The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1860-07-04
From lhe Richmona index.
Is the American Government republican

rs the American Government hepuDiican
That erratic statesman, but deep thinker,
John Randolph, of Roanoke, once declared
that the time would come when the Consti-
tuition Of the United States would be regarded
.as a nuisance, and the same parsonage on
several occasions gave it as his settled opin-
ion that America would finally be ruined by
the leyeling doctrines OF the ultra adyo
Gates OF Democracy. Ii is notable fact
that many very intelligent thinkers seem 10
be slowly coming TO similar convictions
Within the last few years we have frequently
heard gentlemen Of sound intellect and libe.
raj opinions, declare that from republic the
United States had passed to mobocracy,
and that the direct tendency of this state Of
things was to destroy the government and
plunge the land into anarchy. The gentle
men in question are mot croakers or "aris-
tqcrats. but good patriots, and men Of far
reaching views; yet they have come to con
illusions scarcely differing from those recently
expressed by Lord Macaulay TO the effect that
The American system is "a failure"
Is this true The question is serious
one, and we very much fear that there are
good grounds to doubt whether nur system is
SO great and glorious and splendid as Fourth
of July orators declare il TO BE-. unaues-
tionably the whole spirit-if not the frame
work-of the government has changed since
the days Of the Revolution, and even since
the commencement Of the century.
The America of President Buchanan's
time is quite different from the America Of
General Washington's epoch. Then it was
a republic; now il seems to have become
" Yomg .4mericG,' which being interpre-
ted amounts very nearly TO what our friends
above alluded to, call a mobocracy. We trust
that no one will misunderstood these views,
or suppose that they point to monarchy, arts
focracy or any other dreadful "gorgon or
ehimera dire" such as the youthful sove-
reigns Of the l.nd have been taught TO hate
with righteous hatred, and TO regard as the
sum of all evil. We state a fact which is
patent to all, aud will be recognized by every
man Of intelligence and liberal thought. The
country is le,eling dozen not up, and the
consequence Of this state Of things NAV be
seen in every department Of the government,
in every branch Of the public service. Are
the best men placed in Offices of responsible
ity and power. or the ,cora men2 Let the
reader seriously ask himself the question
whether the Congress of the United States
the State Legisatures-the official posts both
Federal and State-and the Municipal Offices
of the towns and cities-are filled by the
really deserving men, or by time-sersers,
intrigualts, and tricky politicians. The
very Judicial elections are beginning to grow
rorrupt-and the judge who will be sworn
10 do equal justice to all, is expected TO drag
The ermlne in the gutter Of faction in order 10
procure his election. The Demos OF the
Athenians seems to have revived in America,
with fuller powers than before, and the result
threatens 10 be worse than Of old.
In Republican form Of government there
is but one safeguard Of the public peace-an
enlightened public opinion, prompting the
masses 10 the choice Of proper men TO make
the laws, and subsequently to obedience to
those laws. Force will not do il in the
United States-and the Jealousy OF the
Federal Government il so great that the
employment Of the army to operate against
the people OF any State opposing itself in
its State capacity to the President, would
probably produce disruption Of the onion.
followed by all the horrors OF civil war.
Force, therefore, is not adyissble-and vet,
what remains but force il one portion Of the
country, misled and inilamed BY low dema-
gOgues, inyades the rights of the citizens Of
anothers The abolition masses in the North,
as ignorant as they are fanatical, usurping
the authority which should rest in the hands
Of the thoughtful, cultured, and patriotic
citizens. seize on the property Of the South
ern gentleman who goes on visit to Boston
what them The laws must be enforced,
and the bitter blood becomes more lnfamed
than before the bonds Of Union less and
less binding. We have little doubt that the
fanaticism Of the North is the direct result
Of the moboeracy prevailing in the cities and
towns of the New England States. There
are good patriots-inen Of high views and
lofty character there but they are paralyzed
By the rabble who are skilliully played on
by Seward, Phillips, Hale, and their asso.
GATES. The mob are taught to regard the
soulherner as mOnstrous tyrant, who is
holding 10 cruel bondage his fellow creature.
having equal rights with bimself-and the
result Of this teaching IS that the Constitu.
tional rights Of the South are persis,ently
assalled, and the country drifting, as We
write, towards disunion and war.
There is but one cure Tor the evil, To place
the best men IN office, TO give the control of
public affairs, Municipal, State and Federal,
10 those who, by education. training, virtue
and capacity. are conpeten; tndischarge the
duties u office. We are sick Of seeing low
demsgogues, political hacks. cross road bul.
lies, and Five Point shoulder hitters placed
10 authority over the respectable citizens Of
The land. As long a. these men are permit.
ted 70 thrust aside the better class oi Aneri.
san citizens, and reach Offices ul dignity,
snoloment aad authority BY means Of their
very 'uigarlty and vices, the body polite
viii remain diseased at the core, and IRENE.
diable. The remedy for the disease is 20
send the whole crew adrift, and to take no
more such into the ship u State. Let the
people be made To comprehend clearly that
the spirit OF American society is not 10 lower
the respectable citizen to the degraded level
OF the loafer and the foydy, aud 80 make
" all men equsl." but to elevate, IL possible
fhe iOnorant "a fhe nIarp nf tbo hats. 49,.