The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-08-27

There Il one point In the conversation
between Col. Jacques, Mr.. Gilmore and Je6.
Davis, which challenges special attention.
It 10 that part oft in which Davis declared,
to use his own words, I'VE seeded to rid
ourselves Of the rule Of the majority
We have often had occasion to refer Ia
the fact that the real animus Of the Seces.
sion engineers was their hatred Of Repub-
licanism, their scorn of Democratic equali-
ty, their desire and purpose Of transplant
ing to America the despotisms Of the Old
World. We have shown from the writings,
speeches and declarations of many Of the
leaders that such was the fact. Now We have
the direct and positive effirmation Of the
Chief of them all to the same effect. They
seeded, he says, ito get rid Of the rule Of
the majority!'
This IL . broad declaration. It strikes a.
the very root Of our institutions, and, if car
ried out. makes Republicimpossible. The
fundamental principle of our Constitution
10 that the people are not merely the source
Of all governmental power, but, also, the
constant administrators of that power
through their agents, selected by them
selves, in accordance with the Constitution
and laws. II differs from pure Democra-
cy in this, that the people act indirectly in
stead Of directly, through representatives
and not in person. They declare what the
laws shall be, not by enacting them by q
direct vote Of the mass, but through cleo
tons. Elections secure representatives Of
the people. The ''majority'' decide who
they shall be, and their choice at the sam
time enunciates, not the very form, but the
substance and purpose Of public policy and
law. Constitutions are not grants OF pow
or, but Limitations OF power, intended "a
preserve the natural and universal rights
ofmen, to prevent the majority from tramp
ling upon the rights of the minority, either
by deliberate purpose or upon hasty i'm.
pulse or passion. So long as the Constitu.
ton is wisely framed upon the principles
of human rights, the liberties Of men can.
not be invaded, and no burdens can be i'm.
posed upon the minority which Is not also
shared by the majority.
II any law enacted or burden imposed
through the action Of the majority prove
oppressive or ipjudicious, the majority suf.
fer from it equally with the minority. Thew
become equally anxious to change or re-.
move it; and 90, at the next election. the
majority takes the side Of the former mi.
nority. The result is that legislation bar.
takes of the views and interests of all men
and all classes nearly to an equal degree.
because the real interests of all, when tru.
~ and practically considered, are nearly
identical and must ever be so.
It was to get rid of this happy and ius,
rule Of the people by and through the &C.
ton OF majorities, that Jef. tells us seces.
sion was inaugurated. He declares that
the majority does not rule and ought not
to rule. If the majority does not and ought
not to rule, then the minority ought and
should! And the essence of this declara-
ton, when you seek its true result, is that
one man ought to rule at his arbitrary will
and all the world should obey him withou,
question or doubt; and this result Il
reached with equal directness whether be
claims or exercises power by virtue Of su.
perior wisdom or by mere force. There is