| suit gradually incline the minds Of men to seek
| security and repose in the absolute power Of an
individual, and, sooner LATER the chief of soIDR
| prevailing faction, more able or more fortunate
Than his competitors turns this disposition TO the
| purposes Of his own elevation on the ruins pub
| lie liberty.
Without looking forward to any extremity Of
this kiad (which. nevertheless, ought not be EN-
| tirely out OF sight, the common continual mis-
chiefs of the spirit of party sufficient to make it
the interest aud duty OF q wise people 10 uiscouF-
| age aud restrain 1t.
1t serves always TO distract the public councils,
aud enfeeble the public administration. 1t agiates
the community with illfouuGed jeaousieE aud false
alarms; kindles the animosity Of one part against
| another; foments occasionally, riot and insurrec.
| tion IL opens the door to foreign influence and
corruption which finds facilitated access to the
| Government Itself, through the channels of party
| passiops Thus the policy and the will OF one
country are subjected 10 the poiicy ana VIII OF an
other.
There is is opinion that parties, in free eoun-
tries are useful checks upon the administration OF
the Government, and serve to keep alive the spirit
of liberty This, within certain limits, Is probably
true: and in Governments Of moDarchical cast, pa
triotism may look with indulgence, II not with
favor upon the spirit of party But in those of the
popular character in Governments purely elective,
il is spirit not to be encouraged. From their
natural tendency, it is certain there will always be
enough of that spirit for every sanitary purpose
And there being constant danger OF excess, the ei
fort ought to be- by force Of public opinion to ant
igate and assuage it, fire not to be quencheu,
it demands a uniform vigilance to prevent It's
bursting intoa flame, lest, instead oil warming,
should consume.
Ii is like wise. that the habit OF think
ing, In free country, should inspire caution 10
those intrusted with its administration TO conhhe
themselves within their respective eonstitntioha
snhares avoiding IN the exercises of the powers
OF one department, to encroach upon anether-
The spirit of encroachnent tends to consolidate
the powers of all the departments In one, ana shas
TO create, whatever the form OF Goscrhmeh', >
real despotism. A just estimate of that love OF
noyer and proneness TO abuse it, which pfedomf
mates in the human heart, sufficient 10 satisfy
M of the truth OF this position The necessity OF