Arkansas true Democrat., 1862-03-13

 ment, wouldbe matter neither ofsuprse nor com pla;nt But ho will prove himself eithera weak or ! had man who fails to call back his wayward spirit and subject it to necessary restraint. Submission to authority is the primary necessity in all commit nitcs and selfeontrol is the chief lesson of indi vidnal life. In the light of passing events all measure the height and depth of the the excellence intended to be conveyed when 1t is said, Better is he who ruleth his.owu spirit than he who taketh Il city.'he
 The gaze eft!se world is fixed upon us. Nations nations look On, curious to know how this new systemof government will move of, and what of iaen have been chosen to guide it's earl jest movements. It is, indeed, a new system For, though coinciding in many particulars with that under which We lived so long, 1t yet differs from 1t in many essential particulars.
 When tue Constitution of laS7 was put in opera ton the war ofthe revolution had been successfully closed. Peace prevailed throughout the whole land, andhailowed alits borders Industrial opera ton ofthe country long held back ,now bounded for ward and expanded with all the vigor and rankness of tropical vegetation beneath the influence of {. midsummer sun. The trial which that consti- tuition had to encounter i'll it's earliest, as well as i'll more matured existence, simply one engen- dcred by conflict of these interests, the question was wether it could give protection to all those in tereSts without becoming the partizan of one and the oppressOr of another; or, in fact, whether it
 
 aga!ns the influence of interest yielded by ambi tion We have seen the result.
 The case with our constitution is very different It is put into operation ill time of war; and its first movements are disturbed by the shock of battle- Its trial Is one eeated by the urgencies ofthe con test. The question to be decided is, whether with out injury to its own integrity, it can supply the machinery and afford the means requisite to con duct this war to thatsuccessful conclusion which the people in their hearts have resolved on and which rust has been decrced in that higher court from whose decisions there is no appeal. The SO ution of this question is in the bosom of the fu- ture.
 but our system can never perish out like that 10 which have alluded When ambition and inter est seIzed upon Chat, and destroyed it's integrity they were Hot alIlownd to appropriate the rule altogether to themselves. Fanatcism came fer ward and demanded to be received as partic; pant of power with them, and it claimed not in yaln. Beneath the sway of this unholy trumyi rate, justice was forgotten, intolerance was estah hshed, private morals were ruined, public virtue perlshed. All feeling of constitutional restraint passed away and all sense of the obligation of an oath was forever lost. The whole machinery of government degenerated into the absolute rule of corrupt numerical majority. Already the weak or seclon was marked out for destruction by I'm. stronger, and then came disruption and overthrow since then tyranny the most absolute, and per- the ot soundness m the whole system.
 Our new system is designed to avoid tho orrors ot the old; certainly it is founded on different system of political philosophy and is sustained bx peculiar and conservative state of society. IL has elements of strength and long life But at inc threshold lies the question have already stated, Can teyut'nafey a9ord the means to 6riaq the aror 70 C snecessjm conclusion If not, it must pcrish put successful result must be achieved. ituust hsfpnVCd VOf hr-tb tbo bo,, .P.. taint ot perjury It must go out peacefully, and in pursuance of its own provisions. Better to sub mt to momentary inconvenience, than to iniur, representative honor or violate public faith In the whole book of expedients there is no place fer peUmy. Let Us, on the contrary, assidoususly cul- vate the feeling ofrespect for constitutional mita- ton, and asacred reverence for the sanctity of an oath
 Seeing, therefore, gentle of the House of Repre- Sentatives that we cuStodians of the nations iIfe, and the guardians of the Constitutions inteo rIty, hat manner of men should we be- How cool, how consideratc, how earnest how iafexihl. how Irue: Having no prospect in the future, sav,, Fhreu%hNthc eacceSs of our cause, how repardlrss should we he of selfish views and plans of persona} advancement. Selected by the people to take care ot the State III this time of difficulty and of trial how ought we to dedicate ourselves in heart. mind soulan energy to the public service Neithe, nI. tory has recorded, nOr depicted nor fable shad- o"cu Icltl, HlSner instances of self devotion than ought to be shown i'll the conduct ofths Con- gress' 1t Is not allowed us to pursue course of obscure mediocracy. We inaugurate & govern, ment; we conduct revolution. We must live for ever n the memory of man, either for Drase or for blame. If we prove equal to the cris. in h;ch we are placed, we shall win inperishahie honor.-- But Ii ou the contrary, We show ourselves inCom. petent 10 the discharge of our duty we shall sink beneath the contempt ot mankind truly our posi- ton IS one of great import. Our gallant army now h0ds' as It deserves, the first place in the thoughts and affections oi cur people but of scarcely less i'm poFtance, m the estimation Of all, is the legislative authority which initiates the civil policy of the Confectionery, and which sustains and uphoIas th,, army itself. And when the latter shall have ac. complished it's holy mission, by driving the inya der from the soil which he desecrates and pollutes and when the hearts of grateful and free people, more generous than Roman Senate, shall, for that service, decree to it one life ovation if true to ourelyes and competent to our duty, this Con gross will be united in the triumphal honors And II tS constitution be destined to go forward as We hope and believe it will, to distant future, gain, ing new strength from trial; and winning new tii- umphs from time; giving protection and peace to successive generations of happy and enlightened people; as the gray haired sires and yenerated pa- trarchs of ages now remote, shall seek to inspire the courge and fire the hearts of the ingenious youth of their day, by accounting the heroic deeds oi the army which achieved our independence, let the lesson be extended and enlarged by enabling them to tell, aIso of the self sacrificing patriotism and enlaged statesmanship of the Congress which in aaSurated the permanent constitution of the South ern Contederacy. Again thank you. Applause.
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