Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1867-03-15

are worthy to be free neither are
there any institutions SO liberal, phi.
losophical, or well adjusted to the
most approved theory of political JUS
tice, that can long secure freedom to
a people whose ignorance and cor
ruptiOn are their leading Characters
tics. All controversy about the best
forms of government, are but idle
speculation when the fact is so clear,
that the best form is the one best
adapted to the moral and intellectual
condition of the governed.
In this country, there are, or we're,
two people, yankees and sousherners,
as distinct, in leading traits, as any
two, on the continent of Europe,
and the government suited to the
one, is wholly unfit for the other.
Experience has demonstrated that
the radicalism, disregard for law, self
conceit, intolerance and insubcrdina-
ton which has characterized Puri-
tanism wherever found, requires the
strong arm Of concentrated power 10
enforce obedience to law, and the out
ward observance Of those proprieties
which are so essential to we'll ordered
society. For such people, "the
best government the world ever saw" "
was no better than "league with hell
and a covenant with death" To
them, the broadcast liberty was but
an opportunity for the broadcast Ii
cence-allowing free rein to the SEN
sual and inordinate passions of peo
pie to whom the practice Of virtue is
an insufferable restraint.
On the other hand, the southern
people, until contaminated by evil
associations, were generous, to fault
noble and chivalrous in all their acts
, and impulses confding and unself.
ish, devoted to their country and the
government which was indeed m ode
for model people. To such men, the
fewer the restraints, the stronger the
incentive to obedience. Government
= was, to them, little more than a mer,
r form, because the great majority wer,
actuatod by that high sense of homo
, and love of justice the want of whicl
A makes government necessity. Thi
' contrast between the two people, wa
, the .bane of the Constitution, an,
s whilst the southcrners, in fancied Sc
, curity, were plying their vocations
and cherishing the institutions whicl
guaranteed to them liberty and it
blessings, the yankees were layin
: the train that has disrupted the Uni
f on and overthrown the government
y Becoming sensible, at.last, of tn
y insidious assaults of the yankees up
S on the constitution and the rights G
= the South, our people resolved, by
e separation, to seek protection agains
!, the designs of their enemies. Blu
y the resolution was taken too late.
= Association had done its work {
@ liberalization, and when the conhiC
n began thousands, in the South, too
IS up arms against it; thousands sougl
i inglorious safety within the yanke
It lines, and other thousands, moved
/, the spirit thatmade Shylock immorta
sapped the life of the Confederacy
s specializing upon its necessities. TT
'e triumph which was certain, had mar
't ly virtue and true patriotism anim
d ted the whole people, was changed
'e defeat by this vast and infamous d
20 fiction. The true and devoted nj
lie jority deserve better fate, but a
it not free because large minority a
lie better fitted to be slaves than freeme
D The depravcd majority of the Mort
TO backed by a kindred element in Il
m South, proved too strong for the n
h BILE and brave defenders of the RICH
oil of man. The result is, that the
ar who deserve and can appreciate IL
ID blessings of liberty, are the oppressc
ID victims Of a people who are the
y. subjects of absolute power.
t, AS we have said before, no poop
Q, can be free who do not deserve
he none, who do deserve it, can long
sc enslayed, no matter what may be Il
fern of government under whic
they live. An absolute Monarch
lie for the North, and Republic for Il
1, South, are the governments best ada
al ted to the genius of the two peopl
"a The first, only, can suppress the on
y ward manifestations of inherent VII
so and enforce obedience to law; Il
at last is based upon virtue and INTEL
ID sence, and its authority derived fro