The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1864-09-01
Despotism va, Democracy,

lUtTt- " DUr pptUh w hhC tVHNNFbHtfO
between Col. Iaques, Mr.. Gilmore an
Jeff. Dasis, which challenges specioi a.
tcntion. Il is that part Of II in whic
Davis declared, to use his own word,
eve seeded to rid ourselpss Of the rui
Of The majority"
We have often had occasion TO refe
to the fact that the real ahimus Of th,
Secession engineers was their hatred o
Republicanism, their scorn Of ID mocra
ic cqu1Iity, their desire and purpose o
usnsplunling 10 America the despotismi
Of the Old World. We have shown
from the writings, speeches and declura
tlons of many Of the leaders that such
was the fact. Now we have the direct
and positive affirmation of the Chief oI
them all TO the same effect. They Sc.
ceded, lie says, Ito get rid Of the rule o
the msjority!" --
This is broad declaration. u strikes
At the very root of our institutions, and
" carried out, makes Republic impossi
bic. Tho fundamental principle o.
Of our Constitution is that the people
are not merely the 'ourcs Of all govern
mental power, but, also, the constant
administrators Of that power through
their agents, selected by themselves, r.
accordance with the Constitution ant
laws. II differs from a pure Democracy
In THE, that the people act indirectly in
strad Of directly, through Representa-.
tivea uEd not IN person. They declare
what the laws shal! be, not by enactiug
them by a direct vote of the muss, but
through elections. Electors secure rep.
resentatives Of the people. The "niayor-
iiy" decide who they shall be, and their
choice at the same timc enunciates, not
he very form, but the substance and
purpose Of public policy aud law.
CONSTITUTIONS are not grants Of pow.
or, but Limitations of power, in,er-
dcd TO preserve the natural and uni.
versol rights Of men, to prevent the ma.
jciity from trampling upon the rights Of
the minority, either by deliberate purpose
or upon has,y impulse or pession. So
long us the Constitution is wisely framed
upon the principles Of human rights. the
liberties OF men cannot be invaded, and
no burdens can be imposed upon the
minority which is not nlso shared by the
majority.
lfany law enacted or burden imposed
through the uction Of the majority prove
oppressive or ujudcious, the majority
suffer from il equally with the minority.
They become equally anxious to chunge
or remove Il; aud 81, at the next election,
the mnjoriiy takes the side of the former
minority The result is that legislation
partakes of the views and interests Of all
men and classes nearly to an equal de-
gree, becsuse the real interests of all,
when truly aud practically considered, are
nenrly identical and must ever be 30.
II was to get rid Of this happy and
just rule ofthc people by and through the,
action of mojortics, that JEFF. tells Ne
secession was inaugurated. He declares
that the majority does not rule and ought
not To rule. II the majority does not and
ought not ~ 'uir, ,hvr inc minority
ought and should! And the essence Of
this declaration, when you seek its true
result, is that ono man ought to rule at
his arbitrary will and all the world should
obcy him without question or doubt; aud
This result is reached with equal direct
ness whether he cluims or exercises pow.
,r by virtue Of superior wisdom or by
mere force. There IL no intermediate
point between the rule of Constitutional
Inejorties and an absolute despotism
where men can rest in safety. And that
hese arc the two antngonisms In human
government is proven by all past history.
All nations past or present, have peen or
IRE, tending to the one or the other
orm. They Gun be stationary only
IS lreemen, governed by mnjoritics
according to Constitutional Limitations,
,r under u despo,. All intermediate
forms are mere steps Of transition from
the one extreme to the other.
The purpose of the rebel leaders to get
rid of the rule of the majority is of itself
an open avowal tha, they favor and iu-
tend to establish despotic power. We
lid not need to be told this by Davis.
But possibly his assertion, as their Chief,
nay open the eyes Of some who have
e fused to credit the statements OF less
traitors. lie knows his
inns and the meaning of what ho says.
As IL is impossible there should be
Republic without the rule of the majority
Of the people. no words 80 significant Of
deadly hate TO our institutions have yet
been uttered as those of Davis.
Proclamation by the Governor.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT OF Ono,