The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1858-04-16
DEMocRACY-BY A DEMOCRAT.


In recent speech in the Senate of the
United States, Mr.. CLAY, of Alabama, gave
expression to the following sentiments:
"0ur Governments are republics, not de-
mocraeies. The people exercise their sove-
reigAty, not in person, at the bsllot-box, but
through agents, delegates or representatives
Our fathers founded republican governments
in preference to democracies not so much be
cause it would be inpracticable, as because it
would be unwise and inexpedient for the
people themselves TO assemble and adopt laws.
They were satisfied from reading, and from
reflection of the truth of Mr. Madison's OBJ
servation about pure democracies, often eX-
pressed, that they shave ever been specta-
cles of turbulence and contentious; have ever
been found incompatible with personal seeu-
rity, or the rights of property and have in
general been as short in their lives, as they
have been violent in their deaths" They
knew from the examples furnished 5y Greece
and Italy, that it is impossible, in pure de-
mocracy, to remove the causes or control the
effects of faction; that an absolute majority
is oftener swayed by passion than by reason;
that its voice is oftener that of demon than
of god that it is the most cruel, rapacious
intolerant, and intulerable of all tyranCs-
They knew that it is a wholly irresponsible
power; acknowledging no SUPERIOR for it is
itself supreme: owing no obedience, for 1T is
its own master; respecting no authority, for
it is law unto itself; subject to no control
or restraint, except the still small voice of
conscience, which is too often drowned in the
tumultuous waves of party or of faction. 1t
might sacrifice public good or private rights
TO any ruling passion or interest of the hour,
with impunity 1t had robbed the rich to
relieve the poor, and oppressed the poor to
aggrandize the rich, with equal ardor or in
difference. 1t had voted hemlock to day and
statues omorrow to its best citizens. They
suffered no man to be Judge in his own case,
terest; and could find no better reason why
large body of men, although majority,
should be the supreme and final arbiter of its
cause On the contrary, they knew that
large body of men is more liable to be con
trolled by passion or by interest than sin
gle individual, and is more apt to sacrifice the
rights of the minority, because it can be done
with more impunity. Hence they endeavored
to impose restraints upon themselves. Hence
they committed the making Of all their laws,
organic or municipal to their delegates or
representatives; whose crimes they could
punish, whose errors they could correct, and
whose powers they could reclaim.
The great security of our rights of life, lib
erty, and property, is in the responsibility of
those who make and of those who execute
the law. Establish as a principle that to give
sanction to law it must be approved by the
majority at the bal lot box, and you take away
this security and surrender those rights to the
most capricious, rapacious. and cruel of ty-
rants | regret to see the growing spirit in
Congress, and throughout the country, TO de-
mocratize our Government, to submit every
question, whether pertaining to organic or
municipal laws, to the vote of the people
This is sheer ridicalism 1t is the Red Re-
publcansm of revolutionary France, which
appealed to the sections on all occasions, and
not the American Republicanism OF our ia
theirs. Their Republicanism was stable and
conservative; this is nutable and revolution
arv Theirs afforded shield for the minori.
ty; this gives sword to the ma iority. Theirs
defended the rights of the weak; this surren
ders them to the power OF the strong God
forbid that the demagogism ofthe day should
prevail over the philanthropic and philosoph-
ic craftsmanship of our fathers"
One would scarcely believe, on reading the
above sound and admirable views, that the
author of them was a Democrat-that he has
been consistent and life long member of
that party from his youth up-and that he
still CLAIMS full fellowship in its organization.
But, strange as it may seem, it is true, never
theless