Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1860-03-31
A Historians Opinion Of the Tendencies
of our Governments.

HeArS -. Nauonfts nss4, Tue olopTAIheT Inv
mas jefferson.
1t is said to be the only recorded opinion, re-
specting the workings and tendency OF our gov
. ernmers anywhere - be iound amongst the writ
ings OF Macaaiay, whose profound and irradiaiing
genius adorned almost every branch Of science
aud literature. To perusal of this deliberate
and carefully considered opinion Of the brilliant
es~ayist and historian. we invite the calm and pa
.sicnt attention OF eur readers. When consider
the labors of this eminent man in the department
Of history: his vast researches. aud tho careful
analysis which his Discriminating mind must
haze Instituted between the that induce u
enafieass glory or decIine mus, allow that
IS II opiaioss are entitled Than ordinary
weight. 1--we take further into consideration the
fact thai Maeaulay was imbucd with an ardent
love "a rational liberty was tho fra historian Of
England who dad ju.ticc TO the primo movers IN
the great revolution that settled upcn enduring
basis the liberties Of that people and that he
was all his life long attached 10 tie Liberal par
Nv. and could not but have felt lively interest
in the welfare " the great Commonwealth which
Englishmen planted on this Contnent.--iueor-
poratns therein many If the best features Of the
English Constitution we viii be prepared 10
admit that his views were dictated by tcitcct can
dor in the absence of all prejudice. Bong con
:. WINGED then Of the extraordinary capacity Of
the Judge 10 discriminate trcctiy, aud con-
ceainr ,aa, his position such to relieve his
motive Il the slightest suspicion # prejudice or
nartiaIity: his decision i, entitled Ia tie highest
respect aud consideration, Macanlas introduces
his sahic,t with n frank ayewal d hi. want Of ,
conf lence in NJ. jeff s,n, political opinions
Thi. is not remarkable. and the sooner his own
countrymcn rcpudiate them, tie better II Will be
for the nntion sud for the 4 rational liber.
ty throughout the world Win all his conceded
talents and patriotism, Mr.. jefferson was di>ar-
ganiaer an agtator. and,--rerhap., without IN.
tenJing 10 be such; q thuroug h.Gairg denihgasnc.
His ltseling principles We're enuncmlci first IN
the Declaration Of Independence, aud in var
Gus ways aierward. His contempt Of law was
rroycrbial aud instances are On record. where,
he not pnly iidicued its restraints. and counte-
naaced il, violation. bat even ms Presidential
career was sirnallgcd by more than depnr-
turc from de plain and Obvious teachings 4 the
Constitution Among all the mcn Of the Revelu-
tiunary era, says adtstingnshed writer, jefferson
is solitary and alone in the propagation oil the
pernicious doctrine OF armtd assistance H. consti
tuted authorities. They are doctrines, however
mol gieatly to be wondered ut III disciple Of
Jaco1nsm, who ihou, ut that rchcih,n, once IN
every twenty years, was uoliiical blessing, and |
treated sucl nothing moie than natural exn. |
berance oi patriotism, II reklndInE OF the smoul' |
deiing fires Of liberty. VIVA, SAID Mr. jefferson /
of Shuy's rebellion IN MassachnsettsY God /
forbid" said lie, THAT Wc shouid be t,cenfy
years f-iitout such u re6ei,ion. What country
can pt,s.Ne lis hberties Il rs rulers are not
warned frcm time to time tina, the people presc,rc
The spuit u ,e,isdnce? LetHem take aims the
remedy i 10 hem iighl to iaels, pardon and
paeiiy them. The nee u hboig mus be rcfreshed
from time 10 hate rtm ne dtood 81 putrots dnd u
tyranfs.' Can scutiments muto nnarchloal OF
dahgefou, i.an these any where be lound !
Can the lagos oi MacaIayelii disclose more
that is feprehehs,ble IN theory or exception
able nnd dangerous IN practice We doubt 1t.
1t il notorious that Mr.. jefferson sympalhlsrd
with the Leaders and actors IN the celebrated
Whiskts lnsuliceilon aud, not content WIKI
simple condemnation ~ the sNGIse lltd upon
what he styled The common drink 81 the naiiun,7
he ndicueL Washington Tor marching an army
into the injected ,suItt, iur the purpose al nam.
tanning and executing the law; and detlaImll
against ''arming one part ol society against the
other" for any such purpose. lie WINS wiling to
see "a spirit uf resistance manifested by the ia.
multuous uprising Of the people to resist the
cntion Of the laws, but unwilling to have the
Presdent-and that mau, who had done aud sacri
feed more than any other Ia achieve The liberties OF
his country-naintain the integrity oi the laws
he had sworn 10 enforce Very different wee
the views OF Washington, When, speaking upon
the same suhjee he said: al the laws are 10 he
t:amrled upon with IMMUNITY, and minority. u
small one lno, IS to dictate 10 the majority then is
-an end put, al one stroae, 10 representative 60
Nernment; and nothing but auarchy aud cunfu-
: sion are to be expected hereafter. Some other
man or society may dislike another law aud up.
pose it with equal propriety, until all laws are
PROSTATE and any one, the strongest. presume
will carve for himself" Anarchy and Democracy,
when the latter is pushed TO the extreme verge
which Mr.. jefferson seemed t, contemplate a.c
twin.barn and bring forth the samo fruit, both
tending to tyranny. We have dwet thus ut length
upon the doctrines Of Mr.. Jefferson, because he
may be considered the representative man Of Anne
RIGA the man whose opinions Tor good or evil
1.-THE latter predominating, Leiieye,) have
made more permanent impression upon his
trymen than those of any other man, Washington
not excepted
Whilst we hope, and yet scarcely hope, better
things of our country, and more enduring fu-
tuIe for the Constitution than Macauay haspre-
dicted; we ore free to say, that when the radical
and disprganizing notions II Nj. jefferson and
Democracy shall everywhere prevail in the coun-