Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1862-02-03

chanee lnpus OF the multitude. But the Americans
did lot think So They iancied they 10 the weak.
ness OF he executive the Of their osn liberty
accordingly twas left weak party sIiri, grew strong
aad the dsso uion of the fabric vas question ouly OF
time ard occasion.
With laws made With the concurrence Of the people.
administered by oefrs independent both Of people and
Cover mel aud executed by an authority strong 10 en-
fosce; but not to conrsvene them it would at st. seem
as We bad ali the conditions Of free constitution
ct there may sill be important perhaps fatal de-
feet For the laws themselves though framed in accord
ance with the letter Of the constitution may be opposed
not only TO the wishes but to the rights of portion Of
the community They may be opposed 10 the gen.
erai Interests OF the community Thus the executive
may be forced 10 support the laws In conformity with
the constitution against the general interests. But this
IS not hoerty-it Is oppression and il will depend
The magnitude Of the interests involved and the spirit
and poser OF the oppressed whether civil war sha or
shall not eDsue. Hence, 10 fulfil far as may be- the
conditions ssential TO the maintenance Of liberty the
constitution must provide for something beyond the bal.
aute Ct the powers Of the Sate II NUT endesvor-and
can only enteayor-to secure predominsnce Of wis.,
dom, indeyend nee, justice and public spirit In the IA.
uonal councils Il is not Nj ,ient that all classes should
D. represented fJr some might, ard would pTedominas
10 the detfinent OF oihers but there must be eut.
cheney OF the higher intellect that looks beyond class In.
teres TO the wide horizon Of the general welfare II IL
we're not so-lf the impulse gwen TO constitution
at the ou'set would suic' and if ouce adjusted might
be set going Ike vsIcb, with certain result then the
Farewell Address Of Washington would be dead letter.
ror why should he so earnestly impore the people to
nan.fin tIat which able TO msintan itself?
Thus, as N ght have been anticipated liberty the
dreamef generous philosophy the love OF which is 80
passionate sentiment in the human breast and the re.
alzlion OF which has rarely been accomplished for
the delight and example Of kind Is Of too fine es.
sence to be secured by framework Of rules or mta-
tons devissble by satecrsf LIS existence depepd not
on the action OF definite ascerainsb sble machinery but
on continued accession Of vital il huences. And these
huences are among the nobest, aud therefore among
rartst, attributes of man.
In history the co! ct has been unceaspp be-
tween oar crown and people for the possession power
Ia struggle involving tie interests OF all England It
inevitable that the champions should be the best that
sl England could produce The great rangedeach
side OF those who resisted the encroschments OF the
crown sIenmed he advance Of democracy are among
the greatest in the wo This proves that our consti
uou has fulfilled its most important and most delicate
O!hce-hit OF bringing the best OF the spirit and intel
ect OF toe nation to the service Of the State. SO im
pcrtsn an end that the most illogical gov
ernment in th) world, fulfilling it, would become more
than oerable, while tie mos. perfect theory which did
no! evolve this result mus. be merely plausible blum
der.
Il is notorious that this end has been fulfilled By
the America L constitution. Nor IL rational TO er
pect that il should be- Statesnsnshp Is born Of the
collision Of great principles Of important inerest
No such result can be produced where power ia all on
one side. When the people have everything, they need
20 champions Therefore, In America, patriotism means
ittety OF the peoE party spirit the spirit OF ra
fine; and debates instead Of sictng wisdom and
ruth, the gnobe 80 isboles Of mediocr,ies Where
in American history for the last forty yesrs-that Is TO
say since the impulse of the Revolution died out
TO lock for her great statesmeng Yet In that
period there is 40 great sFo1 in Europe that has
produced men who have secured an enduring fame BY
heir assertion Of great pFncpes, by the influence
they have eIer.ed the destiny of nations. And h
not true, as has been said aud quoted with applause,
that the ration IL happies, which has history for
sich heppipess is aSnalion Toe spirit that
Uredes the public life Of America has made itself
felt the Sboe nation The higher minds stand sloof
from politics. Bayard would turn from modern prize
ring Toe need for which he had been used contend
Sitn noble klghts-the smiles Of ladies' the favour Of
lnnontel kings, and Immortal honour-is DOW bag Of
.oin handed the yicor n pol-house. So the best
rcaus either be8ks themselves to ether pursuits or
ds>Onsoately the world where they their
equals Winning honour in the field from which they
forever exclLd Lded.
That men o this class shodd couutenance the violent
Of the Ncr;h is a. FIRST sight uusccountate
Il is dIfhclt 10 imagine that intellectual should
either b. friendly TO system which extends ts theory
If sqaAy To intellect aud thus neutral their natural
-1penority; should wish 10 establish in its grosset
i.rI the supremacy OF numerical msj jority, by the
orcblc SUI! ition of the great minority which cons-
the south. IL is qilte possible however, that
Sh3 gyiTg their voice 10 the NORTH they may neither
os friendly he Union desrous Of seeing the Souh
sus slgateG They may wish TO the natural aristo-
racy 10 which llny belong raised to ia proper position
Ia the state. They may consider that by quiet separa-
tioD the Union might with increased compactness and
uQanmi y recover much OF Us vitality, and that the
system they su;r under might be indefinitely proong.
ed And they may view the present convuson of that
,ye the e.sary pre- in:nary OF those political
changes which, it is natural 10 supIoe, they must
eDty cesre. To suppose this is not TO lmpugn their pa
triotsm tor # we have made our views clear in this
pap r. il evident that they may look on such crisis
necessary tor the regeneration OF their
most Important Institutions. They may, therefore, &C.
company The movement With the expectation OF finding
al opportunity 10 ccntrol H. But we do not suppose
shat any possessing the powers requisite for sGtes
nlnsh can really believe tha if BY force Of arms the
eucisu: South should be dragged back to the Union,
he Union will be thereby restored i,s original basis
Successful coercion would he greater eyou.iou than
lhs ackno sedgment OF eeceisionthis ouly lops tho
branches while that strikes the Nor do We i'm
gide that any such these be found ia the
ranks cf the Abolition party. Clever people may be-
long that party MRS Bsecher Stowe Is very clever
woman and has written very clever novel but sbe is
~ the success OF tha; novel, committed to sentiments
uore adaped TO fiction than 10 politics She evidently
oks on the South vast confederation of Legrees
eping millions OF yrtuOus uncle Toms il horrible SUBJ
ction end quotes Mr. Wendell Phillips ~ If she be.
ieycd that m.schieyous monomaniac 10 be inspired
.pns,le Bat atesmeu mUsi ak themselves how the
hisuly presented by tho condition OF the African race
you'd be solved by setting them Free What is TO be-
uome OF the liberated sIves and how is their abour TO
le replaced? questions the very first TO be asked
ou which we must net expect crazy Abolitionist 70
answer But sjca oonsiierafcrs do 10. occur TO those
enthusiastic phin;hsepis;s who testify to their love of
the negro by their hatred 10 tho psner Tne dc.truc
on of armies the ra,ase and run Of territory are -
nohirg in their heated fancy, compared with the sue
cess o. their PLAN And If secession we're accomplished
heir plan would be at an end for ty would then have
10 concern in the liberation Of the slaves Of the
South than in cruslde 10 se! the Georgian and Crcss
sian ladies free from the hArems Of the Boephorus-
!hus under present circumstances their fsnarcism bas
become sanguinary they pledged to their oourss
aud will follow it with ell the desperate reckessness and
eraclty with which weak minds will cling 10 their only
chauc3 Of Go.oricty.
suppo,irg, therefore, seems TO be the case that
n Of all classes ske part in the measure OF the Nofh
~. mu.. ann ,,s. that hose of the highest intellect
monr them 10 not share the opinoDs most vocifereus