The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-01-30
Sound and Timely Reflections.
From the National Intelligencer. ...J .g

From the National Intelligencer. ..b .g 81.
1t is known to our readers that the an
nual opening of the session of the Legisla-
ture of Massachusetts, is always signalized
by the delivery of what is called an "Elec-
ton Sermon by divine selected for that
purpose, because of qualities which are
deemed to beft him for the office OF right
ly counselling the rulers of the State. And
we have generally observed that the discurs-
esare equally remarkable for their appropri- 4
ateness and their ability, such of them as
we can recall being at the furthest remov-
Ell from the assumption and declamatory
slyle 700 common among class of clergy
men VINO convert the pulpit into the rOs-
trun. ......
At the opening OF the Massachusetts
Legislature on the 9TH inst, the Election
Sermon was delivered by the Rev. Dr.
Walker. We have before us only a news
paper report OF some of the topics treated
by the reverned speaker, but even this is
sufficient to show that the eulogy passed
upon it by the Boston Doily Adrcrtise,.. il
not misplaced when it says that nobody
will accuse him Of failing to appreciate the
full significance of the issues involved in
WV OIL uSSlo III WHICH, tHc tldllON IS now
engaged, nor of taking too dark view Of
the future. But, adds our contemporary.
he is nevertheless not blinded to the dis
tinct perception of the origin of the dis
tressing state of things in which the cOun-
try is involved. While the country has
otherwise been gradually improving in the
morals and in the private virtues of the
people, while We have been enioying an
extraordinary material prosperity, while in
literature and II art We present brighter
page than at any former period Of our his
tory, our politics had gradually become
tlebased and corrupted
1t is in this deplorable decay Of public
virtue, and not in its outcroppng syinl,-
toms, that Dr. Walker finds the deep
rooted seat OF the malad;es which now af-
filct the State, and his remarks under this
head are at once so torcblc ana 50 lust
that We quote their substance as we ind
them reported IN the columns of our Bos-
ton contemporary
We tahea superficial view of the civil war il
we think 10 ascribe the whole to slavery or
anti-slavery. Either this controversy would
not have arisen. or it would have been compar-
atively harmless, il the ties which once bound
Us firmly together Is one people had not been
rottlng away for years under the influence OF
an unhealthy and disIoyal tone Of public SEN
timcnt.
While changes have thus been going on IN the
public mind. changes equally important have
been going on in the Government or in the
manner and spirit in which il j. administered
all tending, unhappily. III the same direction.
We hear great deal about restoring 1.-THE
Union rs it was" One is tempted to ask. as it
1cheg! Since the generation OF lis foundi
cl,a
to some Of our most cherished institutions.
Witness the powers now assumed by our pOlii-
cal conventions, to determine everything in adj
Nance-tI!e practice of making availability, not
merit, the test OF candidateship, and the doc
trinc that the spOils belong 10 The victors
Adopted by all parties, these practices are de-
Tended by no enlightened member Ofany party,
except, perhaps as necessary evils but if ne
cessary. why not from the beginning:
How essentially anti Democratic these
changes are is evident from the fact that they
take she conduct of affairs almost entirely out
OF the hands of the people. 70 be sure, the
forms of a free suffrage left us, and this
suffrage has been made UNIVERSAL but to what
purpose il the whole is merely to sanction a
tOrcgOne conclusion agreed upon elsewhere
printed list of names is thrust upon me- which
| transfer to the ballOt-boN with the not very
pleasing Or tlatterng consciousness that am
used by somebody, | know not whom for
some purpose. | know not what. Nor does
the evil end here. If tue power which is thus
taken from the people were made over to the
Government, what is lost to Liberty might be
gained to Order. But it is far otherwise The
power is made over to Il set of men working
out OF sight, and under no official respOsbi-
ties. Out Of this state or things have grown
the party and sectional jealOneics and irritatOns
which have had so much 70 do with our pres
ent troubles. The unnatural and unrighteous
alienation ofthe Southern mind must not be
ascribed to the spontaneous movement of the
people, nor 10 the legitimate working OF our
institutions. 1t is the accurscd fruit of the ir-
responsible underground Vaccinations Of the
leaders of party.
Nor is this all Our greatest men are dis
suaded from entering the field of politics. We
never had greater men in science in learning
or in art: never greater lawyers, greater mcr-
chants or greater engineers. But the new doc
trincs make an enlightened and experienced
craftsmanship q disqualification for the highest
offices in the National Government 1t is a
grave mistake to suppose that the asccndency
of great men in Il republic is unnecessary or in
consistent: in proof Of which our own expe-
riencc in this Revolution, and in the time of
the formation of the Constitution, may be adj
duced
Thus two acts of influence have long been at
work to demoralize the acts of this country
one with speculative men, undermining the
old reverence for the CONSTITUTE II and the
laws: the other, with practical men. substitu-
ting loyalty to party for loyalty to the State;
the joint effect of both being 10 weaken the
Government, and at the same time to bring
succession OF strains upon it, heavier and hcav-
Ter, until at length it has given way.
Where, then, is our hope? Not in empty
boasts or threats, and still less in disposition
to despisc the power opposed to us. Our hope
is to be found in the change OF character and
purpose which the public danger and trials are
likely to effect in all classes and all parties Be-
cause our liberties had cost our generation moth
ing, we thought them safe. PERIL calamity
modification, will bring us to our senses again
they have already begun to doit.
The LEGISLATURE of Virginia. in session