PAPERS oF MIRABEAU BuoNAPARTE LA~~AR 155 kind to restrain tbeir freedom in the coming election wm serve only to make them go into it with higher feelings of independence; and I have no doubt that those who would control them by an arbitrary pol- icy, will be taught in the end, that though the people may sometimes be undermined in their rights by cunning, they can never be terrified out of them by threats. As for myself, I can only inform those (if any there be) who may indulge in such anti-republican menaces, that the sound of pr.oscription falls very lightly on the ear of him whose happiness is not centered in promotion, but whose highest ambition is to serve the cause of truth and justice: This I can do whether doomed to public or to private life: I l1ave not heretofore been lured by interest nor driven by fear from the post of duty, and I h.ope I never may. As no promises of future favor shall seduce me into the support of a false principle, so shall no dentmciation deter me from the defence of a sound one. If it be a fault to refuse homage to ar- rogated power-if it be a fault to insist ttpon the unfettered exercise by the people of a legitimate right-if it be a fault to say that the decrees of a few individuals ought not to be held paramount to the Constitution, and that it would be wrong in them to proscribe all such as cannot acknowledge their right to rule exclusively in our Congres- sional elections: then have I most grievously offended in offering my services to my fellow-citizens without l]aving first obtained permis- sion to do so from the late caucus. The fault is one however for which I have no apology to offer and cannot promise future amendment. To revolt at usurpation and resist every encroachment upon consti- tutional liberty, is among the strongest feelings of my nature, and was the earliest lesson in my polltical education. I cannot depart from it now. I detest the exercise of undelegated power-I disclaim all al- legiance to it-I bow to no dictation. Such were the feelings of him from whom I received my first instruction; and the humble pupil, who, catching the spirit of his master's principles, is animated by it in all his political conduct, may be justly held a truer disciple than him, who from a selfish or a slavish principle would silently witness a body of men, whether legal or self-constituted, march lawlessly. over any of the acknowledged rights of his fellow citizens. Very little reflection will serve to satisfy a mind conversant with the instability of liberty, how very dangerous it is to suffer any in- fringement upon the freedom of elections. The evil is apparent. The great conservative principle of our government, is the dependence of public men upon popular favor. This is the strong hold upon their fidelity, and the only cure for misrule and oppression. Every meas- ure, therefore, should be viewed wjth distrust and jealousy, which tends to lessen this dependence. Diminish it, and the security of ri'ghts is weakened; destroy it. and the countrv is enslaved. There is no truth plainer and more indisputable, than that public men are em- phatically, the "serwnits '' of those by ,vhom they are elevated-if by the people, they will serve the people-if by a caucus, they will serYe that caucus. Let it be understood that tht> road t'.> promotion lies through the smiles of a few dictatorial men, and not through the ap- probation of the people, and·to whom is it likely that the aspirants for office will pay their devotions and take the oath of allegiance? Not to
Powered by FlippingBook