POLITICS AND LAWS.
Were politics, and laws looked as they ought to be, nothing would be
more honorable than a statesman, or a lawyer: and these two noble
sciences, though distinctly separated, would be reduced to one. A
statesman would be a good lawyer, and a lawyer a good statesman. The
science of a statesman is to render happy the nation in which he lives;
and be just, respecting the other nations. The science of the lawyer
it is to explain the justice, which should exist between the citizens
of his happy country. That part of ethics which consists in the
regulation, and government of a nation, or state for the preservation
of its safety, peace and prosperity, and the defence of its rights
against foreign control, or conquest, with the preservation, and
improvement of their morals, gives to the lawyer the very sense of
justice on which all his eloquence should be grounded, in defending
his client from the injustice of bad citizens. It is the man of
integrity only, who can regulate the citizens’ actions, and their
social intercourse. Politics, and laws are the best part of a National
Literature. But, we cannot attain with success this essential branch
of National Literature, when the spirit of party prevails to such an
extent, for which gentlemen hesitate to explain their mind, lest they
might offend their friends. We cannot instruct ourselves, when party
spirit takes the place of reason, and individual independence.
Could the americans of the United States understand, what, _political
party_ does mean; they would immediately cease from introducing such
expression in their political speeches. The whigs call themselves
republicans, and the locofocos republicans: and were you asking them:
why they did divide themselves under such a banner, they will answer:
Because the whigs are republicans, and the locofocos are democrats,
while others would say: Because the whigs are for a tariff, and the
locofocos for free trade. The first for a bank, and the second for no
bank, and so forth.
The most enlightened politicians, finding that the wish of sustaining
their own private interest, under the banner of a party, was an
erroneous standing, they attempted to place a distinction between
democracy and republic. So, in Noah Webster, the best american
dictionary, we find the word Republic defined as a commonwealth,
a state in which the exercise of the sovereign power is lodged in
representatives, elected by the people as it is in the United States;
thinking it differing from Democracy, with which the people of Greece
exercised the powers of sovereignty in person, without submitting to
any delegate.
As we have no other words, to express the difference of the modern
modification, for these two popular governments, I would have no
objection to admit the definition of the american Johnson. And as
in America the sovereign power is lodged in representatives, the
government of the United States should be called now a republic, and
not a democracy. Besides, since those who call themselves democrats,
had never dreamed of changing the present government, the nice
distinction, ought to be admitted by the locofocos, and call themselves
republicans as well as the whigs do. The greek word, had always meant
the people’s government, as well as the latin; Republic is the literal
translation of the very word Democracy: and as the representatives, in
doing their duty, will always represent the will of the people, the
word Republic, as it was among the romans, must of course sound to an
american ear, as well as Democracy among the athenians, or spartans. If
we think that for the people, to enjoy their own rights, it is better
to have representatives, who spare them time, and for which they can
go to their daily business, in order to support with their labor their
wives, and children; the republic, and not the democracy should be the
government of our choice: and as this, is a republic; the two parties
should join hands. The republic of the ancients, was Minerva; and this
Divinity sounded to their ears as Wisdom, which is the very Divinity
we do now understand under the word Republic. Sophia, Minerva, or
Wisdom are one single Divinity; Wisdom is Reason, and Reason cannot
be divided. If the republican citizen cannot agree with the errors of
his own government, he has the right to dispute, or combat them: it
is his very sacred duty. But, to place himself under the banner of
the tariff, or under the banner of free trade, it is a mischievous
act. The patriotic party should place itself under the banner of the
constitution of this republic, when a mischievous interested party
takes a rebellious standing; and not change their banner’s name.
If under the word party, they mean their own private interest;
then, they should be more sincere, and say, that they wish, here, a
parliament of lords, and a house of commons. If they pride themselves
in the beautiful political work of their fathers, they should forsake
any dispute of party spirit. Tariff, Slavery, Annexation, Banking,
Naturalization, Free trade, Direct taxation, and all the branches
of political economy, must have nothing to do with party. Laborers,
landlords, or capitalists should give way to their private little
interest for the benefit of the plurality: and in all different
branches of political economy, the country should never suffer for our
private interest. If the citizen’s duty is to die for the country, how
can a man call himself a citizen, if he does not feel the generosity
of losing a little property for his country’s sake? An upright citizen
of this Union should debate all like things without personal interest,
nor party spirit. His independence depends not, by subduing the country
to his own will; but by yielding to the plural will of his country:
and the will of the plurality had never been a tyrannical will. If
he is rich, he has only to leave people live, and he will become
still richer. If he is poor, with his honest industry, soon he will
find means to live honorably. Every thing benefitting the plurality,
benefits still more the rich, by many indirect ways. Where justice is
given to the poor, the poor will give justice to the rich.
The geographical position of North America, and a government going with
the improvements of the age, are so much favoring this country, that
the grandeur of America would cost no pain to her citizens, were these,
leaving this country to grow by herself. But, too many politicians
are introducing too many cramped ideas in their speeches! As the fear
of bad influence by strangers; that of catholicism; and many other
fears, too tedious to enumerate. All like fears, sprung from ignorance,
religious party, narrow minded, illiberal, or rebellious demagogues.
This country wants only liberal politicians, who can understand the
present position of America, and age. It is generosity, hospitality,
and friendship towards all strangers, that this country will attain her
grandeur. And then, America will be the Sun and the central political
happiness, throughout the world. Those who, in America, wish to imitate
the selfishness of other nations, are not fit to live on this soil.
If the people’s aim, and of all the nations of the world, is now for
having republics, and not monarchies; America has only to give them
her friendly hand, and the whole world will be the friend of America.
And the whole world will have soon the blessed millenium. The sons of
God, should be liberal. No stingy cramped head, stepping after the
old, and selfish governments, will ever do any thing good to himself,
nor to the race of man, and of this country. But, the Sun will shine
cheerfully for all the world in spite of puerility. He who preaches
liberty only for himself, is a little tyrant: and a little tyrant is
more despicable, than a big one. He is the venomous viper biting its
own tail.
The imprisonment given to Mr. Dorr for having fought against the very
despotical law of ancient England; Rhode Island reproaches, with it,
the very noble acts of the fathers of her country! It is the same as
to say, that all the acts of the revolution of this Union, against
the mother country, deserve to be punished. Had Mr. Dorr taken the
arms against the present government of Rhode Island, without having
previously applied for a modification of the despotical law; Mr. Dorr
would be liable to few months imprisonment. But, such was not the case.
When he found that no redress could be obtained, Mr. Dorr acted like
a free citizen. That little state of Rhode Island, in acting as it
did against Mr. Dorr, is now in contradiction with the whole Union. I
would prefer to live in a country under a despotical prince, than in a
country where a despotical law can condemn the high minded, who could
not submit to it. A despotical prince must, with time, die, or might
be killed by a modern Brutus: a despotical law, acts despotically,
without such a fear; while it prevents the free citizen to think with
the free mind of republicans. And to be vigilant against the bad laws
of a country like this, it is the duty of every citizen! A tyrannical
law is worse than a living tyrant: and from the moment in which a
nation finds an unjust law, and does not use immediately the required
modifications, such a nation cannot be a republic. The brother states
of Rhode Island are nearly as guilty with their neutrality. He who
attempts to overthrow a popular, good law, must suffer the penalty he
deserves: but, how can we expect to be civilized, if the honest cannot
dare to kill the hydra, I mean a bad law, after having applied in vain
for redress? Such a bad republic would take from my mind all the lofty
sentiments, and feeling I always hail for republicanism. A republic
acting despotism, it is the worst of all governments. The despot acting
devilish acts, calls himself a devil: and in doing, and saying so he
is, at least, no hypocrite. A nation who calls herself the kind mother
the poor, and of the plurality’s rights, and oppresses, at the same
time the poor, and the plurality; such a nation, ranks with the present
government of Russia, the most tyrannical of the present Europe. Can
we call ourselves republicans in the United States of America, while
a martyr of freedom rots in prison like the Spielberg prisoners of my
dear, and unfortunate country? And my friends, and fellow-laborers of
my profession in New York, Mr. Foresti, and Mr. Maroncelli can tell you
_di che lagrime grondi, e di che sangue_ the republican patriot.