The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1858-04-16
DEMooRAcY-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-
mocracies. The people exercise their sove.
reignty, not in person, at the ballot.box, but
through agents, delegates or representatives
Our fathers founded republican governments
in preference to democracies not so much be.
cause it would be impracticable, as because IL
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 secu.
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 oy Greece
and Italy, that it isimpossible, 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;
thet its voice is oftener that of demon than
of q god; that it is the most cruel, rapacious,
intolerant and intulerable of all tyrants.-
They knew that 1t is wholly irresponsible
power; acknowledging no superior, for it is
itself supreme: owing no obedience, for it 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
anU pIiza ha rioh with nnnal ar1 mr. ar in.
difference. 1t had voted hemlock to day and
statues tomorrow to its best citizens. They
suffered no man to be judge in his own case
lest he should be biased by passion or by in
terest; and could find no better reason why q
large body of men, although a majority,
should be the supreme and final arbiter of its
cause. On the contrary, they knew that a
large body of men is more liable to be con.
trolled by passion or by interest than sim
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 ballot-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 radicalism. II is the Red Re.
publicanism of revolutionary France, which
appealed to the sections on all occasions, and
not tina American -Republiaanism Of our fa.
thers. Their Republcanism was stable and
conservative; this is mutable and revolution.
ary. Theirs afforded shield for the minori.
ty; this gives sword to the majority. Theirs
defended the rights of the weak; this surren-
ders them TO the power Of the strong. God
forbid that the deinagogism 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 Democrat-that he has
been a consistent and lifelong 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.