North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1864-08-03
coRRnPT GOVERNMENT.


arbitrary principles practically applied in the
affairs Of the nation, or gather an accompa.
nying principle.
The vast increase Of officers in oil the branch
es of the public service the admin stration
Of great public debt, including the man.
agement of revenue system of gigantic pro-
portions, will create numerous avenues of
corruption and when the Government 10 ad-
mnistered upon principles of coercion, it
must necessarily slbsidze large numbers of
persons in order to maintain its authority -
1t s ever thus that strong governments, 40
they are called, must be corrupt ones,
and the interests Of the great mass of the
people be sacrificed to the intrests of classes
or individuals, A truly free government
where the authority of the rulers is supports
ed by the free and uncoerced action Of the
people; where the laws are kept in perfec.
good faith and individual rights perfectly re-
spected, is the only one which can be pure.
INSECURITY.
But, it is equally true, that free govern
ment not "ne free in form merely hut ip fact
in the most secure, both as regarded Danger
from external force and from internal con.
vulslon. If it be established for people not
base minded but ciyilized and honorable, il
will impart to them enormous force for re-
sstingof foreign aggression, while it pre-.
serves them from internal revolt. Unques-
:itnably. under ordinary conditions, that
Government is most secure which is most
free. But in the hands of a sectional party
the future of this country is not secure
Not only is the danger of renewed reYolt
possibility Of the future, but the dangers of
afcreign war are immensely increased. A
dsaffected population weakens the Govern
ment in resisting INVASION, and if such disaff
ection is sectional, then the coqptry has
week part through which foreign foe may
strike its effectual aud fearful blows.
c9RRUPrIoN OF RACE.
A still more important consideration re-
mains to be stated. We mesn the social
questionable question Of the relations of
race-with which our rulers are so little it.
ted to deal, and upon which such extreme,
offensive and dange rou 8 opinions are held by
their prominent supporters. Whatever may
be determine as TO the negro race amongst
US, it is manifest It is untitled to participate
in the exercise of political power. and that
its incorporation, socially, and upon prin-
ciple Of edua,yt with the mass of oHr coun-
try men, constitutes dagger compared to
which all other dangers are insign ifcant.-
We suppose the men who established snf
rage in this country, and from time to time
have subjected it to new regulation, proceeded
npon the principle of EeSting it in those who
we're fitted for its exercise Political pow
srs bel ng in their nature conventional, it is
proper that they be established upon basis
of utility and convenience, and in such man
ner that they will not be subjec ted to abuse
Pursuing the same line Of action pursued by
our fathers, suffra &c is to be withheld from
those members of the social body who are
luanifcstly unfit to exercise it, and whose
therein must necessarily lead to
abuse. Manifestly q race of mankind who
cannot support free institutions, regular COY
productive industry, and high de.
gree Of civil ization, of themselves. act ing in
an independent capacity, are unfit for per-
forming business Of government amongst us.
The argumen OF equality of rights for all
men fails in their case, because of the ab-
sence Of the conditions upon " hich it is
founded. In the organization of State, it
is perfectly manifest that the soci al body
cannot be identical wi III the political; that
vast Numbers comprised within the former
are not to be included in the latter. We do
pot, in this country, include females, minors,
foreigners, particular criminals
nor the insane, among those who exercise
the right of suffrage. Incapacity or unfit.
ness exists, to a greater or less extent, with
all these extensive diyis ions of human beings
and the same ground of exclusion precisely
xists in the case Of the negro or other into
rlor race, who may be casually or permanent.
ly placed amongst US. Chinese, Malays, and
uneivilized Indians, There is no reason why
any general incapacity for electoral action,
should be igno red in the case of one of these
classes and not ~ anq*her. Our Govern
ments were established tF ghte men and
for Wh ite men and their posteriy forever
and it is for the common advantage Of all
states and conditions Of human beings, that
the exclusion Cf the inferior races from suff-
rage should be permanently continued
Thus only ca: this great experiment of free
dom begun by our ancestors and continued
BY ns, he carried forward successfully, and
be made to accomplish the great and bene.
fcent results Of which it ia capable.
But the social aspect Of this subject Of the
" relations of race" is equally important