Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-05-24
Not the Goths and VanGals destroyed the
Roman Empire, but the corrupt ambition Of its

Roman Empire, but the corrupt ambition Of its
rulers and the decay Of public virtue When
the Northern hoides. invited by the rich pros
poets OF piunder which Southern Europe pre-
scntcd TO them, poured down their martial
hosts upon the Roman Empire aud its pre-
,i,'rS. they found not the sturdy patriotism q
the Z, ablir, which sacrificed ell private into
rests to t!'e public good, but selfish and auIbi-
tious rulers WIN, wit:l their train Of parasites
and courtiers, were solcitous only Of securing
and dividing the spoils OF olice, Of perpetual
ting their own reign, and promoting their per-
sonal fortunes.
Caesars was to multiply offices throughout his
do1E nions, and 20 iii them with i verul crowd,
who, in rs,urn for III. royal favor, supported
with their sweet voices The iortulIed Of their
Imperial master, ard represented to the bards
J Of PIG !orians and ether mercenaries, the many
virtues CT the -eignns sovereign.
When the barbsrians We're threatening tic
integrity OF The Empire, the craftsmanship ci
lhe palace had no broader scope than the lrl
vate good of the wear-r Of tho Imperial Purple,
and the hear approach Of . powerful enemy did
not disturb The ccu,paccnt dreams Of gran
deur which engaged The attention oi Inc nlas-
ter Of the Roman world The iutrigres of the
Court were Of lcole importance than the pub
lie danger, ard the EouAn pcci'le, disgasled
xl!i their rulers eud oppressed ty an army Of
spo:ls-seehcrs and placement more dangerous
than the public enemy, fci! an easy conquest to
the Northero ad2entu1rrs.
This chapter OF history IS NOT without lis
moral. 1t teaches that the lFscdom of that
people is in danger where rulers have any
other ambition than the public good
In Republics, these who have the guidance
Of public affairs rarely ever rise IL higher
standard Of patriotism than tie peorlo drmand
Indeed tho ssductlons Of power ars 50 great
that they more frequently fail below than riae
10 the level of public patriotism. Fortunately,
the remedy il IN the han1s Of Tho people
themselves It is t1y them 10 demand, that In
their service no private sci'eH,cs vi promotion
and pretermsnt stall shape OF guide the con-
dact OF the public servant
The corruption of public norals which had
crept into the Government rt the late Union;
the perpetual intrigucs for tbs succession 10
power, the welding Of Government patronage
and power, to secure TO this or ,ha: politician
the privilege Of dispensing the public spoiis;
\ the utter abnegatoa oG the pubic good AMID
tall these in,rigue' Of selfish uad ambitious %s
h lirauts would sooner or later have aoc"n-
isbed the destruction cf the liberties OF !le
:. pSlc.
y. 2ahe people Of Virginia ard he s'a;t, ,he
p7esSt is TIL auSricious itus to return I" the
grea.irtus If Republican unssfSh deTo.
~ ton t:he public good. When everybody is
:. called Ion rs ncw, 10 make SACRIFICES for
:, the puhlaSelrarc ard 20 undergo toils and
r. laboFs, thssbe State may taxa 40 detTin'ent,
~ patriotism u be found TO be something moro
= than uere sme TO be giio!y uttered by the
# political aspirN or Tue selfish dcmtgcgue.-
BY the unsslfsAievotion which the rassscs of
: tae people brinsNv the great cause Of S9I,:her"
: Independence, 'ha:wii! have the appropriate
;; standard BY wlic'io judge tao acAs znd pro
: tessoicns Of those "o seek their FL lor.
In the spirit Of ,ra patriosis,O,: i" which
;, they have ovcTthrcwhall party creeds and;
:, lenders for The common pcd, they viii be sn.
abed to judge the merits,f any who may seek
to turn the generous outt,est Of public !cclirg
: to the preierment Of their ,riva,c fortunes
! 4 tone OF lofty and pure dc eliou TO the pub
lie coed among the peaplc ,h,ulsclvcs will be-
get among their public servant, corrrspoEd.
ing sentiment
! When politicians and aspiran!s6n that tic
, surest Recommendation to public favor consists
: in discharging their public duties wAh en- eye
single to the public good, they will learn to
drop the selfish considerations, which have been
~ long the bane and curse Of our political
= condition.
= Let the people educa.e to thei, oSn STAN
Is dard of patriotism ths public men Of the coan
% z try, and viglantl' watch and rebuhs the ire
re pressibe tendency Of the politician TO look
M upon his present position as the stepping.ston:
lN To another, and SO will, in a great u=Asu;s e
ns y rid ourselves OF the dssracctll uni corrupt
ing intligucs which undermine publ: :naFal:
aud neglect the public interests.
At this ti1n., when the State needs the ser
ngg;ces of all her sons 10 preserve the liherlet
se- which our ancestors won, his merit vii! be es
heteemed the greatest who makes the greatest
on ,scriGcss, and his re~ard the surcst wso cpad
Of nits TO the future his future prospects, aod
et,eryes in the present without seeking 10 rsks
Ap. he present su5ser7ient to The future.
tie --sns---------
nv Lincoln Organ on tbs London Times.
Il is stated tta, Of the five English journals
.Ihich have been quoted in this country on The
1i.tlsct Of the dissolution ofthe AnerlcanC Union
10 ~ one-the London Post h-s taken decided
=" e,pd against the Southern Con'ederacy. Ihs
= anlen,s Of the "Thunderer," the London
wa .aes have greatly provoked the ire OF sonc o.