Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1866-11-26
81. J.s ,,... Z COMMUNICATED.
THE MAJ0RITY-By, J: B. Johnson.

;tU.U J.E.s :, .,,..'- CoMMUNICATED.
THE MAJ0RITY-By. J. B. Johnson.
sMaoliries ard Minortles will always have
their contests; for mankind are fond of change,
and soon forget the usage OF their fathers
Popular sentiment is ever fckleein point and
policy, and frequently, that which it considers
patriotism in one decade, is often condemned
as treason by it in the next Minorlties soon
grvw to be Majorities and the transition Of a
Democracy to a Despotisnn is sometimes as
sudden as it is irretrievable, and leaves the
wrecks of peaceful laws tairest promises, amid
the fearful turmoil Of angry anarchy. The
more populous Nation, the greater is its in
capacity to govern itself, and the more likely
will it be convulsed by intestine broils and in
ternecine wars A large mass OF people will
always have diversified interests, which, sooner
or later, clash, and bring the legitimate result
of their discordant association. Ita people
could always believe that their political, areE-
gious and pecuniary welfare, is best conserved
by mu1ual concession and coneiliatiop, they
would ever be stable in their government; but
this they will not do, apd cannot be prevented,
by human agency, from suffering all the rem
alties that belong to wayWardness, hatred and
envy They will work themselves into classe 5
or parties and these classes or parties will have
tenets which each discuss with so much zeal,
that hatred, one Of the other is produced, and
all The elements of strife display their respec-
tive parts. Ii reconciliation is not attained,
and the dissenting elements are kept in uncon-
no Ia
consequence, and, both parties breaking away
the struggle, until the weaker is forced to yield,
and an array of governmental procedure, diff
ering from that which told their amica,:le atti
tude, is introduced, in order to keep the dis
com6tted in subjection 1t is in this way, that
people break tailh with themselves, and al
though the conqueriDg and the conquered may
to obey the same laws, government once
ruined from internal causes, and re-estahlished
by force against itself, is but political bubble,
and can never be its original again for the
contortions of civil war, give it new form, a
new direction, and new destiny, and long
ere the patriot ceases to sigh over its downfall,
the fuger Of decay erases all resen blance to its
frmer self. and bitt memarp leaves tradition
to tell Its doleful tale ,~r .r-l.. f.......,s.
The defect Of Democracies is, that they ca
not, in any possible manner, provide against
the constantly increasing wi!es of the mercena-
ry the corrupt, and the ambitious. The pro-
visions of such constitutions are based upon
the intelligence and wisdom of the masses; and
if people never changed in habits and moral
worth. such basis would not be q presumption:
but hey do change, and each generation comes
forward with new tastes. new habits, and a diff
serent education. They will always cvince a
disposition to make rules and regulations TO
suit themselves, and cannot be induced to de-
port themselves in a manner after their fathers.
lmpatience leads them to be clamorous for re-
form, and if their efforts at reformation do not
result in radical change Of the laws Of their
youth, they eventuate 10 partial alteration OF
them, and illustrate the folly and impractlcabil-
lly OF one generation attempting 70 bind, BY
legislative ensctments, the habits and tastes OF
those that may come after 1t.
Law is intended 10 guard the vir;uous and
Well-di posed against the vicious and evil dis
posed. 1t has no other Object and as long as
the dominant sentiment OF a popular govern
lnent sustains it's organic laws, they Wll be
the governing princi pie in its action; but as
soon as the support of the Majority is with
drawn, they become map ppicable, and demand
TOR their repeal or modification, is at once in
atllqted without regard to tho present or pro
spect've bearing which such,a repeal or modlf-
cation Will have upnn the welfare of the pubic;
lor reckless majority wills it, and irrespective
OF Consequences, eGto,ces the full den.and OF
tsp'ea>ure. Mutablliry is The order Of all the
work of man; and in every community OF pco-
plesa constant conflict is increasingly going on
between the Majority and Minority. As it is
10 the physical world, so il is in the political
The stronger is ever endeavoriug to make the
weaker subservlent to its desires and the best
pans OF the Statesman Tor the government OF
mankind, are but temporary truce between
.OOOuicting interests and violent passions.
IHE OLD GAME. The Baltimore American
VI last week, in its summary of the news Of
'ae DAY, very eoolIy inserted the following
Paragraph s14 "2'~.
Major Walker commanding at Aiken,
HSouth Carolina, has issued an order recit!ng
mat IN order to carry out the verbal lnsgruc
Nons OF the Major General commanding de-
Insrtmrnt. to prutect the homes OF families anc
ie; sne rights of the freedmen, Lieutenant Vast
Will IN all cases where the properly of colored
people, such as houses: barns, stables, &c.
aaVe nave been wantonly Z es,royed, cause the resi-
ss ssa's OF the immediate vicinity to rebpi q thE
7aue, and in case of their refusal to comply
hlIn .aa such order the buildings sodestroyed art
W oe erected under the direction of Lieutenan
;nslsh, who will levy tax upon the surround
Ig tbg residents 10 proportion sufficient to detray
rue expenses of the United Htates Govern
nIsa., nIsat. This is, indeed, the old war game
NEW BUCKWAEATl FLOUR s@a
.dan New Ruckwheat Flour, received to
~ sno so Tor sale by 80 l2aa. a..L ~ .:cc1
s--Oe,z9-z .rs,sz- ste Il. -. j G, MILBURN:a
so BBLs5 ,CALCINED PLASTER. jus
IT, = received and for ssle by 's'
-1..t - - lisafii., SMG0T G, PERRY