The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1859-10-01
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES OF The NONpAREIL,


CORRESPONDENCE OF THE NONPAREfL.
Mn. EDlrok Though unaccustomed 70
write for public prints, l trust that You
will not opine afew commonplace remarks
upon merited cause, amiss. s
have reference 10 the singular a. we'll
as startling fact, that among the many ar
guments used by our politicians, for the re-
generation of our legislative powers, but
little respect is paid to that element SO es-
sential to the maintenance of political dig
nity-National honor. This principle, or
rather, its great importance, seems to have
been lost sight Of, and our ship of State,
! like vessel without compass, is bounding
over the billowy sea of life, unacquainted
with its mysteries, and ignorant Of her des-
tiny. However much We may wish to fos-
/ ter party interests, We should BIO extremely
cautious that we do not jeopardize the char
acter and integrity Of the State and nation.
Political controversies, are of themselves,
good so far rs they tend to regulate the
principles ofgovernment, but, when we dis
regard those principles which are the basis
of sound legislation, it is time to open our
eyes, ere from the blindness of our folly We
are precipitatsd into the abyss of ruin
Rome, proud Rome once the wonder and
admiration of the world, controlling at one
time the political destinies of more than a
hundred millions of people, and who
- "from her throne
OF beauty, ruled the World" d.
is fallen! That mighty fabric of empire
which valor had founded, and enlightened
policy, had so long sustained upon her sew
en- hills, exhibits but the mournful vcstiges
Of her former spendor. The ramparts of
her national pride are broken down, and
corruption hath desolated her classic fields.
Dos't thou ask tho reason? Experience
answers through the lapse of time" She
lost her national character and her destruc-
ton followed" Observe too, that nation,
whose influence was courted by surround
ing prncipalitics, and whose fame by the
genius Of Columbus, attained the zenith Of
hope, in the realization of more than the
dreams of P!ato's famous Atlantis-now
lying bleeding sacrifice on the altar of lost
nationality!
That think of all thou mght'st have been, and look
at what thoE art"
Wouldst' thou again that we appeal to his
tory! Cans't thou, O, muse! reveal an in
stance wherein at the rejection of moral
principle, nation secured to itself prosper
ity and pcrpctuity? Tell US not Of Belshaz.
EAR. who thought thus, until the hand writ.
ing on the wall, confirmed his error. When
confronted with umazement dire
"Thc monarch and shock,
Aud babe no more rejoice
Tell US not of Ahaz, whose wicked deeds
brought his kingdom to the vortex Of ruin
Mention not Danton and Robes pierre, whose
acts occasioned the CONSERVATION of France
nay! search not in vain, bat except the
dictates Of reason, and the admonitions Of
nature, that national prosperity and perpe-
'ui'y az t'S i'JSl1ioh Va lHuid4ii IL Dut Inc
vision Of deluded fancy.
The willingness to consider State and
Moral law separable, is too trenuously ad-
hered to at present for this purposc-and
can divine no other motive Of party interest
to escape the notice of those who have the
welfare of their country at heart. This is
au erroneous idea of sound legislation, and
incompatible with the fact, there is an over
ruling Providence, who created and govern
eth all things, and that man, as the object
of that creative power, is naturally a rellg
ious being as it would be presump-
ton to suppose that be, created in the
"likencss" Of God and partaking of the
nature Of God, would not form ins,i tutions
under which he is to live, coasenial to his
nature, and, at tho same time, in accord
ance with the law of God. Human law
was instituted merely for the disponsation
Of justice, and in tho connection before
mentioned, must conform to the laws of
nature, as given by the Creator, which gov
ems both mind and matter. 1t is natural
for us, if we find law that does not meet
the demands of justice, to discard it, be-
cause it is not possessed of those qualifca-
ton necessary to the establishment of har-
mony-the chief end Of law-henco does
not accomplish the end for which it was de-
signed. All law cmanates from God, and
he has the right to demand obedience on
our part, that our laws shall be in unison
with the Principal Nature, which he has
revealed to US as our guide, and it should
be with caution that We reject them. The
Father of our liberties cautioned US against
this, in his farewell address, let US therefore
DO wsso and hehis adm oni,ion. More
anon. Yours ZERO.