The dollar weekly bulletin. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1862-1864, 1863-06-25
Extract from Letter of Prof. s. B.F.
GoyERNNENT AND NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

GOVERNMENT AND ADMINISTRATIONS,
will analyze the component parts OF
your question. You assume, without any
warrant, that my purpose is to tund dermine
and paraly ze the power of the governmen ent.'
You appear to have fallen into the preva-
lent error of confounding the Government
with the Administration of the Govern
ment. You are too sensible to see that they
are not the same. The word Government
has indeed two meanings, and in order to
rescue the subject from ambiguity, allow
me to say that the ordinary meaning of
Government, in free countries, is that form
Of fundamental rules and principles by
which nation or State is governed, or by
which individual members of the body poll
tic are to regulate th cir action. Govern
meut is in fact Constitution by which the
rights aud duties of citizens and public of
6cers are prescribed and defined. If the
word sometimes has a secondary or more
limited meaning synonymous with Admin
istra'ion of public affairs, then the govern-
nlenP is metonymically used for Adminstra-
ton and should not be confounded with tn g
original and true Specification of the term
AdRin,stration, which means the persons
collectively who are intrusted with the exc
cution of the laws, and with the superin-
tendence of public affairs.
Opposition to the Administration, then
is no opposition to the Government; the
former may not only be utterly destroyed
without affecting the health of the Govern
ment. but it may be, aud constantly is,
thought to be necessary, in the opinion of
the supreme power, the people, to destroy
the Administration in order to preserve the
life OF the Government. This is 10 accor-
dance not only with the theory of our iusti-
tutions, but with the daily .practice of the
people. Every change of Administration
at every election, Federal, State, or muni-
cipial, great or small, exempliies this great
truth The Government remains intact,
unscathed. while the Administration is
swept out of existence, 4> tr' s.- g
In the light of this exploitation, you must
preceive thatso far from 'allying myself
with others for the purpose of undermining
and paralgziug the power of the Govern
meut,' the very purpose OF our Society is
to uphold and strengthen the GovernuI ent.
by diffusing among the people such a
knowledgesof the principles upon which it
is founded, that it shall not be in the pow
er of an Administration, whether weak or
wicked, to work its injury.
/ yield to no man in hearty loyalty to the
Government, nor in obedience also to the
Administration in all its constitutional m cas-
ureS, Whatever may De my private opinion
of their wisdom. You mistake me if you
suppose have any radical purpose of un-
dermiDing or paralyzing' any of its legal
measures. II think them unwise, shall
use my constitutional liberty to do SO, and
if the Administration transcends the power
intrusted to it by the People, l shall en-
deavor to point out their error. not in a con-
tumacious or unkind spirit. but nevertheless
firmly. To the standard of tho Constitm-
tion, and the Union under it, of all the United
States, shall cling as the only political hope
of the country. our only defence against an
arohy and despotism.