Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-10-09
NAE nnrY nR Gnnn CITIZENs.

It was just observation of that highminded and phi
osophical statesman, Edmund Burke when, in painting
the character Of noisy tribe Of politicians who flourish
ed in his day. he said they "a species Of men 70
whom a state Of order would become sentence Of OBJ
scurity" and who, having been nourshed into danger
GUS magnitude by intestine disturbances, prompt
ed by Of sinister piey to cherish in return the
disorders which were the parents OF all their conse-
quences."
The saving as true at the present day when first
uttered and finds its Illustration in the agtations which
disturb the country proceeding they do from sec
oua issues that have spent their force, and which are
only prolonged in order to subserve the political aggran
dizcment of the parties to whom they originally proved
source OF life and strength.
IL ia also true that good citizens in time Of such
purposeless turmoil and confusion becoming disguised
with the arts of political managers, are tempted more
and TO withdraw from the stage Of political activity
just in proportion to the growing necessity which de-
mands the prompt and energetic Intervention TO put
end to the 'strie Of tongues" This, too is political
truth which did not escape the observation OF Edmund
Burke ami he has alluded to in order TO make the de-
inquercy such "gooi citizens" theme OF patriotic
aumadversion. The remarks which he has left under
this head as recently quoted by our intelligent cOutem
porary the Baltimore American, have such an obvious
caring upon our 'present dscOnents" thai cite
them los the instruction and qualification of our read
ers
at is no. enough that man means well to his couu
try not enough that in his single person he
did an evil act but always voted according his con-
science and haraDgued against every design which
nc apprehended TO be preudcia to the interests Of his
country. This inuOxious and Intellectual character, that
seems formed upon plan Of apology aud disculpaton,
falls mseraby short OF the mark of public duty. That
duty demands and requires that what is right should
only be made known, bit made preBdist-that what is
evil should not only be detected, bn' defeated When a
m Omts 10 put himself in situation OF doing his du.
ty with effect IL is omission that illustrates the purposes
of his almost much if be had formally beiray
ed it, II is surely very rational account of mans
life that he has always vo,ed right but has taken special
care to act in such thai his endeavOrs could
not possibly be productive of any consequence.
al do not wonder that the behavior Of many parties
should have made persons Of tender and scrupuous vr
tue somewhat Of humos With all Sorts Of connection
in politics. admit that people III such confederacies
frequently acquire narrow, bgoted, and proscrpiive
spirit that they are apt to sink the idea Of the general
good in the crcumscrbed and partial interest Of party
success But where duty renders a critical situation
necessary one Is business 10 keep free from the
evils attendant upon it, and not fly from the situation IT.
self II fortress is seated 10 unwhoesome air. an
officer Of the garrison obliged TO be attentive 10 bis
health, but he must not desert his station . -.
"For my part find i impossible 10 conceive that any
one believes in bis politics thinks them be Of
any weight who refuses 70 adopt the OF having
them reduced into practice Il is the business of the
speculative philosopher to mark The proper ends Of gov
ernment the business of the politician who is the
philosopher in action find proper means towards
every honorable connexiOn will avOw it is their first pnr
pose to pursue every just method to put the men who
hold their opinions into such condition may enable
them to carry their common plans into execution with
all the power and authority Of the State As this power
is attached certain situations it is their duty to
tend for these situations. generous contention
for power on manly and honorable maxms, will easily
be distinguished from the and interested struggle
for place and emoument The very style ofsHch persons
will serve to discriminate them from those numberiess
imposters who have deluded the ignorant with profess
sions incompatible with human practice. go.
If remember old scholastic aphorism which saws that
the who lives wholly detached from others must be
either an angel q devil When see in any OF these
detached gentlemen Of times the angelic purity pow
err and benifcence shall admit them to be angels In
the meantime, are born only 10 be men, We shall
do enough if we prove ourselves to be good ones II is
therefore business carefully TO cultivate in our minds
to rear the most perfect vgor and maturity every sort
Of generous and homes. feeling tha; belongs nature
TO bring the dispositions that are lovely In private life
into the service aud conduct of the Commonwealth to
be patriots not TO forget that gentlemen to
cultivate friendships and TO incur enmties; TO have both
strong, but both seeced-in the to be pacable in
the other immovabe; to model principles du-
ties and suaton to be fully persuaded that all vir-
tue which is impraccable is spurious; and rather 10
hsriSk of falling into faults in which leads
TO act ch .eet aud energy, than 10 Loiter out
| days pithOut blame and pithoua .
He trespassss Ggdinst his duty rhO sieeps upon his
match, iceH as he Md, GOES orer 10 The ensmg."
| We make no apology (says the Baltimore Ameriean)
for this long quotation and leave without comment
We ask for OILY careful reading by that numerous
body Of Union men who, under whatever plea have hh
ero reused to take active citizens part in the great
and important struggle going around them.