New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-04-04
TIE CONSENT oP The GOVERNED.

erned." we opine that no sane man will
contend tina: at any one time in the his
tory of free government in the United
| States ha, unanimous yielding TO the
| proposition been obtained. Nor VIII any
| reasonable man contend that such !! re-
suit is absolutely necessary for the sue
cessful establishment Of popular govern
ment. The unanimous consent o. 'ne
people Of the thirteen American colonies
that combined to throw off the oppressl'.
woke fixed on them by the British govern
nent was lacking when the majority oe-
+arroinea 70 strike for freedom. And even
afte, the declaration Of American lnde-
nendence had been made by the representa-
tiyes Of the colonies il Congress asseh4o'eo'
and the measure had met with q hearty
response from every patriot III the iaha'
there were those in that trying perlod o.
our country who could not be prevailed
rpon TO give their consent to q transaction
sanctioned by the majority Of their coun-
trvmen and looking to the establishment
Of free Government III America. Nor was
! the unanimous consent Of the people OF
III. colonies ever obtained in favor Of the
war for independence. There were al
ways some who refused to give their con-
sent 70 the measures adopted by the
| Continental Congress for the support
Of the war Tor free government.
! Afte, the war Lad terminated favor
ably TO freedom, the people turned
| their attention to political affairs. 1t
was soon discovered that the general gov
eminent first formed was not established
! on a solid foundation that the articles OF
| union made under the pressure OF COM
mon danger were inadequate to the eff
cient management Of the country IN the
selfish periods Of peace and security in
the language OF one Of orr best historians
the bond Of union was defective. not only
in its powers, but in the means Of eXecut-
ing them. The acts Of the general gov
eminent required the interposition Of the
States of the Union to give them effect
within their respective jurisdictions.
Under this condition Of things the
people found that they had obtain
ed liberty without the blessings Of
substantial union and good government.
The weakness of the government invited
attacks from foreign and domestic sources
Our intercourse with the British West
India islands, from which the colonies had
derived large profits, was forbidden by the
English government; Spain denied our
right Of navigating the Mississippi; and
our vessels could no longer safely enter
the Mediterranean. These were some OF
the foreign annOyances to which our cour-
try was subjected in 1856. because It's
people We're not firmly knit together under
a government possessed Of sufficient
strength to secure their best interests at
home and abroad. 1t was this weakness
in the general government that induced
rebellion in Massachusetts in 1856. Sew
eral thousand citizens. melted to disorder
by turbulent leaders, who made heavy
taxes the burden of their complaint,
Joined leader by the name of Daniel
Shay for the purpose Of resisting laws that
had been enacted by authority derived
from. the people. Although the rebellion
was not successful in overcoming lawful
authority. il was certainly good evidence
that the unanimous consent of the gov
.rned is no. always obtained i'll the most
civilized portion .: our country. But this
condition 0: our country at The period Of
which we are writing was productive q
good effects as we'll rs bad. We are told
tia: the friends .: social order and ma
tional ,espec:abili,y were not idle
spectators o: lie accumuiat.ng danger
that threatened the country. This very
danger led to the calling OF a convention
il 1857 for the purpose Of digestirg a form
OF government equal to the eXigencies Of
the Union. Its labors were rendered sue
cesstul by the AID Of the best men IN the
country. IroMinen! among whom weIe
Washington. Hamilton. Jay and Madison.
4 constitution Was framed that proved &C
ceptable 20 large majority Of the people
who We're 10 be benefited by il, yet we
can no: accreGit !. with having received the
unanimous consent Of the governed, for
there were some who would not consen! TO
il, adoption. Under this new bond Of
tie union General Washington was made
President 50 i. is related IL his history
ly h. unanimous voice Of the people.
This, it must be confessed, comes very
.rned in the matter Of making q Pres
dent: much nearer than USUALLY occurs il
the election Of a President: yet there is
reason for suspec:inG that there was . re-
spectacle minority who woul1 no: give
their consent 20 all that va, done during
the eight years tina: Washington served as
President. And from lis time ~ to tie
present day no administration OF govern
men: in this country has received the
unanimous consent of the governed. Nor
is such . thing required or expected al :ne
hands ot the people il that sens. which
crazy writers .: the present DAY contend
for. The majority rule governs il this
country. and when u government. State
OK national, has been chosen !v Ike Ina
ioritv. the State or nation may truth
E,-'',- T., 80 IA On ~. ,,o,-arp,j ~. ...,,. ,,,,