Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-05-22
Pnritanism and is Works.

Puritanism and its Works.
The late procee ings in the Cuted States m tne case
Of Mr. valandigham and The more recent decision Of
she Cabne, al Washington, snnuing the provision OF
the Oonscrpoa law, which allows any citizen TO Pur-
chase exemption BY the payment of $500, attest how
RAPIDLY and steadily the Government Of that country Is
settling down into an absolute desPotsm. Theoretical
II that Government is composed Of three coordinate
deoartmenss-Executye Legislative aud Judicial The
arrest trial aud conviction of NJ Vslandigham with
ont civil process or legal tribunal without sheriff, judge
Or iurv the suppression of the Judicial department
aud in, ellai,at1n from the system Of Government
while the nuJdca.ion Of ilS o. Congress BY E1ecu-
tive Sat /, the aunhiaton Of the Legislative branch
Nohiag then remlins but Eha; exists in all auiocraeie
An ADMINISTRATION in Which concs0tred all the pre-
negatives and powers Of Government sgd thst admins
taaon muss nee sslry be absolute, since ITS authority
IA undivided and caraOs be appealed from.
Some years ago, it was predicted Of the Great Repuo
lie by one Of is own orators tba; the historian would
one ds7 record as its epitaph that it lost is own hoer
ties in the Insane and impossible attemp; to secure the
liberty Of the egro The prophecy has had an unex-
pse,siy early fiment Il is fortunate for Us that We
we're unable to escape before the crash came, aud-to
save from the wreck the ark Of liberty. But for them
nothing j. left Of ali that they once most glOred in
rlored in without understanding knowing how to
p-sserye No people ever babbled more about liberty
nor set 10 so many stars for is worship, TOR ohaned
90 many anthems in It's praisebut few peopshave ever
r.av k-ovn 90 little OF what civil liberty consisted
In or how it was 70 be guarded aud maintained It's
asfspcs they istook for restrictions is muuimens Tor
limitations and in breaking dosa these they opened the
aood g.tes 70 license inalguated the sovereignty OF
49, N aravn ~ 4 ma
zogues Who as IN al past history, seized the opPortu-
uity thus Afforded 70 usuTP and consolidate IN desPo'
ian, the movers which had been originally distributed
among many repositories, ard exercised oy separate
and Independent iuncronares Thus it has come aOou7
tina. the central power at Washington nov sWays su-
prsms over Corporations Municipalities, State Govern
ments and the Judicial and Legislative Departments OF
the Federal Government It is monarch Of all and the
Bassiles yawu for any who dare question its right.
So much for the leaven Of PuritAn that has worked
IN the Northern mass until the whole has been thrown
into that by all its instincts
and elements is Incapable Of the serestrAint, aud
stranger to the spirit of concession compromise and
tolsradon, IL which only people live in peace and
4 Government be made % work sOomthly-that sub
iss 70 no Law that nhibs It's oWn irresistible proper.
sv 90 propagaudizs domneer and pegsecute, aud toll
erass, no morals that DO no; conform 70 is own sHc-
tnouiou3 prete ,sioa5 Against this fe, and pesdleat
spirit the South Eeged 4 Of opinion Of suppHca-
toa OF renols.rlaos and Of CO -lsecsy Tor nait
century, ill ding asslredly that patience Of wrong
would appease ami no demonstration Of reason con-
vince they took the only course lsf. TO people who
respected themselves aud casel Tor their rghs seps
rated from them and stood their defence. What
has followed the world knows; and 40" tue very pro-
gees o. tls clIae; Ia, col-Ad,.cl JLs theories, the
Eos5 and the ilSloo3s Of Plritaulm .ruiuS the
psJ2s Of Tho S3lh .ae.r usnl3ol, lhei. resources,
the stability Of tl-r institutions, their capacity for sell
defence AID ss,cgoyernmess hls become historical. A
eon2ss3 reyl.4lJl ILs 5ssc already wrought in che
kowlsigs aud opinion Of ind these subjects Il
Is seen 1li ackl1Feigsi everywhere thai the 50
maljgusd ald beJ.leI BY ,ls vritgrs AMI speaker,
whose words reached Europe AMI formed opinion Their,
concerning is the master Of this continent with
genius cigilzl0l AMI uo. iy l4r aJove and in ad-
vance OF the up7lrt and vulgar s1c, Of the North aud
With dOmIin richer ia prod -cOu and capabilities than
any nation on earth possesses. As these discoveries
have been made, The corresponding truth has appeared
tha ia Northern rae were wanting in those elements
Of character from which alone great people are FORM
ed and in those resources Of nature from which national
wealth and power aow Accordingly as we have :isen
in the estimation Of the TRANSATLANTIC world .hs Yam
kss race has sunk What Ne have gsinad ,hey have
Ia and more for the issahOQis sal arrogance of the
mas, nov serve to bear dovp Ae balances in which they
are weighed, until Leg have reached the level Of uni
versa contempt
Paftsnism spawned the brood Of evil from which
shese disasters haze come j; originated and kept up
tas slavery controversy it invented the measures Of
equal legislation by which tue South was Heeced 70
enrich shs North it saOas every species of mis-
and SANDER concerning US and engen-
dersd The sectional hatred that made Us two people in
feeling ong before became in fact. 1t at last ef
fsO,sd dyuon oths country and forced the collision
Of arms that nov almost literally snakes the hen phere
As hs result Of AL tbs It has cost the people Of tire
Uuisd S atsstAois liberty, by substituting a Dcsgolgm
FOR Constitution puoL5 i.has cost then the good
opinion OF the world, ~ exposing the iusubsanlial
oharlces Of their borrowed greatness and the deprayi
~ aud roteness Of their social system it has cost them
The eommerce and Intercourse Of the South which wefs
the streamI whose golden sandsN supplied them with
riches aud spendor: it has cost them Union which
was 70 them at least beni6csnt aud glorious; and lastly
e has cost them innumerable lives Of kindred and
friends lost ingorOusly and il vain, many thousand
homes made desOa,s aud Inealeulsble expenditure
Of treasure 90 dear TO them.
So much for Puritanism.
NETTING Of THE HANOVFR CONUTTTFE. FOR