The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1861-01-24

and decision of their duty to chosen men,
in whose wisdom they have confidence
This is the true theory of parliamentary
government" Had this idea been held
our representatives would have guided
public opinion. instead Of being swept along
by it, they would be pillars of the State,
and net mere wcathcr-vancs to show the
course of the popular breeze.
The next evil result of the undue cXal-
tation of the people, is the unlimited doc
trine that the majority should govern !;
whereas the authority Of God is supreme,
the authority Of written constitutions
next, and the authority Of the people last
in the series. This error is sufficiently in
furious when applied to the legislation OF
single State, but is utterly ruinous wien
forced into Federal affairs, the conduct OF
which should depend not on the popular
will Of the whole country, but on the in
dividual uttcranccs Of the several States
According to this monstrous notion. the
weaker holds its rights and liberties by
the bare sutierancc Of the stronger.
Now, God will not give His glory to an
other, and as France atoned in bitterness
and bloodfor itsimopius apothcsis OF reason
in the guise of lust and in garb Of q harlot,
so VIC arc reaping the rewards Of our idol
airy of ourselves.
Our Federal Government, 50 complex
and so nicely balanced, required for itsad-
ministration the sternest virtue and
the highest wisdom; but alas! it
has too often been the tool Of party. the
instrument of sections, and the engine OF
corruption. lis highest Offices are no Ion
ger regarded as serene and lofty positions
into which the wisest and best OF her citi-
zens are placed TO guide the destinics OF a
great country; but in accordance with the
vile battlc-cry, "To the victors belong the
spois." they are sought for the benefit OF
the loaves and fishes. AS consequence
Of this, the government is corrupt, votes
are bought and sold, and in the struggle
of factions. the interests OF the country
are overlooked The great Federal Par
liment appointed by the States to be the
minister Of justice and protection, has been
perverted from It's high ends. and h;ls be-
come fountain of corruption, OF a source
of alarm.
The States united in holy bond. scaled
by blood, instead of loving each as them
selves. and discharging the common Offices
of respect and good-fcllowship, have rush
ed eagerly into the error against which
Westinghouse cmphatically warned them,
and stand arraycd in the desperate strug-
gle of sectional animosity
That portion Of them which has been
constantly growing relatively weaker. in
stead of firmly uniting, not for aggression,
but for sclfprotection. has all along been
divided upon questions Of mere party and
personal politics.
Now, mention these things not as
mere slips and blundcrs i'll the conduct Of
our affairs. but distinctly in the light Of
sins against God, who laid us, by His Pro-
vidcnce under the most solemn obligations
to preserve our free institutions and our
prosperous commonwcalths. and to trans
nit them to future generations.
Let us add toall this the other manifold
gricvious sins which ahlict our country
the profanity. the Sabbath-brcaking, the
fraud and the violence, and we have an
array of guilt that may well startlc us and
arouse God. o, our oficnsc is rank; it
smells to Heaven.
But in this day when the land lnoarns,
we arc called upon not only thus colec-
lively to confess our national sins, but al
so to mourn, every family apart, and eve
ry man in the secresysbf his own heart
We must not excuse ourselves with the
plea that we are obscure. and our sins but
as drop in the ocean remember that Il
single Archan brought discontinue on
the armies Of Israel God says: II, the
Lord, search the heart and try the rcns
of the children of men, and it is only by
each mans confessing and forsaliing his
own sins that this great act Of national hui
initiation will be rightly done this day.
If, as God looks from His throne on the
spectacle of a nation sitting in sackcloth
and ashes. lie sees that genuine pcnitcncc
fills every heart, He will say, L repent me
of the evil, | will not doit. cXlort YOU.
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