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Reform--think--act

Reform--think--act image
Parent Issue
Day
14
Month
July
Year
1848
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

No one knows The iníliience of individual cfimi. Tho bwKest man wields cvery day and liour, A moral lever wliicli may swny thc woilil. [Dawes.] ín a Republic, llie individual cannot be separated IVom the Government, because he is a part and portion of it, and he delegates authority to others, in order that they may act for the benefit of the whole. The individual citize.i cannot escape responsibility ; it fastena npon him, it attaclies to liim, and to hts God and his country is he answerable, for the manner in which he discharges his high trusts as a citizcn, who is, or who should be, interested in all the conceni3 of mankind. It has been too much the custom in our country, for the many to be guided by ihe few. Truc, it has ever been the fact, and perhaps it will be, tb at Superior ininds will ever exeit a conlrolling influence il) all the affaire ofthis world. They will givetone and character to public sentiment, and direetion to public affaire - and guide for weal or woe ine helm of State. But, here, where every man is a polilician - where lie has a direct personal interest in all state and nalional measurep - where he is infhienced in a greater or less degree by every act of bis government, it is his duty to be well inlbrmed and intelligent and to have fixed and settled opinions upon every question which agitates the public mind. Our public officers - our Senators and Representatives - our Governors and Secretariea, are but the servants of the people, and when they step aside from the duties of their places, and endeavor to force upon the people by political chicanery and wire-pulling, candidates for place and power, who do not represent the will and the opinions of the people - candidates who refuse to abide by knovvn and well established usages, the people are not bound to yield such candidates their support at the ballot-box. From the people - f rom the "lowly born," have all great Reformations proceeded. - Cromwell, and Milton, and Hampden, and Luther and illiams, and Adam, and Henry, were not born in the line of legitímale nobility ; and yet they nre among the truly great and' noble ones of earth. The moral lever they wielded yet moves the world. It was the Lever of Freedom. It is one of the blessings of the people of tliis Union, that a majority of them are capable of reading, of thinking, of canvassing opinions, and discussing principie. They are self-intelligent ; and the humblest man in comrnunity, has the power to wield an influence for the good of the State, and to fix and cstablish the great and cardinal principies of our Republic, firm and strong in the minds of those by whom he is surrounded. ld every workshop, in cvery cabin, and in all departments of industry, you will find men discussing the èxciting questions of the day. - Wetoter and Casa, Benton and Davis, Hale and Under-vood, Criltenden and Dix, may inake speeches upon party issues, and send iliem bioad cast over the country, and wilh eager baste, tho intelligent minds ol'ourcountrymen devour these speeches, and caovass their truths - point out vvith clearness their error.?, and their sophistries - and hold on lo the truths they contain. The opinions, and the principies, uttered by stalesmen, or mere poliliciftns, becoine the public properly of the country ; and it is not flültery to say, that in all our townships we have men of good, strong common sense, who are capable of detecting error, no maller in what garb it may be clothcd, or in whose name it inny be sent lorth to the public Intelligeuce upon State affaire is not confined to the few. The people of all classes, and of all avocations, have witliin the last eight years, read, and heaid, and thought, more of public malters, than ever before. - Truth and error have been carried to every inan'a door; and the sovereigns of ihis land are now rising up in their inight and strengt h and iliey are resolved to hold fast to Truth, and to throw error o ver board, and they will too. The " lowliest man" is begiuniog to tbiak more and earnestly of his duties and bis responsibjliliea, and he is carefully canvassing the matter in bis own mind and in his own hean, in what manner he may best discharge bis duty, so as to do the greatest jjood to his country and lo bis fellow men. Grave Senators may mnke abl-j and eloquent speeches - men who have world-wide reputalion may write letters in favor of this man or (hal one, but, utilosa politicians and candidatos stand up nobly for the rtgfat, unless ihay stand by the principies of the Constitution, of freedom, thc people will have none of thetn. We have no fears resulting from Gat and cundid poiilical discossion. Men are every where now agitaling poütical questions. The great ducp of the public mind of this Union ng ngkaied as it has seldom been before upon public nntters. Let discussion go on, cftlmly, temperately, dispassionately. Iet each onc strive for the well being of his country, and lor our important home interests as a slat-, and all will be well. Be nol timid, be not afraid. " The agita'ion of (liought is the beginning of truth." " In uil frec stales ihe people must ba in:lriicted in ihe truibs to which they owe thoir Ireedoin. They must know their rights, to be aulc to maintain them. They cannot make useful citizens, and be ignorant of the principies of llie government in which they kake part; nor can they usefully exercise the right of electoral when uninstruoied in public afiairs. What is so likely to impart to them this knowledge as llie earnest discussion of politica! parlies 't Who does not see that beueath the stormy and foaming wave3 which tho tempest of an election heaves up, tbere are strong, deep under-currents of fundamental truths and great principies ?" Be not afr'aid, then, of discussion, of agitanan, to our party. Ifyour party, if its principies, will not bearthe light of truth, of free discussion, you iiad better let them go. Hold not to error, .sucrifice not principio to expediency. Such iacrifjee raay bc too deur.