The spectacle of a free people submitting every thing to the ballot boxes, and abiding the result in the decision of the majority, is indeed delightful. In the preliminaries there is less to rejoice at; but in the quiet subordination to the great principles of our social system, which has just been exhibited, we feel the highest joy. We have in it the assurance that the people understand their high responsibility, as freemen: that while each citizen claims his own rights, he is willing to accord as much to his fellows.
One reason for the superior quiet of the late election is, that people no longer imagine the existence of freedom and the permanency of its institutions to depend on the result of an election. Americans have grown confident in the stability of their system, and if the right men and right principles cannot be made to succeed this time, they expect the steady workings of a sound system to bring all right at last. In the earlier days of our nation, republicanism was an experiment, which had before been often tried, and had as often failed; and it was thought it might very possibly fail again in this its last and best effort. But it is not so now. Few men now feel doubtful as to the full success and perpetuity of liberty in these United States.
APPROPRIATE.
PASSAGES FROM THE FAREWELL ADDRESS OF WASHINGTON.
“The unity of government which constitutes you one people, is now dear to you. It is justly so; for it is a main pillar in the edifice of your real independence; the support of your tranquillity at home; your peace abroad; of your safety; of your prosperity; of that very liberty which you so highly prize.
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“It is of infinite moment, that you should properly estimate the immense value of your national union to your collective and individual happiness; that you should cherish a cordial, habitual, and immovable attachment to it; accustoming yourselves to think and speak of it as of the palladium of your political safety and prosperity; watching for its preservation with jealous anxiety; discountenancing whatever may suggest even a suspicion that it can, in any event, be abandoned; and indignantly frowning upon the first dawning of every attempt to alienate any portion of our country from the rest, or to enfeeble the sacred ties which now link together the various parts.
“For this you have every inducement of sympathy and Interest. Citizens by birth, or choice, of a common country, that country has a right to concentrate your affections. The name of American, which belongs to you in your national capacity, must always exalt the just pride of patriotism, more than any appellation derived from local discriminations. With slight shades of difference, you have the same religion, manners, habits, and political principles. You have, in a common cause, fought and triumphed together; the independence and liberty you possess, are the work of joint efforts, of common dangers, sufferings and success.”
When tempted to the violence of heated partizanship, we have reverently remembered the farewell counsels of that same pure and exalted patriot:
“The spirit of party is, unfortunately, inseparable from our nature, having its root in the strongest passions of the human mind. ****
“The alternate dominion of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge natural to party disseusions, which, in different ages and countries, has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism. But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism. The disorders and miseries which result, gradually incline the minds of men to seek security and repose in the absolute power of an individual; and, sooner or later, the chief of some prevailing faction, more able or more for unate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation on the ruins of public liberty.*****
“It serves always to distract the public councils and enfeeble the public administration. It agitates the community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms; kindles the animosities of one part against another; foments occasional riot and insurrection.
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“In those of the popular character, in governments purely elective, it is a spirit not to be encouraged. From their natural tendency, it is certain, there will always be enough of party spirit for every salutary purpose. And there being constant danger of excess, the effort ought to be, by force of public opinion, to mitigate and assuage it. A fire not to be quenched, it demands a uniform vigilance to prevent it bursting into a flame, lest, instead of warming, it should consume.”
POLITICIANS–OFFICE HUNTERS.
By Judge Hopkinson.
In the conclusion of the address,[1] the Lecturer exhorted the members to be constant and diligent in their attention to the duties and exercises of their association; to improve themselves by the exercise of their faculties or the power of examining and discussing subjects of science and literature; in the art of composition and the habit of delivering their opinions and arguments in public, with facility and propriety. He proceeded–In this country, where every place of public employment waits alike upon every citizen, where the worth of the man is his recommendation, and we know nothing of the distinctions of birth and blood, who can say that he may not be called to the performance of duties which will require a facility of speech and pen. The halls of legislation are open to all. You may find yourselves there, or in other situations of public trust, for which the exercises of your association may be a necessary preparation to enable you to acquit yourselves with honour and usefulness.
Do not, however, believe that I can be so treacherous a counsellor as to mean to hold out to you inducements to seek political preferment. But it may seek you; it may be put upon you at times and under circumstances when, as good citizens, you cannot decline it. I would rather say to you, avoid it, as a path beset with difficulties and danger; mortifications and disappointments. The man who sets out in life to live by public office will surely die in poverty and neglect. I would not direct your aspirations to such objects. I would not light up in your hearts the low and disgraceful ambition of an office-hunter. The only independent man is he who depends upon himself. Rely upon the power and skill of your own hands; upon the ingenuity and intelligence of your own heads; upon your industry, prudence and integrity. They will never deceive or desert you; you will never lose your popularity with them. Make them the foundation of your fortune and respectability, and they will not sink under you. Serve your country, when your country wants you, but seek not popular favour at the expense of your honour, independence and self-respect. Of all the occupations to which pride or idleness can drive a man, the most degrading is that of a begging politician, a regular place-hunter. He is a compound of meanness, hypocrisy and falsehood. He is ready to serve all, and to betray all. He is true to nothing but his own selfishness.
The age of the venerable lecturer and his station, removed from the prejudices and conflicts of party, give weight to his admonitions, which should be received as those of an impartial judge. We are firm In the conviction that among the greatest evils with which our beloved country is or can be afflicted is the hankering after office. It is a curse alike pernicious to the general and to individual welfare. Instances everywhere abound of men with good trades or with talent and abilities to insure success in any honest and independent calling, who have neglected their business in hopes of securing an office. They forsake the certain means of subsistence, if not independence, which their business offers for the uncertainly of office. A regular business is neglected or given up for two or three years’ enjoyment of office; the emolument of which is barely sufficient to afford a living. Suffering a constant tax on his time and purse, and the formation of idle, dissolute or unsettled habits, he soon finds himself turned out to make room for some new favourite. It has been truly asserted that “nothing so much unfits a man for the usual occupations of life as office. The habit of having a salary to depend upon, lakes away the common stimulus to exertion, and the idleness often attendant upon office, leads to a great many bad habits difficult to correct. Salary men generally spend all their salaries, and have but little to lay up for sickness or old age. A rich office-holder is generally a novelty, and a contented office-bolder is a greater novelty still.”
The Public welfare is no less endangered by this inordinate thirst for office, since experience has so frequently demonstrated the fact that measures of great national importance have been adopted or neglected solely with reference to their effects upon party. The paramount interests of the state or the country have been too often sacrificed in the unworthy scramble for office. In the declaration that “to the victors belong the spoils,” the monstrous principle has been avowed of “spoils and plunder;” as though the enlightened freemen of the country of Washington were called on to exercise the glorious right of suffrage not to preserve our free institution, not to promote the general welfare, not to maintain the prosperity which the country has so largely participated in, or to perpetuate the liberties with which we are blessed, not for objects so sacred as these, but for the unworthy and unhallowed purpose of plunder!! Though judicious changes in office may at times be proper and necessary, yet the idea of holding up the offices of the country as “rewards and spoils” for reckless partizans is a sentiment that should be reprobated by every true American.
↑A Popular lecture before the Athenian Institute, Philadelphia.