The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1866-10-06
Some Thoughts on Government.


Whether men are capable of this OF
not has been disputed point from the
earliest times. Some have contended
that majority of mankind, from their
ignorance and passions. were untitled
to exercise the controlling power, and
that it ought to be committed to the
more intelligent, virtpous and prudent,
who, it is said, comprise the minority
of almost every community. On this
assumption, different forms of govern
ment have been instituted and tested.
from the creation down to the present
time, such as the patriarchal, the mon
arcbal, the mixed or aristocratic, and
these have continued or been changed,
according to their well or i'll working,
and the circumstances, habits and in
terests of the people among whom they
existed.
There are serious objections to all
these forms of government, although
some of them may be suited to certain
times and people. A patriarchaI gov
eminent becomes impracticable with
the increase of families. A wise and
virtuous monarch may answer very
well and ensure peace and good order,
but there is no guaranty that his son or
hereditary successor may not prove a
fool, knave or tyrsnt. An elective
monarchy gives rise to faction, intrigue
and violence, and has been found to
work worse than any other form of
government. The great danger of an
aristocracy, is that the governing class
will look solely to their own interest,
without regard to the public good. and
that they will become corrupt and OPP
pressive. From their wealth they
may have the opportunity of acquiring
more knowledge than others, but
want of virtue and honestly prevents
them from making proper use of it.
Our fathers, who founded the Repub-
lie of the United States. were well
versed in the history of the world and
all the different forms of government
which had existed in it, there advan-
tages and defects, their practical
workings every way and, with as much
knowledge and wisdom as we have and
with more virtue and honesty, they
decided in favor of the Republican
form of government, which recognizes
the right of the people to govern them
selves. This is done necessarily in all
large communities, by agents or rep
resentatives, who are selected by a
of the citizens. These men,
SO empowered, fill the different offices
and make and execute the laws.
Thus, in Republic majority of the
people is the sovereign power, and
here is no appeal from its decisions,
except to the whole body of the people
again through the ballot box. 1t is
rue, that majorities do not always do
What is just. they sometimes do great
wrong and Cypress the minorities.
But they are as likely to do right as
he minorities, and it is not suppose
Die that they will wish to injure them
selves, and when they bear sway, if
wrong DO done, it will fall upon the
east number. So it seems logical
conclusion, that a Republican form of
government, where the majority rule, |
s the best of all, because it is calcu-
ated to secure the greatest good to
he greatest number.
This idea was admitted and acted
lpon by all the States before the
Union was formed. Each one was a
title republic, governed by the will of
majority of the people for the time
,eing. When, for their convenience.
protection and responsibility abroad, |
hey adopted the Constitution which
made the Union, they still adhered to
his idea, and intended that a major
ty of the people of the United States
ihould rule in matters of national bear
ng and Importance; but they never
lreamed of empowering the General
government to interfere with their
ocai concerns, and, aware of the diff
erent interests, then existing and
likely to continue from climate, soil.
PRODUCTIONS, peculiar institutions and
Iabits. and the consequent danger of
improper Legislation, they resorted to
hecks and balances, and threw guards,
8 they supposed, around the action
t the majority, so as TO make the form
t national government, which they
evised, as perfect as possible. The
ower House of Congress. represented
be great body ofthe people as a ma
ion, the Senators represenfad the SOW