Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1862-01-23

Not paper at that hme Whch hao tue renoVeS' 'u'N
Of the COT Hict not journalist WhoTose to the emer-
geocis Of the occason-all passion, rant and bonn
bs, Grom the Chief Executive down to the lowest
constable the raging idea Of "Wping out the South,
,n 4.sv conquest and so on went roaring like prAl-
o. on fire. from right to Left, from left to right, con-
sumingS all before it, Even now they are not unde-
celyed but we do despair Of bringing them to their
senses By few more Lessons.
Government OF the MajOrity-The Right ofthe
owners of Property 60 the Power OF Protee-
tiOn AgnIast the Unjust Eneroaehments OF
the Numerical Majority, and the Mode by
which this Power may be Afforded.
II What We have previously written, We have not
desned it necessary make dgresson for the pur-
pose of demonstrating the llAcy Of those theories OF
Government which are founded upon the asserted right
OF the numerical msjority TO govern Upon this subject
to be hoped that our own melancholy experience, rs
reo,e,y illustrated in the corruption, elimination and
downfall of certain model Yankee dsmoerGei's will be
fonud sufficient to outpreach the loudes preacher" But
.sRst We have pursued this course a. to specialists
aud political eLlrlAtans generally, yet there is theo'
~ Of Government the prevalency Of which, It's Versimi'
l.ude its simplicity and apparent equity would seem 10
demand, At least few passing observations We al
lu9e to the u,aran theory of Government announced
by that great master Of political paradox, Jeremy Ben
IN, which asserts that the great object ofa good
Government is ITO secure the greatest good to the
greatest number"
This theory possesses charms attractive alike TO the
visionary and INDECENT and appant pGrvsin in the SCI
encs OF Government, ard to designing demAgogueG-
The latter adopt it to begue the multitude and to pro-
mote their Own selfish ends the former alured BY its
msre:rieous charms are wanting in the inclination, or
III Industry or the mental capacity, to detect in it evils
destructive both of social order and happiness By the
great 1ry Of ref ,ctug men, however, IL has always
beea viewed in its character specous but false the
apparent ingenuity Of which is far transcribed by the de-
m,rasing effect Il has eIerted upon the political inst-
tu,ions Of the world.
And here NAV not be improper to S5y that, both In
the decision Of what constitutes this greatest good and
in providing the to secure IT, the msjority are
alone TO be consulted Inthis great work Of govern
meat they alone ought to be engaged. In daking this
decision, what principles Of religion to preside over
thsir deliberations Snd constitute their rule Of conduct
T. proviiinz the means 70 carry their decision into e.
feet. what code o. ethics is to restrain them from
Zoe reply Is the apogs aud bllsphemous one that the
yell Of the multitude announcing lie decisions is the
20 &c Of 3D. that the maj oriy have the unquestiouAbe
Digit to govern and thai the duty and the only duty
Of the minority ia SILENT a. ct and savsh submission.
Il may re said also that the apparent greatest good
TO The greatest number Is no. always so In reality, but
the reverse. So that nations may be silently and W.
consciously working their downfall when they vAny i'm.
sgoe they are promoting their greatest happiness This
Z, ats og the imperfection OF mans nature, and his
liability in uohi - which the Paid box OF evils
80 often We4rs AZ aspect beNiShiDg and so s'dleng
accurately to Judge from any abstract prinses OF res-
soriug ia uhAi bis greatest good in truth consists At
Il qlay true that what constitutes the greatest good
az the greatest lumber, at any sea time may not coz
ute chat greatest good at another time net far re-
IN vel ia the future. Aud hence it s that goTern.
me its attempted to be cOne,tutei gpon this false ,heo
~ I'm be AlE.ys on the wheel Of regulation forever
Sitting and changing with the varying opinions aoS
Wlims aud caprces OF the multitude a. 70 shat cOnst
Ia C. thsir greatest good When stripped u the gild
iag sophistry of Ingenious pScuGtions this Unitarian
tleoy Of government will be found to be dangerous
beresy, founded upon the practical denial Of all political
rights 70 minorie. the asserted right Of the ma
putty TO govern according . the combined uss of Am-
bition,. pOWsr and selfinterest.
IL may be safely asserted that that sOveTnNsnt u the
bed which best protects the equal rights Of person ans
OF property of all is ez,us by JUS! laws wisely and im
plEially administered. Such government may go far
toSards realizing Rockers noble eulOgy upon law itself
There will be nothing so high to be beyond the reach
Of it, power nothing 90 low to be beneath is care
l. is quite fashionable for denagogues to give express
s,ol 70 al amount of tWAddle about the sovereignty OF
the people and the responsibility Of governments Ana
rulers the people. That all free governments emauGte
in ome way from the people ha. the agents of all such
g1gsrnmens in way responsible TO the people,
is would b. folly deny because ne did 80 the people
possess The physical power to cause that responsibilities
bsE,cegn red Bat in what docs this responsibility
coaiHg Does Il consist in obedience to the varying
uhinis and caprces OF the multitude, without the re-
strant Of Law? Or does not rather consist in respOr-
sbay to the people through the medium Of Known and
established laws previously prescribed for the govern
sna of their ooaduct2 When people have once Ssis-
gated their authority government to ia different
vSrmenls and have prescribed by their Constitution,
the powers sud duties OF their various agents and have
designated BY that instrument the mode in which thoAs
agents shall be held responsible for violations OF chcia
duty, their power over both agents aud government
at sn end The power over these subjects Is no longer
theirs except according TO the limitations and resre'
tisrs created by themselves. They can only change
either BOTH according the mode prescribed by the
supreme law. Agents and officers Of government them
responsible to the people only through the lawn
other way they be held responsible without the
AnuihAIiOn Of al law and all government Superinducirg
Jtste Of anarchy with all the evils Of civilization, and
wits none OF its restraining ipaaences-
But, to return from this apparent DEPRESSION. We
have shown, in previous number upon this subject,
TIA. in all popular governments there s disposition
the part Of thu governing majority to appropriate to
themselves the benefits Of government at the same time
they relieve themselves from its most onerous burdens
dat this disposition will. be particularly manifested In