consulted by such a course. If women were to engage in party strife, they would lose the respect they now receive from men, and by which they exercise a powerful influence over them. If children were to vote, they would do it ignorantly and capriciously, and thus injure themselves and others, by imparting their ignorance and caprice to the affairs of government. It may be remarked that these views are so clear and conclusive, that in no political system has the right of suffrage ever been granted to women or children.

CHAPTER LXVII.

The Majority.

THE great principle that lies at the foundation. of our government is, that the people are to rule; and the way to ascertain what the people wish, is, in a formal and careful manner, to ascertain the decision of the majority. The majority having expressed their views, the rest of the people acquiesce.

Thus, in forming a constitution, if the larger number of persons qualified to vote, declare in favor of it; that is, if a majority vote for it, it is considered as adopted by the people; the smaller number, the minority, being bound to submit and support the constitution thus established.

It is the same in the choice of members of Congress, governors of states, &c. The candidate (that is, the person who is held up before the people for

a particular office) must have a majority of votes, or more votes than all other persons, in order to be declared elected.

This is the case in almost all the states. In some instances, in the choice of officers, the person who has a plurality of votes, (that is, the highest number of votes, or more votes than any other,) is declared elected.

It may be asked why the minority should submit to the majority?-in other words, what right has the majority to rule? We answer, that in this way alone can popular government be carried on. A majority and a minority being always opposed to each other, one must yield: of course, the few must give way to the many. The voice of the majority is therefore taken as the voice of the whole. The obligation of the minority to submit, lies in thisthat in no other way can government be sustained. To resist the decision of a majority is to declare for anarchy, or revolution.

CHAPTER LXVIII.

Political Parties.

POLITICAL parties have existed in all free governments. They spring from the different views which different persons take of great questions affecting the public interest. Persons entertaining the same views will associate together, and act together, to carry the measures they approve, and to defeat those they condemn. Other persons, entertaining oppo- site views, will also associate together to counteract the operations of the first party, thus formed.

Thus one party always begets another; and as ambitious individuals are apt to put themselves at the head of these several parties, and excite them against each other, there is usually a good deal of bitterness between them. It has often happened that persons have become so devoted to party, as to forget their country; and in some instances patriotism has been swallowed up in party spirit.

In Greece and Rome, the people were divided into parties, and in England we have witnessed the same state of things. The terms Whig and Tory, have long been used to denote the two leading parties: the first professing to be the people's party, and to aim at taking power from the crown and giving it to the people; the latter being the king's party, and aiming to take power from the people and give it to the crown.

These terms were adopted in this country during the revolution; the friends of liberty and independence taking the name of whigs; those who adhered to the king and opposed the revolution, being called tories. Still more recently, one of the political parties here has assumed the title of whig, meaning thereby to declare their opposition to executive encroachments; and these have applied, as a term of reproach, the name of tories to their opponents.

Soon after the adoption of the constitution, it was seen that different views were entertained as to its construction and administration. Some persons feared that the national government would be too weak, and therefore leaned towards giving the constitution a liberal construction, so as to extend the powers of the federal government; and hence they

were called federalists. Among them was Washington and Alexander Hamilton; and the party they led was called the federal party.

On the other hand, there were persons, who, instead of fearing that the federal government would not be strong enough, apprehended that it would be too strong; that it would swallow up the state governments, and become a sort of despotism. Among these were Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. These latter called themselves at first, republicans, and afterwards they and their followers were styled democrats.

The politicians of the country, and indeed nearly all the citizens, continued divided between these two great parties-federalists and democrats-from 1800 to the close of the war in 1815, when they seemed to cease. Both these terms have, however, been revived within the last few years. The party which supported General Jackson, assumed the title of democrats; and as whigs called them, in reproach, tories, they in return denominated the whigs, federalists.

are

Among the various means resorted to by political parties to carry on their measures, conventions, called for the purpose of nominating, that is, recommending candidates for office. The conventions consist of delegates, sent by the people of the party calling the convention, and when they have agreed upon a candidate, they recommend him to the voters, and he usually receives the support of his party.

It might appear at first view that there were serious objections to this course of proceeding, inasmuch as it seems to interfere with a free expression of the public will. But it is to be con

sidered that no person can be elected unless he has a majority of all the votes: if, therefore, no means were taken to concentrate public opinion, the votes would be scattered upon a multitude of candidates, and no one would be chosen.

In the southern and western states, persons offer themselves as candidates, particularly for Congress, and thus the people's attention is directed to a few leading candidates. These go from place to place, addressing collections of people in the district, and setting forth their opinions, views, and principles.

A common method of conferring upon public affairs, among political parties, is to hold a kind of preliminary meeting, called a caucus, at which leading individuals compare opinions, and devise their plans of proceeding.

CHAPTER LXIX.

Duties of Citizens.

We have endeavored to show, in the early pages of this work, that civil government is necessary in order to insure the happiness of society; that without government-anarchy, violence, and injustice would prevail; that peace, order, and justice can only exist where government is established, and where the people submit to the laws.

Government is designed, or ought to be designed, for the good of the people; and when it is wisely framed and well administered, it is one of the greatest of earthly blessings. Such a government