The weekly pioneer and Democrat., 1865-02-03
The Character and Duties of the
Opposition. ,e

In Republic like the United States,
where sovereignty resides with the people,
and the majority constitutes the ruling
power, the great security for public liberty
consists in thoroughly organized and dis
ciplined opposition, exercising an unceas-
ing vigilance, and operating as check
upon the natural tendency of all majori-
ties to indulge in unwise and extravagant
legislation. Freedom of thought, and in
dividuality of character, can only be
properly protected by perpetual oppesi-
ton to the will of the majority. No ma
ton can become great and remain SO,
which does not maintain such standing
opposition to the dominant authority,
whether it be of the commonalty against
nobility, of parliaments against kings, Of
freethinkers against clergy, of Wings
against Democrats, or Of Democrats
against Republicans. And among all ma
tions, it is the great battle waged by
courageous aud determined opposition,
that has produced those great men, who,
like LUTHER, BACON, BURKE, Fox, JEFFER-
SON and WEBSTER, have constituted in all
ages the champions of civil and religious
liberty.
Society is Ike the ocean, and must be
kept in constant state of agitation and
motion, in order to preserve its freshness
andvigor. The moment the contest endsbe-
tween contending principles by the COM
plete victory of one or the other, and is
not renewed by some new form of antag-
onism, that moment society loses its pro-
gressive instincts, and consolidates into
stationary civilization, such as now exists,
and has existed for centuries, in China and
Japan.
The principles or the policy which, for
the time being, are looked upon with
jealousy and suspicion by triumphant ma
jority, form a point of resistance around
which the opposition can rally, and under
the shelter of which they can prosecute
with energy and success the great struggle
for the preservation of constitutional lib
erty. In order, therefore, to lay a safe
and sure foundation upon which to build up
a healthful opposition, it is simply neoes-
sary to ascertain what principles are men,
aced by the policy of the majority, and
then to select from those principles such as
it is absolutely necessary to vindicate and
maintain, in order to preserve public lib
erty. If to-day we find the Republican
majority consolidating power at the ex-
pense of individual and constitutional
rights, then it becomes the duty of the
Democratic opposition to resist such ten
dency to centralization, and to defend with
all the resources of logic and rhetoric
those principles which are placed in jeop-
ardy. If we find the Republican party
violating existing law, and justifying the
violation on the ground of necessity and
might, then it becomes the solemn duty of
the Democracy to vindicate the majesty of
law, not only in its spirit but in its letter,
an insult to which can only be avenged by
stern denunciation of the offender.
Nor can the Democracy be too vigilant
in the exercise of their functions as an
opposition party. Every new scheme of
the majority must be analysed and criti-
cized with perfect and unsparing freedom.
If found consistent with Democratic prin-
ciples it must be acquiesced in. But if
not SO found, it must be resisted to the last
by all lawful and constitutional means.
Such is our conception of the character
and duties of an opposition party.
The medical adviser Of Gov. Andre VS.,
A.Auaoffa has nnrornnA.-.ae--