The Portland daily press., 1863-05-02


his wickedness. We do not realize our col
lective life that the aggregate opinion and
conduct OF society, have as direct relation to
Gods law and commandme6t, as the opinion
and conduct of an individual. The policy OF
a state is the justice, the truth, the principle
of state, just as truly as the conduct of a
~,nan is the ustceyt the truth, the principle of a
man. Each have direct and intimate relations
with eternal law. The State is moral and
accountable intelligence, and is answerabe tc
moral Jaws, as truly as an individual. An aci
offhe-Sta.e is a free, deliberate exercise of the
collective will of society, under moral sane
tions. Any such aos from whatever quarter
of the universe it comes, brings the agent into
direct relations with the Source of all law. II
is no answer or objection to this that the con-
duct Of States is mixed bud Of necessity, |ess
pure than that Of the individual. The State
has conscience, it has the primal distinctions
OF right and wrong, however fhose may be
qualified bynational conditions. Neglect and
violation of those distinctions are visited in
retribution upon the State, as. surely as the
same violation and neglect are visited in retri-
button upon the individual--with this differ
ence, that States have no Immortality and re-
ceive their reward upon earth. naS~e would
realize and bring near to us as solid fact, what
now seems dim audi unsubstantial, thatthe
sins of people are realities, and ground>sbf
Gods dealing, We havesbut to consider that
States have moral life: that they are free,
intelligent accountable powers: and that such
a power wherever it is exercised, cannot ex-
ist in space that is empty of God.
Let us purify our minds then of all selfish
passions and prejudices, and stand in the open
light of Gods commandment Let him show
| us our deeds, and how we have set him ut de-
fiance: and let our ears be open to admoni-
ton, now God hath humbled us. If we love
our country with tenderness and pity and de-
votion, no past opinions or prejudices can
hold us back from full confession Of whatever
history or the present hour reveals We have
no grudges, no pride OF opinion, but are quite
willing that our mistakes and our sins should
appear and be confessed.
And here at the very entrance and yesti-
buie OF the theme, there is vague general
ization concerning the affairs of the country,
which as stated, tends TO obscure the sense of
national responsibility and furnish refuge
from all moral censure. in the affirmation that
we are passing through the experience COM
mon to all nations: as if there was a certain
law of fate in all national life. If it be intend
ed by this simply that all nationality is won
by a struggle, that the peoples of the earth do
not emerge to complete self-conseiousness,
except through conflict with foes without or
foes within: that the national life is essential
~ the individual life. repeated over wider
areas OF time and space, it is all well and fun
damental. But if it means what there is reas-
on to suppose il does mean in the minds of
some, that it is equivalent to an apology for all
this aging the responsibility nowhere, and that
the nation is sloughing its old life as tree
sloughs its bark, or a snake Its skim in short,
il anything is ment by it which nullifles or d.
minishcs the responsibility of the country, it
Is a doctrine full OF pagan seorn. The country
is responsible FOR the calamity that is now up
on us: it is the fruit of our doings: and
let no generalizations concerning nation
al life, shift the responsibility of few inteii-
gent people, to blind fatality and cropping God
less law.
The law of accountability can be traced in
our country's life clear as the sun in heaven.
1t pleased the Almighty Ruler Of the universe
in his abundant grace and goodness, TO estab-
iish this nation at the beginning with a fund
of public virtue. SO rich, ample aud benignant,
as was never before deposited in the founda-
tions Of State. The name Of Washington
alone was responsible endorsement of the
life of the nation And during the period over
which the fame of the Fathers shed lustre and
honor, up to period within the memory Of
men now living, this government was as pure
government in its principles and in its admin
istration, as ever existed on the face of the
earth. In the minor and subaltern offices of
the government men were appointed for fit
ness, and removed for incompetence or un-
faithfulness, and the administration paid moth
ing for being placed in power. At length, as
party spirit ran high and contending aspirants
were embittered by personal aniinosities and
jealousies, the doctrine was announced, alike
heathenish in principle and corrupt in practice,
"To the victors belong the spoils." No man
has vet arisen with imagination enough to pic
ture the deep immortality of that maxim. The
era OF public corruption was then inaugurated.
and the reign of mean men begun. The max
im reduced to acknowledged rule by all par
ties, mad its political elimination in that nest
of treason in which the last President unwt-
tingly nestled land ii came TO its judicial acme
i'm the lugubrious learning of Judge Tauey.
Accidental causes augmented its power and
increased its volume, but as theory of admin
istration il made all other corruption possible
and any scheme must look to this Tor helm.
Without its aid twas a thapkless enterprise.
Call to mind those acts of the government.
which when she records History will veil her
face; and they we're made possible only by
this maxim becoming the acknowledged doc
trine of the country What / affirm is, that
this maxim. in its principle and i'm its practical
force, strikes a blow at the very life of the Re-
public. and corrupts the purity OF the State.
What is this doctrine? 1t is to "A party in
toxicated with success what the nromise of
rapine and plunder is to n ruthless but yicto-
rious soldery! Itis deliberate premium ON
incompetency by attracting To the poyernment
men who with kind of highyavman's code
feel that the world owes them a living. which
they will not win by industry! II subsidies
the administration of the government, 1t cor
rupts the whole political sentiment of the conn
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