Mississippi index. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1865-18??, 1867-07-30

Delivered In the City OfAtlnmans
Tuesday, July IOth, Is0g.
Ladies and FellOC- Citizens,
Human governments, like everything
else human, naturally tend to decay
They can only be preserved by constant
watchfulness, courage, and adherence to
correct principles. These remarks apply
with unusual force to free governments,
which are the most difficult Of all to
maintain. If we, the people Of the Unit
ed States, were the first in history who
had attempted the experiment of living
under a Democratic or Republican form
of government, we might be excused if
we failed to discover the symptoms Of
approaching death, and to apply the rem
edies to preserve Our liberty and the
blessings We have heretofore enjoyed
But we are not the first who have made
this experiment. Other peoples and ma
tions, for thousands of years, have had
oommOnWealths, republics and demOera-
cies. which have risen and fallen times
almost without number. ] but assert a
great truth, one which finds no contradic-
tiOn or exception in all history, when /
say that the great leading and substan-
tial causes of the decay of freedom in all
countries, have ever been the same
How inexcusable must we be if we fail
10 discover the symptoms, and how cow
ardly and recreant If we fail to apply the
proper remedy to prevent so foul a
death
No people ever commenced to build
up free government under such favor
able auspices as we. What climate,
soil, variety of productions and material
resources do we possess; and what an an
cestry and what common struggle for
liberty did our fathers pass through =
Did any people ever before commence
with such advantagesi Rome COM
menced as a small city, and was de-
spised by the barbarians around it. She
extended her power by her arms, and in
creased till at last she became mistress
Ofthe world. We commenced with such
a people, country and productions as no
people ever had before, and we had few
er dissentions and elements af discOrd
than any people ever suffered from; and
Providence, as if to separate us from the
crimes and cOrrupting influences of the
Old World, spread out this great conti-
nent before us, with the wide sea to sep
arate US from them with no influence Of
monarchy and oppressive systems to
threaten or make war upon us. If we
fail, It will be by our own folly. What
excuse can we render to our pOsterity
and to the world, if we, in this day, with
the lessons of history before us, allow
free institutions to perish on this cOnti-
nenti And our race will have been the
soonest run. We have not yet lived
century. It is but seventy-eight years
since the Constitution was formed, and
but ninety-One years since independence
was declared by our fathers, while the
commonwealth of Rome lived four hun
DIRE d years before the measures which
prodli ced her decay were proposed
What A spectacle The best people, the
richest s,qiI, the most valuable prOduc-
tions estab ushed as ifby the Providence
of God as a n ew Grain the history Ofthe
world, and bidding fair to be the short
est lived of any free government in the
history of nations
There is no dificu lty whatever and |
assert it without fear of contradiction, in
discovering when and how a nation is
dying. cannot now go into an analy-
sis Of all the symptoms Of national decay
and death. 1t is only important to pre-
sent the leading one-which controls all
others, which existing, produces all 9th
ers, and which being remedied, cures all
others. Then hear it The great symp-
tom of the decay and death Of a govern
ment is the disregard Of the fundamental
law of that government. Whenever
people come to treat lightly their own
fundamental law, they have arrived at
the most dangerous point that is posi-
bic, short of entire destruction. Repub-
lies, above all other kinds Of government
are maintained by respect for law. II
the people Of the United States fail to
have a sacred regard for their own law,
which is not like that Of other nations, to
be ascertained BY argument, by decisions
or by searching, but is a plain and wise
ly written Constitution, they will de-
serve the awful fate that awaits them;
and he who disregards its plain language
has no excuse to shield himself from the
infamy Of a traitOrl (Applause.) Old
as it is, trampled upon, torn and latter
ed as it is, my theme to-day is the Con-
stitution Of our country and for all our
country. tApplause.) I charge before
Heaven and the American people this
day, that every evil by which we have
been afflicted Is attributable directly to
the violation Of the Constitution
Thinkers may work, quacks may pre-
scribe, and demagOgues may deceive, but
/ declare to you that there is no remedy
for US, and no hope to escape the threat
ened evils, but in adhering to the Con
stituti0n.
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