Weekly national intelligencer., 1864-03-17
WHAT Is CoNsERvATIsMi


..s,a., ], II, WHAT Is CONSERVATISM n,i ,i'
1t is common for captious or tboughtless patti
sans IL the present time to identify all political
q conservatism with what they call "devotion to
slavery" To point Of fact, and Of theoretical
truth, conservatism has NO more to do with slavery
than with any other institution. Conservatism in
che sphere of politics has special relation to any
material interest II aims to maintain the Const-
tuition and the laws in respect to all matters what
ever. It does not aim to uphold slavery, but to
uphold the Constitution and the laws in respect TO
slavery as well as in respect to all other matters
It may happen, indeed, that when politiosl radi-
salism proposes to strike at slavery through the
vitals of the Constitution, the true conservative
must resist any such encroachment on the organic
law Of the land, not because he seeks to cherish
slavery, but because he seeks TO cherish the Con-
stitution of his country. Conservatism proposes
to keep good faith with conscience and society oy
not aarrsying the one against the other, and Dy
refusing to cut adrit from the plain injunctons OF
the latter at the suggestions Of the former Tor that
can never bo an enlightened conscience which
would break the bond If social order by rash and
impulsive spirit Of innovation. The genius OF
true conservatism is well defined BY Republican
contemporary in the following language:
"To our mind, the old adage prove all things and
hold fast to that which good contains the key OF
true conservatism. Revolution itself conservative when
1t seeks to enforce and perpetuae great principle which
may perhaps be a. old as time. Antiquity not necessa
riy error The Christian religion is not lees valuable
that it has survived eighteen centuries The works OF
Milton aud Shakespeare are full Of truth and beauty as
they two centuries ago. II msy well be, that had
Christ lived and Milton and Shakespeare never written
Che subtle beauties Of Tsnnyson and Longfelow would
never have been developed. While cannot respect
antiquity for s sske yet cherish and love It's
great truths and mighty accomplishments.
In religion, in poetry, in science in art aud n poll
tics would not only hold fast and pepetuate the vau
able achievements Of the past, but would work on
with generous emulation towards the nearest approx
nation to their perfection which may be vouohsafed to
Man. All human progress 10 accomplished through oon-
servation Exhausted empires stumble and fall down
upon the highway Of nations and drop the burden Of their
mpshments Straightway that burden is taken up
BY youag State, and carried and developed to-
ward the ever receding goal Of Utopia The field OF
oreinaton s becoming well nigh exhausted but that OF
development being extended The American people
afford two parallel aud remarkable illustrations Of this fact
Luther Calvin and Knox the pioneers Of that re-
sious liberty which brought fathers to this country,
and which 10 the glory and boast Of their ohidreu while
eur Constitution bears the impress Of the old barons at
Runnymeds. They gave to England an arstocratic
Republic, with permanent Executive-monarchy and
hereditary arstoorasy ts unessentsl FORMS Our fathers
soped substituting repuboansm and striking out those
forms
tits the height Of folly to sneer at true conservatism
and stigmatiGe it old fogysh and slow. There can be
progress without it, except at the expense Of true ma
tonal power and greatness 1t behooves this people es
pessy at this time cling TO the landmarks which were
laid down for by forefahers to follow in the path
which they laid out for and to turn not faces from
the goal toward which they aimed We would be conser
ve Of the liberties which they conquered for u.s. OF the
Consttuton which they gave and OF the great destiny
which awaits u.s. We would know progress to the
one side the other Of the path OF human political pro-
grsss which has been assigned to this peopls neither
would We abate one ot little Of the principles upon
which this Goycrnment built, and which have under
Iau its history The moment forget this policy and
abandon that action ehsos has again. and drft
back past the accomplishment of centuries. The Union
oaee broken can be reconstructed The Constitu
Nou once abandoned be restored Enthusiasm
inaamed by hatred may be potent to tear down but II will
be powerleas 10 build up,