Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1862-01-17
OF "A r. X WILLIE
Friday, January 18th, 1862.
nsh, Phere. IS mo- better ,tirne lthhh tlurs

ilng tne progress OF " reVOluuOn 10 canvass lne
causes which led to it and to fix the principles of
the government that must follow it, Resistance to
wrong is ever the pretext for aVioleht change in
the institutions of country, and unless that change
be radical enough to remedy the wrong, the strug-
gle is, an idle sacrifice. The institutions under
which the people Of both sections of this country
lived for three-fourths of century were for many
years, held up to theworld ASA model of wisdom
the perfection of human government; but they
have failed to secure the ends for which they were
estabshed-a stable prosperity and equal and ex-
act justice to ALL The government has falleu
crushing the last vestige Of liberty in the North
and sacrificing the happiness the lives and fortunes
government there must be adequate causes. If the
principles upon which 1t was based we're perfect
then the cause srto be found IN the ignorance and
depravity of the people; If imperfect it behooves
us TO seek out the defects and apply the remedies
On this latter point, opinions are as various as the
prejudices that have gained ground during the pro-
gress of the experiment in free government that
has just so signally failed and as irreconcilabe as
the many specous dogmas that have misled the un-
wary and imposed upon the ignorant We have
often given it ,ourepinou that the great defects
in our system of government are too much Execu-
tive patronage an elective judiciary and universal
suffrage. The FIRST is dangerous as overshadowing
the coordinate departments and stimulating corrup-
ton the second, as defeating the ends of justice
by making partizaps of judges and judges of un-
scrupnlous demagogues; and the last as placing
every great interest at the mercy of rresponsi-
BILE majority. - 2''ai .-7 ,a,' i's ia ~
In the earlier days of the Union, now dissolved,
the judiciary was not elective, the ballot-box was
/ governed by wholesome restrictions and the Exec
utive was cautious and conscientious in the exer-
else of the power unwisely vested in him. The
consequence was that corruption was checked and
wisdom and patriotism controlled the administra-
ton of the government. But the "golGen age Of
the Republic was Of shoIt duration; demagogues,
eager for prelermentanl reckless of the means OF
obtaining it, commenced the process of levelling
dowihvards; the passions and prejudices Of the
people were artfully appealed to- and the cry was
that true democracy was stHed by the naughty
spirit of arstocracy and that could never be free
and equal until every officer made elective and
every loafer--no matter of what country--had free
access to the ballot-bex One by one the safe
guurds of liberty were overthrown in the progress
of rndicalism law and order were spurned by
4 needless maorities; the government became the
mere organ of faction; the right Of minorities
found no protection under the Constitution, and
sectional lanaticistn gave the last blow to long
tottering goverbmeht.
i 1t matters little to our present purpose whether
the government was itself defective or the people
in fhult. If the latter are really capable of self
government in the true meaning of the term, q bad
system would improve under their wise and vigil
ant care; If not no system based upon the idea OF
democracy TO them the blessings of good
government The truth of this remark has been
verified in the most painful manner and yet we are
likely to emerge from a bloody revolution With no
better security for our future As nation than the
almost identical institutions which have failed to
secure our rights under the pfanest guarantees of
written Constitution. II is true that as a separate
people, the chief disturbing element will be queted
but have pot escaped the evil effects of a radio
alism verging upon anarchy and the partial exemp-
ton is attributable not much to a higher inher-
en virtue to the fact that the Institution of sav
lery has protected from the inroads of a rabbls
whose vices reach the whole body polite through
the medium of the ballot-box And although thi:
institution tue immediate cause of our present
troubles, partially dimnshes one dangerous ele-
ment there other defects challenging grave at
I tention and effective remedies. Corruption has
made its mark upon Southern character, and as the