The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1860-07-04

1t is with no idle design Of making con-
troyerslsl hit, but with the better and larger
desire of exciting reflection, that, in trans
ferring it to our columns, we express the
opinion that the portentious evil TO which
our contemporary directs attention is alto
gether due to the name, the teachings aud
the practices Of the Democratic party. We
do not propose, at present, to do more than
simply express this opinion. and ask for il
the unpreiudced consideration Of our con-
temporary and all other equally iair-minded
thinkers. We ask them whether the level
ing" doctrines and mobocratic tendencies
that have so revolutionized the character of
the Goyernment--threaienlng to subvert even
its very fnrm--are not traceable TO the popu-
Tar dogmas aud theories OF the Democratic
party In the early days Of the Govern.
ment. there was no such party designation
as Democracy. The Government was then
well understood to be strictly guarded
Representative Republic, with decided anti
Democratic features. Its three Departments
Executive, Judicial and I.egislative-were
constructed upon bases largely more arlsto-
cratic than Democratic. The Convention that
framed the Federal Constitution declined, by
vnte Of nine States to one to allow the
| Executive 10 be chosen by direct vote OF
the people. As Democracy is govern
ment in which the people govern directly, i
is evident that this department Of the Gov.
eminent is not Democratic. The second
department-tbe Judicial, is still further
removed from popular control. tbs, in fact,
without solitary trait OF Democracy. The
Judges in their appointment, in their tenure
of Office, and in their official responsibility,
are independent Of the agency, and beyond
the reach Of the people. OF course. then.
there is no Democracy in this department OF
the Government. The third and last depart,
ment--the Legislative, partakes somewhat.
but still only partially, Of The Democratic
element. The members Of one Of its branches
are elected directly by the people, while
those OF the ptber hold their seats by diff
ferent authority. Of the three departments,
then, only one-and that only in its lower
half-is Democratic. Is it nut, therefore,
absurd TO speak OF the Government as de.
mocracy? Aud is it not equally absurd to
speak Of the necessity for Democratic party
to administer il: Nav, since the Govern
ment itself is not Democracy. and was de-
signed mol 10 be democracy, is il not evident
that UemOerdtic party is party opposed
TO the Government as IL was constructed By
lis founders, and as il was designed to be
regarded and administered BY their descen.
dants: Ii is no answer to say that the name
Of Democracy does not necessarily imply the
nature Of Democracy. Sooner or later IT
must be so. The name impresses the popu-
lar mind with false ideas, and what il imports
is sure to become the creed Of those who
accept it as their party designation. 1t is the
practical development Of this fact that is
producing those fearful changes, those " lev
cling" and mobocratic results, which
have 50 justly excited the alarm Of the tsder,
and that are set forth in the article 10 which
We refer.