Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-05-07


ERNNENT-LoCKE, ARISTOTLE, SIR ROBERT
FILMER, BR0UGHAM, AND CARLYLE-IDEE-
THY OF SOUTHERN CONSERVATISM AND
ENGLISH TORYIsM.
By George Fffzlmgh.
WRITTEN foR DEDows REVIEW.
[coNcLuDfD.l
We now come to the Southern Revolution OF 1851,
which we maintain was reactonary and conservative
a rolling back of the excuses Of the Reiormaton--of
Reformation run mad-a solemn protest against the
doctrines of na1kal liberty, human equality and the
social contract as taught by Locke and the American
sages Of l776 and an equally solemn protest against
the doctrines of Adam Smith, Franklin, Say, Tom
Paine and the rest of the infde political economists,
who maintain that the world is too much governed,
"PaS trop gOWerIer, and should not be governed at
all but 'Iet alone" "LaiSSez nous tdre." This resc-
ton commenced in $780, as we have said under the
lead of Calhoun, Tyler and r. NJ T. Hunter-kendal,
and Blair and Benton and their BASE radical and de-
strucye clique, then oused from their places as
leaders of tile Southern Democracy, and the states
Rights Wing party took their places and controlled he
action of the South. In TRUTH the Democratic party
of tbe South became Wing and conservative, but re-
tanned its name and its Offices The reason OF this new
danarre WAS that it was perceived that the doctrines
of Jefferson and OF the other ustrious Fathers OF the
Repubic were being successfully employed TO JuStuy
abolition and to upset the whole social system OIL Tue
South-besides excluding her from equal or any parl
cinaton in the public lands most Of which she mad ac-
onired against the protests OF the North that was now
ereedy and rapacously seeking to monopohze thell;
Ave soon found that TO defend and justify our social
and political institutions, must rely on the eApe
ence and usages OF mankind in general upon prescrP
ton and not upon priOri speculation. Most OF our
nsritr.ons and laws were imported from England, and
only so much changed and modified as the noyd GU
cpnstances of our colonial situation required Such 40
were not 20 imported had grown up gradually aud nat
uraly as change of time and circumstances suggested
i ntfhn
Our whole social aud political framework was ei1ner
nscrintiye or the natural resu OF new wants ana CIR
ccumstnnecs: nothing about it originated from mere
bnman design, like Locke's Carolina Republic, or the
ous,itut;ons of Revolutionary France. We were
beahfl and prosperous, and knew nothing more ABOUT
the nature and secret Of our social and Ponucal lie
and health than does healthy man about the causes
and secret of his individual life and heath. We had
% maintain that God makes man and breahes life into
him. and God also makes society and government ana
breatbes life into them The organism oil society Is
more complex and nscrutabe than that OF the lhuVu
uas who compose IT, for it includes the peculiar orgahi
ztion and idosyncraces OF all such individuals ahut
live and work beautifully must adapt itself TO the wants.
cI;ngs and neculiartes of all its members. 1t more
Mfear1uv and wonderfully formed than man himself.
f. IL the randest nobles work Of God, for what ms
cable hepless wretch would man be, without society
or government. II; ~.
This doctrine of the natural growth and origin OF
society Is the distinctive Tory doctrine OF England the
of our late Republic. In adopting it, we begin great
conservative reaction We attempt to roll back the
Reformation in its political phazes Tor we sa" every
where In Europe and America reformation running 10
excess universal spirit OF destructveness, Proiaue
ttemnt IN mil dc WI what God and nature had gDuut
nm and 10 erect ephemeral Utopias in its place. Liber
~ was degenefating into RIGHTEOUSNESS and anarchy
II,, the street constable stared us IN the face we
lead off in a ne rcactionary Reformation, ana Ohrls-
Tendon must follow our lead, OF soon be Involved IN
social chaos and confusion.
Viewed in this aspect and it is the only true one IN
which TO view it, the Revolution OF 81 Is the
grandest most momentOus event since the days oil
3ntber and of Calvin. The grandest in conception,
and the praudest in action; for did people oil
the same numbers display such heroic courage ana g.
ant strength as have the people of :he South IN TINS
revolutionary struggle "Dso dHce vincemuS. For we
6gbt ITO yindcae the ways OF God" against the pro
fame doctrines and schemes Of charlatanc man.
To nroye the identity Of political theory OF the South
ern conservatives land we all conservauvesl we
ouote from an article which appeared lew years SINCE
in the London Quarterly Review the leading press ana
ables exponent of Toryism. 'Our history IS remark
cable one; and there is nothing for which 1t is more
remarkable than for the sound judgement and resoue
" GOOD sense with which the nation, as whole, has al
ways set to work 10 cure any positive maiauy tha'
might disturb its functions. At the same time, IL mas
Uneyer troubled itself with imaginary eys nor sought
"a IN make itself speculatvely better, when the result
uwonId only be- probably, to make itself practically
q worse From the earliest times down to the present
u-from the Great Charer-to the decentralization
q the Reformation to the Revolution-irom the hevou-
,;on 10 the Act of Settement-!rom the Act oil Set
u Element to the Reform Act-the two most significant
e Coatures in our political annals unquestionably are,
, first that whenever movement has been made de-
, handing a change in laws, or at least Ia the adj
administration Of them that movement has always been
directed against some palpable wrong, some tangible
U grievance some proved abuse; and secondly, that
Vpnh
u has ALWAYS been urged in conservative spirit SO
&C much has this been the that it has generally been
e confined 10 a declaration OF rights that have been
"called in question, or TO restoration OF rights whcn
shave been abused to an extension oil which,
owing TO new and accidental circumstances, part OF
% the community have ceased to enjoy. The plain rea-
som for all this is that the Constitution of England is
" prescriptive Constitution, which has grown up with
g us and adapted itself TO our wants aud wishes.
IL is not constitution that has been made by Para-
g ment enactments, (He might have added, nor by
g nriori philosophical specuation( 1t is not crea-
"ton of positive law and never ought TO be- 1t is based
&c on long constant immemoral usage, which implies
"the choice not of one day. nor OF one set of people,
90 Int the choice of natieH the deliberate choice OF
successive ages founded on reason justified by expo
renee and confirmed by enjoyment Experience, not
g pYneriment has hitherto been our guide. May it
never be said by those at least who affect to be our
"rulers that experiment. not experience is hereafter to
"be our motto"
This il good Southern doctrine; doctrine which the
necessity of our circumstances forces to embrace 1t
contains too useful lessons and warnings which few
needless, thoughtess men among us should take note
of The Tories of England would conserve their in-
stitutions. not because they the best possible
in theory, but because they have worked well
in nraotiee-uot because they are adapted to all of
mankind, but because they suit England and English
men. Let them preserve king, lords and an established
Church, because these things have worked well with
them. We have done equally well without king,
mobiles or an established Church. Conservatism with
US toryism with US consists in not introducing them.
If we wanted them have no materials out OF which
to form them and our people would not submit to them.
He is equally a radical and destructive who would,
without necessity convert republic into monarchy,
with him who would convert a monarchy into
republic Each form of government is common, natu'
raj and normal. The only evil we have suffered under