Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1868-04-27

% H. must be accompanied by the Of
s authors and rejected cannot oe
IaGo9 9at ri us - li4 25t.!.T I; COMMUNICATED.
INTESTINE WAR-By J. B. johnson.
~ Nations having . republican form, of govern
! ,ment should, be governed by a majority, and
that majority should, under all circumstances
beIScontrol!ed by the principles which are rec
opnized as the standard of it's genius. 1t q
mere majority, plurality of a Democracy,
should, at any time, substitute its er porte will
tor organic law, then the spirit and letter of its
written constitution, are void, and the control
otthe political affairs OF such Democracy, is
3 not by the usage OF constitutional clauses but
By, the behest of a party, and that party con-
.sents to the existence of its Nation, as whole,
only1so long as it has the power and patronage
of it. The bane of all the Democracy's that
have been instituted, was that the people who
formed them, ,degenerated to the sway OF party,
3 and from party to ochlorchy, and from och
lorchy to anarchy, and from anarchy to new
governments; or governments differing from
the originals; from which they grew. History
has not recorded an exception to this inevita-
bic rule, aud Notwithstanding mankind have:
over and again, attempted pure republlcanlsm,
it has s;always been attended ithinexorable dis
appointment, and q nation, that is called, in
politicsEianguage, stree people" rarely sur
. wives as such, more than an Insignificant num-
berof years. In the period of few genera
tions; It usually descends to confusion of doc
trines in regard to its internal affairs and ig-
nora1ce, coupled With the effects of misguided
zeal, soon causes it to yacillate, with violent
and rapid struggles, between its organic law,
and the arbitrary rule of unrestrained partizan
pow, until hcentlousness, with one desperate
effort, overturners its institutions amid the
seethiDg waves Of popular agitation. 1t is not
that the people OF % Democracy desire, with
malice prepense, to destroy their nationality,
from the guard OF their organic laws, and when
once they get into the way of legal violations,
they never return to their original law and order,
abut 90 irretrievably onward to dissolution, inu-
tility and nonenity.l The drunkard does not in
duge in his potations for the purpose of suicide,
nor does the gambler practice his calling with
the intention of running his future, but both
pursue their respective vices through the force
Of misd;rected energy, and from the desire Of
some pleasing emotion, or fancied ulterior good.
As it is with an individual who disregards in
his conduct the fixed laws Of morality, and the
positive regulations of hygiene, so it is with the
people of q Democracy who depart In their po-
htical course from strict construction OF their
organic laws; and the Democracy that does it,
will just as surely meet ruin, as the drunkard
and gambler meet premature and untimely ends
Man is Querulous by instinct; and intense
agitation of questions OF local or general inter
est Of the people of Nation, excites In the
mind of one portion OF them, disposition to
constrain the other, to yield support to policies
and sentiments, both injurious and distastetul to
it, and spersistance in this course, calls forth
the innate beligerent feelings OF the human
breast and eliminates Intestine War. When
this condition befals a Democracy, it is like an
inextricable curse, and implies the existence of
parties separated from each other, by motives s
Of aggression on one side, and of impulses OF
defence on the other and when the incentives
Of cupidity ON on hand, and instructive dread
OF injury on the other, array people, who
once lived in mutual regard for each other, IN
deadly conflict, decentralization humiiiating TO-;
contemplate ensues, and the patient search OF
justice is sdisregarded, and the calm voice ct
reason is unheard; and, for period commen-
surate with the duration of such strife, all faith
and law are abrogated Under the sway of its
rayages, men, who, before an opportunity for
debasement was presented, were deemed by the
good, lincapabie Of being aught but what they
were ever presumed to be-, commit acts OF the
most criminal character, and proclaim, in brutal
precepts, the most Infamous doctrines. "A
restless pride generally possesses the more
puissant class, and an importunate AFRO
gance urges it to strive to- mako all re-
Sistance bend to unreasonable and arbitrary
power To accomplish this, both moral and
tue !of having possession OF the offices that
governed the peaceful relations of the nation,
claims to be the regular "autho1lty," and this
claim is maintained until the party making it,
is either successful in its efforts to establish it,
or is forced by defeat to relinquish jurisdiction
over all, save those who desire to come under
its control. Those who cannot be reached by
force, are pressed to give way by taking
"Oaths of Allegiance" or by making athrma,
tions of fidelity. This constitutes the moral
force which the authority adopts to- gain
converts, or to reclaim those who are In oppo:
sitionI to it. AL inimical persons are ordered
under promises OF rewards, or threats OF pun
ishment, to subscribe to . given oath; and, 10
view of neutralizing as much dlsatfectlon as
practicable, oaths and af6rmations are invented
to suit the occasion and locality; and the hon
orable and dishonorable are alike sought to be
brought upon the same level. Those who re.
ject such overtures, and question the right OF
the authority to make them, are recognized,
registered and treated as ''Rebels," and arc
denied, in the most stringent manner, all the
advantages of transit, commercial intercourse
and business that are in its power to prevent;
for when unscrupulous or ih-gotten might, is
impressed With the thought of its own securi-
ty,it displays no mercy that it can withhold
with safety, and makes no concession that is
not e3torted from it. It uses every expedientt
to eg,R the proves Of opposing force, and I'd
compass its object. Hence, when nation
goes. To- variwith itself, the individuals who
hold tboEloaeo;.l ot.t;onr thatsuara nroctcd IN