Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-05-17
iot;no IN the babitable elobe9n

isting on the habitable globea"
| The time is come, then, when patriots and
good men of all political denominations must
seriously reflect upon the duties which they owe
to their country, irrespective of mere party con-
sderations. If we mean to preserve the noble
heritage of freedom which our ancestors have
transmitted to us, now is the time to make the
effort. Public morality is the only basis on
which free institutions can stand. If that is
once sapped, the edifce itself must crumble to
the ground.
| have not been an inattentive observer, fel.
low. citizens, of what has passed in other coun-
tries as we'll as our own, during the eventful
epoch in which we live / have witnessed the
downfall of an ancient monarchy in Europe.
| have seen constitutional representative govern
ment established upon its ruins; and in eighteen
short years, have seen that government sub
verted by revolution, to make way, after q
brief and convulsive period of anarchy, for mill.
tary despots1n.
What occasioned the premature downfall Of
the representative government of France 7 III
was political corruption undermining it at its
base. Louis Philippe and his ministers, instead
of resting on the virtue and intelligence of the
country for support, sought to RUE it by an open
and shameless system of corruption. The cleo.
tive franchise being confined to comparatively
small portion of the nation, and that fraction be-
ing itself corrupted by tile Government, the mass
of the people could right themselves only by
revolution and the Government fell.
1t is remarkable instance If the certainty
with which effects follow their causes in the
political world, that NJ de Toequeville, one Of
the most profound political philosophers of this
or any other age, announced from his place in
the Chamber of Deputies, while all seemed sure
and stable in the eyes of the Government that
the country was sleeping upon volcano, and
that revolution was at hand. And what was
the ground of his predictions There had then
been no popular tumults-no public disorders.
He pointed alone to the deprivation of the pub
lie morals by the NAL practices Of the Govern
ment-to the system of political corruption it
had introduced, and on which it relied-as the
fatal cause which must inevitably bring on ma
tional catastrophe.
Now, fellow citizens, take upon myself with
some knowledge of facts in both countries, to
say that, great as were the abuses then commit
ted by the Government of France, they were, in
no respect, greater than those which are this day
revealed to Us as habitually, Systematically prac'
ticed by our Government Fortunately for us,
our political institutions have, in the general
right of suffrage, furnished the people of Ameri-
ca with an efficient instrument for the peaceable
correction of these abuses if they choose to
make use of it. This great right, Mr.. Jefferson
has emphatically told US, is the appropriate and
"peaceabe corrective of abuses, which in other
countries are Topped by the sword of revolution.
But if the people, euslaved by their party lead
ers will not apply the corrective, it is the same
thing as if they had it not; and we must then,
like other nations, run the risk Of violent re-ac
tions and revolutions, of which few can foresee
the issue, when they are once entered upon.
We have had impressive admonitions that
these are not mere visionary speculations, even
in this land of the largest liberty. What have
already been the results of the needless exercise
or of the party ensavement of the right OF sut
frage in the hands of certain portions OF the A.
merican people2 Have we not seen vigilance
committees forcbly superseding, in several large
communities, municipal governments that sprane
from the forms Of popular election, but whose
abuses and corruptions were so great that the
most virtuous, and, in general, peace-loVing cit
izens, co.operated in their overthrow; and even
those who gave existence to them by their suf
frages looked on, and rejoiced in their downfall
And what is this but revolution And may
not what has occurred in your cities occur, il
process of time, on the theatre of the nation, il
such enormous governmental abuses as | have
exposed to you this day, be permitted to go on
not only uncorrected, but accommodating, and &C
quiriug more daring boldness by impunity p
Leave not, beseech you, felow-citzens, this
dear native land of ours to the cruel alternative
of q tame surrender of its liberties or OF fear
ful resort to a revolutionary vigilance committee
taking possession OF the Government at Wash
ington.
No, citizens; let US organize our legal
constitutional, salutary vigilance committees al
the polls. Let US throw off the debasing shac
kles of party thraldom, and assert the majesty
and sovereignty of the popular will. Let us re
solve by the potent voice of our suttrages to ex
clude from the high places Of the Government
those whether individuals or parties, who have
in any manner sanctioned, participated in, OF
been accessory to the gross and daring abuses
which dshonor the country, while they imper
its liberties.
| know there are many of my Democratic
friends who lothe and detest these official iniqui
ties as do. I say to them, then, respectfully
but earnestly-do not make yourselves response
ble for and accessory to such abuses, by giving
your confidence and support to those who prac
tce them. Stand up in the virtue and manllness
of your own freedom. You are the rightful mas
ters. Do not consent to wear the tarnlshed and
dishonored livery Of your servants. You owe
no allegiance but to your country and she now
calls upon you to perform your duty, your whole
duty to her, fearlessly as PATRIOTS conscientious
f ly as men.
1t is the fatal doctrine of passive party obedl
ence and non-resstance-a doctrine SO long anc
, successfully inculcated by the party IN power
that has brought the affairs OF our country ln't
their present deplorable condition. They have
assiduously taught that the first and indeed only
duty of every man, in the exercise OF his clVi
and political functions, is to follow and obey hls
party leaders: that the predominance OF his par
ty, under all circumstances, aud whatever be the
, consequences to his country, is the one paramount
and absorbing object which should engage al
his zeal, to the disregard of every dictate OF con
, science, and of every call OF patriotism.
This mercenry and slavish doctrine has beer
, enforced by the terrors of accommodation OF
the one hand-by the lavish promises of reward
on the other "To the victor belongs the spo
of victory" is the motto embazoned on the
standard. The Offices, the empoyments of tht
Government, are no longer, in their eyes, public
trusts, to be conferred and administered for the
public good; but of every grade and description
from the big ghest to the lowest, they are the le
gitimate booty of conquering party, to be deal
out in largesses and rewards to its followers
Through Jobs, through contracts, through ths
prodgal and unscrupulous expenditure of the
public money, upon every possible pretext, the
Treasury is delivered up to pillage, to stimulate
the activity and feed the cupidity of partizar
hordes.
The startling abuses which have been recently
brought to light in the vsrious branches of the
public administration, are not accidental, or oc
casiona, or simply personal They are the ne
cessary, logical, inevitable results of the system
] &c liz a. a0.ol;tr a,nhraced and indaed nrn