The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-03-28
CHI A r L ES TON.
SATURDAY MORNING, MARCH %, 1868
The Question OF Government.

SIGNS OF The TIMES, by G. Manigault, of South
Carolina. New York Bielock & Co. Charles
ton: John Russell.
The author Of this pamphlet, o modest,
high toned and gallant gentleman of South
Carolina, asserts the rights Of property and
intelligence, at the precise moment when
agrarianism and Radicalism prevail; and
proclaims the doom Of that democracy, just
when it seems to have most signally tri-
umphed. The tendencies of stirring con-
Aicting age he marks with the eye of philo-
sophie observation. To public controlled
by demagogues, he commits tract charac-
terized by grave political wisdom, and dis
cussing with certain judicial calmness,
the most exciting subjects.
Whatever opinion may be entertained as
to the force of Mr.. MANIGAULT's argument
in favor of monarchical and aristocrstioal
republic, it cannot be denied that he has
made out a strong case against pure de-
mocracy. 1t is impossible to meet the ar
gument, that universal suffrage is pre-
MUM upon vice snd ignorance, in which the
numerical majority always inheres, and
provision of power and place for the po-
litical intriguer. It commits every public
interest to the base many, who transfer it,
either by purchase or through passion, to
the baser few. The government Of the
needy and gullible many resolves itself into
the government of the ambitious, the
wealthy, the designing few. The many
vote; but the votes are dependent upon the
bribery, the fattery and the intimidation OF
the few. Thus by singular yet inevitable
law, the democracy becomes and is an oil
garchy; and universal suffrage establishes
caucus-a political monopoly as secret
and potent as the Venetian Council of Ten.
Such is our condition at present; and to
every thoughtful observer it is clear that
the present form of government cannot
stand This is evidently Mr.. MANrGAULT's
conclusion, and his tract is an inquiry into
the kind of government that should take its
place.
The theme is profoundly practical one;
and although no Southern man can exert any
influence upon the public policy at the
present time, the discussion is not unsea-
sonable. When the American Revolution
had reduced the elements of society to
chaotic state, the great men of that day
engaged in the study of systems of govern
ment. To this subject were devoted the
Attic learning of ADAMS, the courtly genius
of HAMILTON, the judicial dignity of MADI-
SON, the versatile dextcrity of JEFFERSON.
But admirable as were the lessons and in
stitutions bequeathed by these '"ustrious
statesmen, il is manifest that the antique
monuments they reared and decorated
have well nigh lost tLeir sanctity. A more
fearful explosion than they witnessed has
devastated the land: A new system is re-
ouired to re-establish those liberties which
they fondly thought they had placed upon
an immovable foundation.
Mr.. MANIaAULT proposes threefold
division of the political department of the
government, consisting of two houses of
legislature, one representing population,
the other representing property, and, to
complete the organization, an administra-
tive head. He would give to each house
veto on encroachments by the other upon
the class of rights it represents, and to the
executive a veto on legislation. Natural
rights would be guarded by the lower house;
vested rights by the higher, which should
represent not only men, but also women of
property, and even corporations. The ex-
ecutive power should be Independent o.