Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1864-08-03
CLEARf1ELD, Pa, WEDNESDAY, AUG. 8, 1864 =,

I:J, 'niuSs ana trample uDcl
individual rights in adhering commun
1 ties' the same pretended necessity wi
exist hereafter. Will it not be as nece.
8 sary 10 uphold arbitrary government i
order TO prevent renewed revolt. az il
to support arbitrary government in orde
to subdue existing rebellion? When di,
ruler who had deprived his country a
its Liberties ever voluntarily restore them
That people who will accept excuses 70
tyranny, will always be abundautly snr
piled with them by their rulers, and e.
pecially will they he furnished with tbi
argument of necessity, which will expant
Itself 10 the utmost requirement of des
potlc power under all circumstances.
Our ancestors, who settled this couutr,
and established the Government of th,
United States, fortunately did not admi
TINS doctrine OF necessity, but proceeded
under the guidance Of most wise anc
Jus. policy, 10 tie up the hands of oliicia
power by constitutional limitations, b,
checks and balances established in the
very framework Of Government, and b,
inculcating among the mass of the people
In whom was to be lodged the ultimate O,
sovereign power, a profound respect foi
all private rights, and for the laws bv
which they are secured and vindicated
and we will do well to act upon theil
policy and follow in their footsteps. The,
trod the road of safety and made it plain
before all succeeding generations, and we
will be recfeant to duty and false TO oul
lineage, il We surrender the principles &c
which they held, or permit ourselves tc
be deluded by those arguments Of power
which they despised and rejected.
Success itself in the odious policy now
urged by the administration, of the subiu-
CATION of one third or more of The States
OF the Union, were it possible, could be SO
only at the price of the liberty of the
whole country; for ouI system would not
admit cf military rule over them. Neces-
sarily, populations within them must con-
duct local governments, and exercise the
! proper portion OF power pertaining to
them in the Federal Government. In
short, they could not be held as conquer,
ed Territories unless we should change
our whole constitutional system and
abandon altogether our experiment of
freedom and therefore the imperative
necessity OF changing the issue between
the sections from one of conquest 10 one
of restoTa!ion. Men must be chosen for
TO bleeding country what is left, and
restore what is lost, by securing peace on
constitutional and just terms.
CORRUPT GOVERNMENT.
Another danger TO be considered is. cor
rupt government, the necessary conse
quence of arbitrary principles practically
applied in the affairs Of the nation, or
rather an accompanying principle. The
vast increase of officers in all branches OF
the public service, the administration OF
a great public debt, including the man
agement of revenue system of gigantic
proportions, will create Numerous avenues
OF corruption, and when the Government
is administered upon principles Of coer-
cion, it must necessarily subsidi2e large
numbers of persons in order TO maintain
its authority. 1t is ever thus that strong
governments, as they are called, must be
corrupt ones, and the interests Of the great
mass Of the people be sacrificed to the in
terests of classes or individuals. A truly
free government, where the authority of
the rulers is supported by the free and
uncoerced action Of the people, where the
laws are kept in perfect good faith and in
dividual rights perfectly respected, is the
only one which can be pure.
INSECURITY.
But, il is equally true, that free gov.
eminent, not one free in form merely but
in fact, is the most secure, both as regards
danger from external force and from in
ternal convulsion. If it be established
70: people not base minded but civilized
and honorable, it will impart TO them
enormous force for resisting foreign aggrss
sion, while it preserves them from eternal
revolt. Unquestionably, under ordinary
conditions, that government is most Sc
cure which is most free, But in the
hands Of a sectional party, the future ei
this country is not secure. Not only is
tho danger of renewed revolt possibility
of the future, but the dangers OF foreign
war are immensely increased. A disatiec-
ted population weakens the Governm ent
in resisting invasion, and if such disaffec-
tion be sectional, then the country has @
weak part through which a foreign foe
may strike its etfectual and fearless blows
CORRUPTION OF RACE.
A still more important consideration
remains to be stated. We mean the so
cial question the question of the rela
tions of race with which our rulers are
so little fitted to deal, and upon which
such extreme, offensive and dangerous o
pnions are held by their prominent sup
por,ers. Whatever may be determined as
to In negro race amongst us, it is mani
fest IL is unified TO participate in the ex'
ercise of political power, and that its in
corporation, socially, and upon princi
pie of equality with the mass of our coun
trymen, constitutes danger compared to
which all other dangers are Insignificant.
We suppose the men who established suf-
frage in this country, and from time to
time have subjected it to new regulation
proceeded upon the principle oi vesling
it in those who were fitted for its exer-
else. Political powers being in their ma
ture conventional, it is proper that they
be established upon basis of utility and
convenience, ami in such manner that
they will not be subjected to abuse. Pur-
suing the same line Of action pursued by
our fathers, suffrage is to be withheld
f.o,,, thota n,amhera 0f tho social bndv