The Bolivar Bulletin

MR. EDITOR: In regard to the proper
considerations and qualifications of a candidate
to represent the people of Tennessee
in the State Convention, called to meet at
Nashville on the first Monday in January
next, permit the writer, through your columns,
to make a few friendly suggestions. If
the people of our County, who are as intelligent
and conservative as will be found in
any part of the State, can only be brought
to reflect seriously upon the importance of
this Convention, there will be no fear that a
suitable and acceptable man will be selected.
We are so frequently called upon to elect
men to office, and the system of rotation in
office affords such opportunities to correct
the errors of officials, that they are very apt
to forget how important to the future interests
of the State the action of such a Convention
may become. If the Legislature
commits an error in making laws, its successor
may alter or amend them before their
evil influence becomes engrafted upon the
people, but a Sovereign Convention as this
which is about to assemble, will have it in
their power to fix a system or theory of laws
upon us which it will be difficult to change
or correct. They will have in their hands
the fundamental and organic law of the
State, which governs Legislatures and
Courts. Such a sacred instrument in its adjustments
for protecting the rights and providing
remedies for the evils that afflict a
people, is more complicated than the
wheels and secret springs of a delicate
watch, and none but a master workman
should be permitted to touch or handle its
machinery. This Convention, we must remember,
does not legislate for a year only,
but for an age, and not only the present
generation, but posterity will be affected by
its actions. It will become their duty to
understand and appreciate not only the requirements
and relations of the people of
to-day, but they must look with wisdom to
the past, and understanding the peculiar situations
of the present, view with great sagacity
the demands that may be required by
posterity, of our State government. These
requirements can only be fulfilled by men
of the first ability in our midst. It is admitted
by all that there is great need for certain
changes in our Constitution, to meet the
new state of things which have been
brought upon us. It seems that "the times
are sadly out of joint." The ravages of the
late war and the great changes that have
been entailed by it upon our people are too
palpable for comment; the fact is so however,
'and the cry for reform is loud and imperative.
The relations of the citizens to
the government and toward each other, ay,
more than this, the relations of the State to
the Federal Government in its complicated
workings, have undergone through a subtle
and almost imperceptible influence, such a
variety of changes, that we seem like so
many tempest-tost ships that have lost their
compass and chart and know not which way
they are tending in this fog of confusion.
It almost amounts at times to a doubt
whether we have a properly constituted government,
or if we have, we can scarcely define
its nature and object. Some imagine
that this gradual transmission from old to
new principles of government portends no
harm, but this is "blindly hugging the delusive
phantoms of hope." No great change
in the form and theory of government can
be made by fraudulently foisting upon the
people new dogmas, for old established principles
without doing violence to the best interests
of the people, the more dangerous
because it is insidious. We should remember
"eternal vigilance is the price of liberty,"
and every change in the operations of
government must be watched with the most
jealous eye. The past few years has developed
a tendency toward centralization of
power in the few to the exclusion of the
many, which is surprising to contemplate
and fearful to ponder.
The ancient principles of State sovereignty
so long cherished by our people as the
safe-guard of their liberty, has been wrested
from them by the usurpations of power, and
now we behold the alarming spectacle of a
hydra headed oligarchy calling itself a
Congress, presuming to dictate to you how
you shall form and shape your State government.
As in the case of Mississippi, and
Virginia—that poor old Mother of States.
The swing of the pendulum seems to be
forcing us into the very abyss of ruin, as a
government of sovereign and independent
States, such as our forefathers bequeathed
us, and it is high time for the people in the
majesty of their power to rise up and rebuke
these usurpers, and thus, if possible,
check this wave of destruction that threatens
to engulf them. And now when the
solemn deliberations of that body who shall
indeed represent the sovereignty of Tennessee
in convention, this will be an auspicious
occasion to call back the minds of our people
to first principles of government. What
complexion shall the people of Hardeman
present in that August Assembly? What
feature of government shall this people uphold
there? We agree with you, Mr. Editor,
we want "a live man," a man wide
awake, and not a Rip Van Winkle—bound
up by old prejudices or wedded to a party.
We want a man whose head and tongue will
be ready to conceive and able to enforce the
principles of a just and honest government,
and not one who is only to be known when
the votes are counted. For, Mr. Editor, the
proceedings of this Convention, I take it,
besides its immediate effects upon us, will
have a wonderful influence upon the actions
and hopes of our sister States. We
want then a man who "knowing our rights,
will dare maintain them" notwithstanding
the pressure that may be brought against
them. We have seen how strenuous an effort
has been made to turn the minds of
other people from the early faith of their
fathers, and we may expect something of a
similar character here. We desire the peculiar
rights and privileges of other people
besides our own who hold them in common
with us, to be strengthened and upheld by
our Convention and redound to the glory
and best interest of us all. Let us find out
who among us will fill these requirements.
A man whose consistency never forgets
principle—a man who is sufficiently familiar
with human laws and human rights, and is
skillful in applying remedies to correct error
and wrong. A man whose ability will
make him conspicuous in that Convention
where there will be giant minds to cope
with. Other counties are selecting their
men of learning and talent to represent
them there, and Old Hardeman must not be
behind in contributing her aid in any
respect. The patience of our people has
been sorely tried and the dawn of a new
era is upon us. The cohorts of wrong are
sensibly giving way before the army of right
and justice and the hour of victory is near.
Let every man then feel that he is personally
interested in the coming triumph and
vote for him who will best represent proper
principles, and depend upon it, our State
will spring forward with new life and vigor
in the race of prosperity and greatness.