Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1859-12-16

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bay There seems to be no end TO the rndicalism
of Tennessee democracy. Mr. Newman introduced
bill into the Senate, to amend the Constitution so
os to prevent the charter of Banks, and the issue
Of State bonds without frst submitting the PROPOSE
tons to vote Of the people. Happily, there was
conservatism enough in the Senate to reject the bill
An amendment was offered by Mr.. Nash, to the
effect that persons who have resided six months in
the State, and three months in County shall be
allowed to vote This too was voted down. WEI
mention these things to show how eager small poll
ticians are TO curry favor with the masses by ac-
conmodating themselves to the lcenciousness now
so rapidly on the ncrease-to the passion for break
ing through all wholesome restraints and convert
ing our system of government into mere majority
mob leaving the minority unprotected by those
barriers which il is the chief business of govern
ment to erect. government popularized TO the
extent contemplated by radical democracy, can not
long exist anywhere, because the elements Of its
destruction are far more abundant than the opposite
and anarchy must be the result.
When radicalism began its work in the North, no
one thought that the spirit which demanded the
largest liberty to the largest number would ever
degenerate into nbolitionism, or the idea that the
negro should be as free as the white man--vestcd
with the same rights. But such has been the re-
suit. In the South democracy is working infinite
mischief by indirectly teaching the mischiev-
Gus doctrines. Slavery and democracy are incom-
patiblc, and can not exist together for any great
length of time, even though color lend its aid to
perpetuate the former. The assumption of the
broad equality that is to break down all distinctions
and practically in political sense, make the vilest
yagabcnd equal TO the most valued and valuable
citizen, teaches nothing bat licencousness to the
ignorant masses, and thousands Of these associate
with slaves, on terms of equality a sympathy is
engendered in the former for the latter which WILL
sooner or later, ripeh into the conviction that all
men equal, and that color constitutes no excep-
ton to the universal law of equality. As this feel
ing gathers strength, the mass of nou-slaveholders
will become first Indifferent and then hostile to the
institution of slavery, and the slaves become less
valuable through discomfort and insubordination-
both tending, directly, to weaken the tenure by
which slave property is held. Were all the voters
of the South Shareholders, community of interest
would tend to neutralize the effect of this radical
ISM hut since very small minority slave
holders, the evcng effect of democratic policy is
first, TO debase the majority, and then to convert
them into unreliable friends of an institutions in
which they have no interest, and which, to some
extent, creates nvidious distinctions against them
selves. The everlasting twaddle of democracy
about liberty and equality falls not without effect
upon the slave; and the lower order of the white
population, tutorcd by locofoco demagogucs to re-
peat declarations which, to them, convey no intel
ligbe meaning, either thoughtlesslt, by design,
whisper these doctrines into the ears of the blacks
10 the prejudice Of their masters and the hazard Of
the institution itself. Such democracy, carried out
to its full extent must be followed by anarchy
and whatever tends to destroy law and order-to
abolish the landmarks of conservative government
must ultimately abolish slavery, the proper main
tainance of which depends so essentially upon
stable government, and the preservation of the
broadoSt inequality between the two races.
The character of the federal and State govern
ments has rapidly deteriorated under the influence
of universal suffrage and, as if to hasten that de-
probation, an elective Judiciary has been added to
defeat the ends of justice, and multiply crime and
vice. whilst the frequency Of elections-by making
almost every Office elective-comeS in to afford
more ample opportunities for the display of every
evil passion. All these are working together for
evil and lightly as the statement may be esteemed
the institution of slavery can not escape their
influence.