Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1860-10-17

NATURE AND PRESENT ASPECT OF
THE GOVERNMENT OF TuD US.

| AAAAN W. ithN4'4h i1AN vi.
low s long HIS rr Question Of too serion
import for calm and pleasing contempla
ton. The patriotic heart shuddcrs at tn
thought of the dangers with which our DO
litical institutions are threatened. Gu
government depends upon the will of TIL
people. 1t is founded in sound morality
and can only be maintained by great viz
tue. The striciest integrity is required t,
sustain the fair fabric Honesty and ius
tice must rule supreme in the hearts O
those who expect to retain the noble her.
itage
We claim TO have the best government
on earth-we.,nay justly claim to have the
noblest. The best government is that
which secures to the citizen the greatest
amount Of liberty, consistent with the ne
ccssary restrictions for the cffectual sup
preston of vice. The noblest government,
is that, in which'every citizen is freeman,
and restraints himself; such is our govern
ment; and if it could be perpetuated, it
would soon eyalt the people above those of
any other nqiion. But freedom, or liberty
and virtue are almost incompatible. There
is but step from the noblest government
to anarchy or barbarism. Freedom being
the element of our nature, in that state, all
our tendencies are to retrograde. Virtue,
according to our idea, is the offspring of
education and discipline.
A few virtuous people instituted our
government and by the energies of the
just and wise it has been upheld. If it had
remained in the hands Of few puritans,
it would perhaps, have stood for many
ages. But emigration and the relaxation
of discipline-natural results of our form
of government, have undermined the mo-
rails Of the community, and if this temple
of liberty, though raised by our fathers at-
the expense, toll treasure, and the dearest
ties of affection, and defended at the peril
of their lives and fortunes, does not soon
crumble and fall, we shall be fortunate
an exceedingly fortunate people.
So soon as the people shall lose the stam-
ina of morals, the form of government
must, and will be changed. The people
may govern themselves, If they have the
noble-the generous qualities that are re-
quisite; but deprayed and unprincipled
partizans, fanatics, and demagogues with
the hand of agrarians, incendiarians, cut
Threats, and Williams of every cast, that
spring from such an atmosphere, cannot
control themselves. Nothing but the
sternest maxjms of law, executed by the
iron will of n dcspot are suited to such
people. The present struggle is actually,
between vice and virtue; the oustensiblc
object being only nominal The constitu-
honalists-tlle most inveteratc of whom
are denounced as sccessonists, will never
disrupt the government. They will suffer
themselves 10 be deceived, and will deceive
to believe falsehood for fear
of disturbing the federal Union; while
these rights are being stricken down, and
the constitution, doomed to overthrow by
we'll designed and deeply founded scheme,
prosecuted with system and viger uasur-
passed. and irresistible.
The constitutional democracy at the north
understand this, and Spartans like defend
the institutions of the south. But the
south untr1is 70 herself and ,mius, to than
viii foolishIy aud nbsurdly cling 10 s.le
and obsolete opinions, aud adhere to par
ties, and pursue the fortunes Of men, Of
doEbtihl cast, when the Constitution, The
palladium Of If uniOn, is presented 10
them in its partly and hailed viii 20 much
y he only friends they have
1t the nerfil REFLEX. ,