Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-10-30

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Thoughtful men who ardently desire the perpetu
ity and glory of young Coufederacy are turniB,
their thoughts earnestly upon some means Of re
pressing forever the discreditable and demorazinI
thirst for Office which marked the downfall Of tn
old Union, and which is beginning to exhibit stronl
symptoms of revival in many quarters among us
even when we are cuntending against the arms
10000 900 of people in the holy cause of nAtiOna
existence.
IL Is indeed most discouraging omen, if in the
mid.t of such revolution which taxes every ener,
gy drains almost every vein and exhausts the re
sources of the people of the South they are to
hsrrsssed by the office seekers appeal, who COM e.
before them Wanting loudly his invaluable services
More or less of electioneerng is inseparsble from
rep sentative government.
The of 'es of the State must be filed, and whe
charged by their incuRbents with fidelity, patri
otism and ability. they entitled to the gratitude
of their countrymen 1t Is an honorable ambition
and one not to be discouraged to desire to B.
useful to the country, IN peace and
war. Bat tc seek Office, merely for 1t
sake. or for the sggrandsement Of til
individual is a low ambition unworthy Of patti
otto citz N, and Injurious to the public service.
The offices of the country have frequently beer
conferred upon obscure, inefficient or self seekins
men that the election of man to the highest posi-
toR has come to be evidence IF merit and scarce
ly elevates him in the estimation of his scquain
lance. The man may honor the Office, but Ofics
confars no distinction upon the man.
The theory of a representative Government is
that the people are the best judges of the men who
are employed to act as their public agents. Thi'
theory assumes that the people eau make a better
and wiser choice of their magistrates, legislator
and Judges than one mln can, as 10 a monarchicsl
or than few men can, as in an olgsrchIcll govern
mart.
The theory does not assume, IS some demIgOgues
teach, that the people do no wrong, for this Is
contrary to reason, to experience and TO history.
If the people were infallible in their decisions
there would be no PHILOSOPHY in limiting their ac'
ton Dy constitutional restrictions. All men Of wis
dom know that the ms 1rity do sometimes err
hence the necessity of limiting their actions and de-
cisions within certain constitutional landmarks
beyond which they ere not permitted to pass.
But coming back to the point of electing thei1
own officers We have an unfaultering faith in tht
higher capacity of the people to select their own
agents or to themselves appoint men who can th'
most wisely select them, than in the mon
archical or oigarchal idea. The people, when edu
Gated TO the proper standard, and wisely and scru
pulously limiting themselves within the bounds
prescribed by their Consttion, can more safely b
trusted with power than can one man a few men
Hence We are an uadOubting believer in represen
alive government
But how are the people to choose the sblest
wisest and best msn, when such men do not ofel
themselves for their sufrages. If none but mers
demagogues and professional ofise-seekers and in
competents ask the offices how are go ID men to bt
chosen by the people? There is but one ans tt
this The people must Alloys choose the 10iseSt, mos
honest and capable men before them and then the bss
men toiu be encouraged to come fortOdrd Otherwise
none but men, who desire little brief authority
to enhance their own Importance, will contend fol
their suffrsges.
This whole matter may be under the perfec
control Of the people themselves, if they will take
int rest enough in their public affairs to bring for
ward only earnest, capable and true men and dis
card the mere Office seeker, who has no, capacity
and desire to his country, farther than he
can minister to his own vanity and ambition.
Unfortunately, hitherto, the existence Of strong
party luminosity has too much interfered with
proper attention to the qualifications of the
msu. Now there ia no plea for part.
aliues in favor of bad or preiudi
ces against good men, on the RcOre of party. Ar
honest, impartial and patriotic choice must mari
our elections else our young and glorious CoBfede
rscy may be wrecked upon the same fatal rock
when has caused 50 many Republics to 60 down
There never was better time, aud there never will
be, to set she right precedent and to erect stan
dard Of action which shall perPetuate our Consttu
ton and disseminate its blessings the last sy able
of Time.
Il is stated as fact sscertaiBed from Official
sou ,es Richmond, that 5l6 vessels have run the
bio >ade, or failed to fud it, and entered South
ern uorls SINCE the 18Th Of MaY last La eficien