Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1863-03-04

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Observance OF cUnstitut ional rights ht iho.,
iu I1vct tends TOT moro 'pttrrct uoion'
OF fu.Ct' and reui.e ih every taiion, o.,
one vhU uas rpRd the hi. tories OF thu lead,
ing nations ol Tho earth, both past Oh,
present, rrn fnr q moment dchy or qucs.
ton Hislor! bears no record of any fu'
ier, let him tear whatever uumu you
choose that has met with Imposition from
the masses Ut tho people, who has lived
uptu the constitution and laws Of the laud.
which by birth or choice ho may have
been called upon to govern. On the con,
trary there are many instances where such
departures have caused the dispositions OF
some, and tho death Of others whilst {,
third class have the exccrations.oi the
present generation IN as great a degree rs
the one which they trampled upon. We
eau easily understand tho motives which
cause a man, whose power is absolute, to
try experiments OF a desperate character,
to deny their subjects rights and priyile .
yes which have been granted to them by
the laws of the land and the constitution
under which they have an existence rs a
nation for the love Of power is innate
with most men, and especially with those
who sit in high plaCes-aud when the first
step is taken in aggression successfully, the
next and onward stsppings nre so easily
brought about that the extreme point is
reached with greater facility than we can
imagine without serious reflection. pa
ciHS &c5ceajuS arcrni' a political party in
power, with its leaders dosirous Of carry.
ing out II policy well known to be objec,
t:onable to the masses Of the people, exer.
cising every means at their command to.
carry out their peculiar views, regardless
of the rights of others under the laws and
Constitution, may continue for Il time to
draw to their support a large portion Of
the people, and thus agitate and convulse
the country, yet so surely as the sun
shines, and all the heavenly bodies ere
governed by certIin and Interchangeable
laws, 50 wH heg eventually find that dcvlatioa
from The constitutional! track piN BE- rtSitcR wtih
coHdign ~ppaishmenL for the sober second
thought Of the people will be soon made
apparent in load condemnation Of all the
intractions of that instrument which ought
to be sacred in their eyes who have sworn
to uphold and defend il--as soop as they
learn the distance their waudcrings have
been from The true letter and spirit Of the
instrument,
When an administration once takes II
position. let it be right or wrong, it would
appear from experience that they follow
the idea to its tinality. and to take a step
backwards is apparently impossible. uow
few copsidet the Importance Of doing juso
tice in such cases The old adagc, "FIat
jUsncia at eed0m," (Let justice be done
though the heavens should fall, appears
to be fIrgotten, and the cry is for the
Union" whilst the adhesive and coherent
part Of Uuion--hc C~onSamHon-is forgot
ten. When the step is once taken it
grows to an empowering height the
~prerogatiye OF power becomes a part of the
nature Of the party introducing the idea
10 give up a part is to surrender all that
is worth eXsting for, and would so humil.
late them, they think, in tho eyes Of the
world that they utterly refuse to take
back one wora OF the edict issued. To
continue in their course is little short Of
madness.
The American people have too long ems
joyed the blessings Of constitutional liber,
ty to bear any longer with such evils and
when the day Of retribution CORES, as
]conIeit will, aud the people in their might
assert their rights, those who have been
in error will find that they have lost the
love and respect Of the people; that their
manhood and energy, once lost, is regain
ed, and all that will be left Of the prime
movers will be host Of evils, Rulers
must be Obliyious Of tho teachings of pc.
@litical science and historical experience,
as we'll as deaf to the warnings Of modern
revolutions. The first demands Of a dis,
contented people are generally moderate,
and rarely beyond the reasonable conces .
sion Of a monarch, and if repressed often
become dangerous to public tranquility.
History is fall OF cases of governments
being destroyed b. the obstinacy Of rulers,
but in vain do we look for an instance
where any have been harmed 10y concess-
ions. Europe nov holds ~crownless kings
and rulers without dominion in exile
and each of them might have enjoyed his
original position had the first faint whis-
pers Of reform been listened to. A little
concession would have saved the Eour5ons
in France and Naples and small reforms
would have preserved the Grand Dukes