The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-03-12
A Richmond Editor on the Evils Of
a Democratic Government.

spirit Of freedom, on the side of the |
Union, and the spirit of despotism on the
side of the robellious States, we have
omitted no occasion TO impress this fact
upon tho minds of eur readers. We be-
lieve that the Southern rebellion is main
ly and essentially the rebellion of poll
teal slayeholding faction against free
governmest--tho revolt of an arrogant
soli-conceited, meagre minority against
the voice Of the majority. From time to
time we have published extracts from
Southern sources, showing the hatred Of
the rebels for democracy, but have never
published any thing more plain-spolSen,
than the following extracts from an
article in late number Of the
Southern Literary Messenger publish
ed at Richmond, Virginia. We hope
that no man will run over the follow
ing article carelessly. II is worthy
Of preservation for future reference. The
writer denounces democracy, lauds sla-
very as the great element of Southern
strength in the present war, and urges Tie
establishment Of rgop@ty qualification for
voters, and a Reduction in the number Of cleo
tivo offers, because he people hare too ml4l
P0too
THE GREAT DANCERS OF THE CoNFaDERAoY.
In discoursing on "The Great Dangers
of the Conlederscy," The writer says:
The South is now engaged in death
struggle with a radical democracy, the
willing ineirument of consolidation in
the hands of an Abolition oligarchy We
may well afford to congratulate ourselves
that recent events have served to
streng hen that confidence in The glori.
GUS triumph Of freedom which already
felt itself dOnbly assured in our previous
victories, and in thc rcsolute determine
ton q the people 10 DO free But the
struggle viii not end with tho physical
triumph of the South over the North
Our success will be staggering blow 10
tyranny and viii doubtless paralyzo
its arms in many fierce encounter.
But we must not hope for exemption from
that never-ending conflict of liberty
and despotism. We have ep- safeguards,
and a most noble defense do they con-
stitute. The Statos-rights theory of
Government, g community Of republics.
each separate and independent, acting
through Joint agent, who inherits none
Of The powers or privileges OF all or any
OF the States, distinctly recognized and
adhered to, permeating as a current of
vitality every vein aud artery of ma
ILL q 4
tendency which theatens to gurgitate the
Northern people in that raging mmlstrom
of anarchy's strifeswhich passing events
Visibly foreshadow as the inevitable
doom of that infatuated people That
benign institution of Slavery which il is
now the pride and glory of the South to
ascribe to Divinity, and Which war has
propea 10 be merit to the dfvot,d patriotism and
undaapted resolution Of her sons-tGe great
element of potUer IN the Coptederacy-will
prove in preventing too heavy influx from
foreign shores Of that class ofp9pulation de-
voted 10 mental pursuits, another bulwark
against the Entertainments of those ten =
denotes to democracy, which have been
the Pandora's box of disintegration and
ruin TO all republics, The territorial
physiology Of the South with which
Heaven blessed her, in the decree which
il proclaims that the occupation of her
people must ever BIO mainly agricultural,
affords another guarantee to that intelli-
CONGO and virtue which are 30 essential
to the preservation of liberty and law,
but which never flourish under the cor :
rupt influence of an Overgrown mushroom
development Of manufacturing and com
mercial wealth.
But all these, though powerful as sx-
ternal causes, are yet not sufficient to
place beyond the reach Of the demagogue
and ;yrant the covenant Of our liberties.
Additional safeguards must be provided
In the characteristic and intrinsic me-
chanism OF our social system. The dan
Eerous tendency TO excess will almost
inevitably be with us as ia the late Uni
on, and in all free governments toward a
democracy. The danger Of this tendency
may not be appreoiAble for many years
Disgraced by the crimes of her yotaries
in the Northern States, humbled by her
humiiathg defeats in the destruction OF
her chosen empire the late Union. and
Abashed by the proud triumphs OF con-
stitutional liberty in the success of the
young Confederacy Democracy qaqy ,ai
pe features Of ber prophet, and seek IN iu,nil-
Nv and retirement from he heatey Of aoiiv.
conflict to e9ace he blood Siaiael record Of he,
eib,es Witnesses ourselves Of the enor.
mitics and excesses of which an unbrid.
led democracy is capable, We feel that tC
be the leaet danger which threatens us
But neither pos'erity no,
ourselves 10 a few years Will realize in
their terrible prominence Che instructive
events Of tho present Let &c be our lrsl
duty, then, in the infancy of our Rapub-
lie, while 10 10 yet capable of receiving
benefcent impressions 90 impress upon
il those features which viii project
its durability from those porils, which
all history teaches as will constitute
the greatest obstacles 20 succcss. No
enlightened man viii deny that those
dangers proceed from eXtrcmo Demo-
cratic and popular charastcristics, which
are now stamped upon every feaiur,
Of cur national and social orrauiaq-
ton. The spirit Of leitLuy agrariapism
which succeeded ia degrading eyeryibino
beneath the hool OF an ignorant aud VIZ
oious democracy, which Sought to rs-
move every barrier of distinction he.
tween virtue and vice between culipbt-
eminent and ignorance which sought ID
sgudli,e an by emitting an alike TO IN,
fullest enjoyment Of citizenship; which
not only invited TO our shores, there ID
re-enGct the crimes which had condemned
them 10 punishment at home, the refugee.