Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1860-12-12
From the Augusta (Ga.) Chronicle.
The Form of Government


Now that we are about to break up the
present form of government, it is we'll that
| we look to the future, and commence now to
make arrangements for some other form. We
hear it on all sides that the present Federal
system is total failure-not a failure in it
| self from inherent defects of its own, but the
failure is in the people-tbe government
| does not suit the people, or the people do
not suit the government. There is some
| where an 'irrepressible conflict" going on
| between the governors and the governed.
| The system of several Republics, confeder-
/ ated together under one common head, gov
erned by written law, we say. is that which
| is generally considered a failure. For we
| see, contrary to the spirit and intent of the
| Union, a minority party-clearly in q mino
| rity of at least three quarters OF million
| has by the peculiar arrangement for elect
| ing President, by one section alone, against
| a combined opposition in the other section,
| and against powerful minority in its own
stronghold.
But if the Federal system is failure, the
question may well be asked, is not the whole
Republican system a failure? Very many
| wise, thinking men say SO. We formed the
Federal Government because the separate
States, it was thought, were not strong
enough to stand alone. and because they
were likely to prove disadvantageous, if not
| dangerous, each to the other, in their distinct
| organization, and with their varying inter-
| ests. When we break up, will the disadvan-
| tages and dangers of separate States be such
ds to require the formation of new Con-
| federacy of those which are, at present sup
posed to be homogeneous? Ii we do form
new COnfedeTacy, when the old is gone, it
| would seem to be neither wise, prudent, nor
statesmanlike, TO frame it after the pattern
| of the old. New safeguards and guarantees
Il l.. lint
| Eeedless maniac would seek TO avoid looking
/ this matter squarely in the face
What are the defects of the present FEEDER
| al system7 Why, the chance of minority
/ being able, by the forms of law, to secure the
| Executive, and the different interests of diff
/ ferent sections urging one or another to at
| tempt supreme control, regardless of equali-
| ty, or justice, or comfy, and of the written
| Consultation. Can Constitution be safe
| guard for minorities7 Certainly it may Be !;
/ but history proves that no Constitution ever
| stood in the way of either real or apparent
majorities 1t is simple impossibility, when
| the passions of the majority are stronger
| than their regard for the right. We might
| change the Constitution for the New Confed
eracy, so as to make the Executive elective
/ directly by the LrhoLe people, and thus avoid
| its attainment by popular minority. But
can the Constitution be so framed as to pre-
vent majority, when it becomes an absolute
| majority, making It's ,riH the rule for the mi
| nority? Never.
IL is true that we might make Constitu-
ton for the fifteen Southern States. which
would secure the rights of all, at present
| from harm, or at least, which would require
clear rioLatios Of lis Letter. so plainly that the
world could discern it, when unconstitutional
| action was cOnsummated. But then, in the
course of years, as men changed, business
changed, labor changed, productions changed,
a violation of the spirit might occur, which
would not be clearly violation of the letter.
| II NAV be said that the Constitution might
| provide for its own change, as time changed.
| Well, thai was the design when our present
Constitution was formed, and still we say it
| is failure. How more carefully could a
| new one be arranged? Men will say that we,
| of the South, are one, and that we shall get
| along we'll enough. But they who say it
| know neither history nor human nature
1 When the Union was formed, twelve of the
| thirteen States were slaveholding; and if the
/ Cotton Gin had not been invented there
| would not probably to-day have been an At
/ rican slave in North America
| But. how about the State organizations?
| This is an important consideration, for
whether we consult with the other Southern
| States or not, ii is certain that each State
/ must act for ITSELF in the first instance
/ When auy State goes out of the present Fed
| eraI Union il then becomes foreign poscer,
las to all the other States, as well as to the
| world. Whether it will unite again with
| any of the States, or stand alone, is for it to
| determine. The new Confederacy must then
he made of those States which desire it
and if Georgia, OF any other State, does not
4 find the proposed terms of Federation
agreeable. she can maintain her own sepa-
rate form of Government, or, at least, try 1t.
| Well. what form of government shall we
| have? This is much more easily asked than
answered.
Some of the wisest and best citizens pro-
pose hereditary Constitutional monarchy;
| but however good that may be in itself, the
most important point to discover is, whether
or not the people are prepared for il. 1t is
thought again by others that We shall be able
to 20 on for a generation or two, in a new
Confederacy with additional safe guards
such for instance as an Ezeczaiue for life. a pdst
Ly restricted sgfrag, Senators elected for lfe
or for long period, say tacenty-one years, and
the most popular branch of assembly elected
for seren yeqrs, the Judiciary absolutely Jade
pendent, and for life, or good behavior. The
frequency Of elections, and the universally
of suffrage, with the attendant aronsing OF
the peoples passions, and the necessary Sc
quence of demagogues being elevated to
high station, are thought by many to be n.
oreat eauses of trouble among us. We throw
out these suggestions that the people may
think of them, and act as their interests re
auire. Our own opinion is that the South
might be the greatest nation on earth, and
might maintain, on the basis of African slav
err. not only splendid Government, but q
, sseure Republican, Government. But still ou
fears are that through anarchy we shall feaci
the despotism OF military chieftains, and
finally be raised again to monarchy.