Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1878-12-20
Local SelfGovernment.

| Mr. Editor The unmistakable evidences
oe approval from different sections of the
county OF my article of November the Both
| upon Home rule and Local Self Govern
ment' induces me to make further extracts
from Gov Seymour's admirable article upon
the subject.
The reading and study of this article, ''The
| Government Of the United States, " makes one,
as do, feel proud hat he cast his vote in
| 1872 for so wise and good a man. Had he
been elected President, doubtless, home rule,
would have been established throughout the
South, and the country saved the scandel,
decentralization and bitterness, which military
rule always engenders and leaves behind it.
| Even at the expense OF little repetition
] send you further extract from Mr.. Sey-
mour's paper, MS far better and more inslruc-
tive than any lhiag can WRITE or find
| elsewhere upon the subject.
| Mr.. Seymour says, THE necessities of the
case forced our fathers to frame their State
and General governments upon principles the
reverse of those which usually mark the
poliy of nations. Their theory takes away
control from political centres, and distributes
it to the various points that are most inter-
esied in its wise and honest exercise itkeeps
| at every mans home the greatest share of the
| political power that concers bin Individually.
| II yields it to the remo;er legislative bodies in
diminished proportions rs they recede from
| the direct influence and action of the people
| The local selfgovernment under which our
| country is expanding itself over the continent
without becoming weak by its extension, is
founded on these propositions. That govern
| menl is most wise which is in the hands of
those best informed about the particular ques-
tons on which they legslate; most economi
cal and honest when controlled by those most
| interested in preserving frugaity and virtue
most strong when it exercises authority which
is beneficial in its action 10 the governed -
These are obvious truths, but how are they to
be made available for practical purposes2 1t
is in this that the wisdom of our institutions
consists. 10 their progress, they are develop
ing truths in government, which have moi only
disappointed the hopes of our enemies, but
dissipaei the fears of our friends"
"M-. Seymour proceeds, 1.-THE good order
of society, the protection of our lives aud our
property, the promotion of religion and learn
ing, the enforcement of statues, or the up
holding of the unwritten laws Of just moral
restraints, mainly depend upon the wisdom
of the inhabitants Of the Townships. Upon
such questions, so far as they particularly
concern them, he people of the town are
more intelligent and more interested than
those outside of their limits can be. The
wsest statesmen, living and acting at the
City of Washington, cannot understand these
affairs, nor can they conduct them SO well as
the citizens upon the ground, although they
may be unlearned men. Our town
officers in the aggregate are more important
than Congressman" Solomon could hardly
have spoken more truthfully and wisely.)
"Hence," Mr. Seymour proceeds, ''ihe impor-
lance 10 our government of religion, morality
and education, which enlighten aud purify
the governed and the governors at the same
time, and which must ever constitute the best
security for the advancement and happiness
of our country. Township powers and duties
educate and elevate those who exercise Them"
'This principle not only secures good gov
eminent for each locality, but it also brings
home to each individual a source of his
rights and responsibilities it elevates his char
acter as man he is taught sef-reliance he
learns that the programme of his duty AS a
citizen is the correction for the evils of society,
and is not well to place vague unfounded
dependence upon legislative wisdom. 1t not
only makes good government, but it also
makes good manhood"
The townships, the results of whose govern
ment in education and impro vement are here
so forciby portrayed by Mr.. Seymour, are
districts OF territory ffrom A to miles square,
which in Pennsylvania and in many of the
Northern and Western States have charge of
public roads, schools and sometimes also The
care of the poor Nj Seymour insists upon
il that persons living in those districts Gown
ships) understand better how to manage them
than outside persons can possibly do, and
every observsnt man s experience will confirm
the correctness of bis views. 1t is the same
subdivisions of counties recommended by Mr..
Jefferson for Virginia, as pointed ont by me in
another article on county affairs published
more than twelve months ago. But | have
yet fresher and, in view of present and pro-
spective political position, probably more in
fuential testimony and utterances upon the
same ubject.
In the beautiful and eloquent address deliv-
cred in September by the Hon. I. II. Bayard,
the present U. 8 Senator from the State of
Delaware, before the Maryland State Agricul-
tural Society, he said SIN rejecting upon
the evils which to-day afilict our country,
which have Frustrated its progress and para
lyzed its industries and commerce, trace the
want of the Preside virtues | have named -
Ours is government of laws, but of laws
moulded by public opinion. In a reformed,
regenerated public opinion must we look for
The cure of the evils which uncean dishoues-
ty, disregard for truth and honor, unscrupu
lous private greed, and unpatriotic animosi-
ties have brought upon us. The family and
home circle are the natural birth places of the
principles and nursery Of the principles, which,
being educated and established there, expand
into the community and pervade the whole
body of laws and government with their sober
and sweet influences"
This is getting pretty well down to the hub
and the centre OF the circle from which good
government, wise economy, tolerant and pat
riotic public spirit is 10 rise, grow and expand.
Better Democratic authority can not be
found than is here grouped in support of the
wisdom and policy of home-rule. II is in
substance and in essence strictly and emphati
cally the government of the people-in other
words Democratic government. Also other
kinds of government, whether legal or con-
ventional, take power from the people and
confers it upon the few. 1t antagonizes the
true Democratic doctrine herein set forth, how
ever much the word is used and abused by
politicians to take power from the people for
selfish and party ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.
A. B. d.