The dollar weekly bulletin. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1862-1864, 1863-05-14
NUMBER II.

for all evils disturbing its authority
and operations. ~ M
| at- NUMBER II. @ F-2.
| More than two thousand years ago, the
Greek Ssges wrote much on the theory of
Governm ent. Athens after many vicissi-
tudes and much. experience in the demo-
cratic form of government, glided into a sys
tenn mixed up Of representative and aristo-
crazy. bat experienced mary evils, resulting
from the same body. enacting, adjudicating,
and enforcing laws under the Influence of
faction in all systems she tried. Aristotle,
the Macedonian, who resided twenty years
at Athens, with all the advantageous work.
ing of Solon's'laws, and with all the abuses
of the thirty tyrGnts imposed on Athens by
Sparta, after a civil war of twenty-seven
years, before him, has given us valuable in
formation on the theory of government. an
extract from which, Nicholson's Encyclo-
pedia has embodied under the title PERE-
PATETIo; he fixes the axiom that utility
must be the end and aim of all government;
and that government is best which most
powerfully stimulates the energies of the
people to beneficial purposes, aud restraints
them from hurtful pursuits: All civilized
experience has proved that society will ar
range itself into two, three or ore classes,
guided by intelligence or native disposition;
aud so overruling is this principle that, the
m mbers Of each by common couse ut, attach
themselves to that class most suited to their
capacity and habits; and that government is
best which properly represents these classes
in the legislative department.. hence our
legislature is rightly composed of all these
classes.
The organic law being established by a
long train of experience, should be kept as
much out of the reach of temporary iegisla-
ton as possible. The executive should al
ways remain subservient to the legislative
and judicial departments. The judiciary
must override all as the best expedient
which can be devised to secure steady, up
right and impartial administration of the
laws, while in its constitution, it should be
too weak to attack, or be dangerous to the
other departments of government. 1t must
be chosen from the first or higher class, be-
cause of the necessity of this department
attaining the highest degree of intelligence
of which humanity is capable, aided by con-
slant reading and intense thinking, for
which the laboring or produ class can
not spare time; yet we are taught by the ex.
perience of ages that high intelligence con-
nected with power, is always dangerous and
subversive of human right, unless under
proper check. To demonstrate this, it is
only necessary to refer to the original def
niti on of the word "tyrant' which seems to
be derived from the root "tyro" learner or
student in the Greek language, and signifies
sovereign in a good sense, while in our
language, il signifies cruel despot. To put
power out of the reach of the law-iudge has
suggested the necessity of dividing govern
nent into three departments, COT which the
executive as the term inplies( is only the
enforcer of the laws, and neither the enactor
nor judge; and when he assumes the pre-
rogative of encroaching on either of the
other departments, he fills the definition of
'usurper", for having broken his own
bounds, he leaves no limit for his power be-
yond his own will or his duration in office.
If he should bound himself by this land
mark, and then the people, who, in the last
resort must judge, whether their govern
ment is conducted fully or uselessly,
may decide this important question for
themselvesat each period cal return ofpow er
to them by election. In addit ion to this,
States have a right to make themselves par
ties to controversies be fore the supreme
Federal Court and when sggrieved by the
United States have also the right to make
that over a party. No other construction
of the constitution can be given. The his
tory of our race attests that we usually bear
evils from misrule by established power un-
til they are upportable-when the ma
jority become convinced that the powers
that be are pursuing line of conduct that
can result in nothing useful while fraught
with evils, stimulating the m;schevous
every where to hurtful pursuits, it is the
duty of that majority to themselves, their
families and posterity, to apply the remedy
indicated in the conclusion of my last arti-
Gle, and not wait for the return of the period
of removal of our President and his Cabinet,
which, if it occur at all, will be nearly two
years distant. Besides it is proper to estab-
lish precedent for the guidance of posterty
to prevent or at least postpone the evils of
civil war. Our State election is approach
ing, and each voter should as ser iously |
ponder this matter as if the welfare Of the
whole nation hung on his single vote.