Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1867-04-25

. 80
understand the absolute necessity Of the
provisions for e~fectusting it and inter-
posing dams and breakwaters, TO restrain
the fury Of the current Of popular i'm
pulse. and guide it into proper channels,
then they were not fit to be entrusted
with the poweF Of governing themselves,
and had better remained dependencies Of
the British Crown.
Oar public men, at least, should fully
have understood, and been always ready
. 10 Justify this purpose and intention,
and 10 s5afe ss n~Uissnees all politicians
who sought 20 via the popular favour,
either bv incorporating the CGnstitu-
1 ton. or by openly or covertly endesvor-
ing to bring odium upon it, OF to intro
duce habits and practices that would
work innovation.
OJsta ~prtncipiis, oppose the begin
nings. should have been the motto OF
all rejecting men, from the very first.
1t is only then that innovation and
abnses can be checked. When they
have made head for a time, and gath
cred strength, they crush all who en-
deavour to stay them. The first leaders
Of public opinion generally become its
victims. because at first they wait and
temporize. LOUIS NAPOLEON crushed
an enbryotic revolution IL time, and be-
came Emperor. Every people viii hsye
an Aristocracy and a Hierarchy, or
something in their stead. If they can
not have the beat, for their spiritual and
political leaders, they viii have the
worst and will dethrone " SET, only 70
install another, and, if they can find
them. Of baser men until, for HE
RARCHs they have the TRE0D0RE PAR
KERs and WARD BEECHERs, sud for
political Captains, the SUMMERS, the
GARRIsoNs and BUTLERs, the LIN
coins, and RRODERICKs, and Null
LTGANs. The men who are entitled to
lead may abdicate in many Eaysj as
frequently by resorting to the arts and
eudeavoring to use the weapons Of the
small demagogue, as in any other.
Whatever, II the governmental insti-
tutions Of a Rep6blic, IS rescued from the
sweep and domination CT immediate
popular control, is like land In Holland
wrested from the sea: and the dykes
that serve as b-eak-waters against the
frantic and fanLastic passions and hu-
mours Of the multitude, must be watched
and guarded, and kept IN their pristine
condition with the same unceasing and
~slsepless vigilance. For the restless sea
is not more hungry, when its waves
dash sud foam egeicst the dykes Of the
Netherlands, than is the pofGlace TO
usup all the powers Of the State, and
hear It's imperiOus mandates repeated by
every department Of the Government /:
R~r is that ocean more destructive when
it bursts through its barriers and floods
whole Provinces, than the popular viii,
when the impedimeuts reared against it
disappear, aud its ever-chauging whims
and shifting transitory caprices are n
acted into lavs, and dictate the vsciIlat-
ing policy of the State. The tendency,
inevitable, and hitherto always found re-
s~istless, in every Republic, is to popular
ize the Government. that Is, to destroy
all government, and enthroue Anarchy ;
to deposc Reason, and invest Uureas0n
with the crown Snd mitre the H0H-
sense Of the People becoming King and
Priest. This tendency Is also a cGati3u-
ing force, increasing when yielded to, in
a ratio like that Of the velocity Of a fall
ing body. Unless streuuously and on
stantiy resisted, it must always in the
end prevail.
To do this with any prospect Of success,
it was necessary for the South to guard
all points in the line Of its defences. The
outw0rks were as essential as the main
girdle Of its defensive works. Instead
Of wasting their energies, and leading
the people away from the true issues, on
questions ike those OF a National Bank
and a Protective Tariff, 10 which the
the rights Of the States and their safety
were net at at all involved, the leaders
should steadily have kept in view the
fundamental ideas and great policy of
the Constitution, should have laboured
-assiduOusly 10 prevent the decay Of those
parts Of it which sought to restrain the
popular will and to delay the course Of
its tides and current towards the organs,
through which it was at last to issue in
laws and measures and TO check inno-
vations that would continue in prae-
tice, il left to themselves, until by
habit they would become parts Of the
Constitution, and utterly change its ma
ture aud defeat its intentions.
To what use did Mr.. JEFFERSON insist
ontbe sanctity OF the reserved rights of
the States, while he preached that rad
icalism Of French Democracy which
aimed at nO-gOvernment, and emanci-
pated the slaves Of San Domingo? Why
do g0u complain, If your President seeks
by means dangerous to Hberty to win pop
uiar applause, or If a candidate for that
Office, displaying the dishonorable scars
received in party-confiicts, resorts to the
low arts Of the petty politician to reach
the goal he sims at if yOU have done
your utmost 10 make the election Of
President E popular one? Why DO you
complain that when you obtain an audi
ence Of the Monarch Of the Mob, you
are jostled by shoulder-hitters and ruff
fans, by brswny Germans and impu-
dent Irish, and by iusatiate beggars for
office II you have helped send a gam
bier 70 the Legislature Of your State, to
set Ignorance and stupidity on the bench,
and commisslon a fsro-dealer 10 sit in a
National nominating Convention if
you have helped send a TURsEY TO the
senate. or a WALSH or MATTIsON 20
House? II you have hastened the
admission of abortions as States Of the
Union, and aided in compellingS Senators
10 become o~bsequious 10 the popular
pleasure, why do you complain Of the
Iecay Of the Senate What sort Of Sen
.tors could you expect from Nebraska
md Kansas? and who should not 8
BRopERIcK have for his fd,ss debates
Billy M~ULLIoAN2
Why complain that the 6ouse Of Rep
,essntatives is a riotous and dlsreputable
.s~semblage; if you have connived at
living the election Of its members to the
wards Of great cities that reek with
-navery and corruption, aud to districts.
instead of States; so that pettifoggers
nd miterate pretenders might rise by !
be agitation OF local questions and by f.,
be pitiful shifts and tricks Of the low
nd vulgar demsgogue? Were not the