Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1801-12-12

To an American, who loves his country
and its pre{ent happy frame OF government
who has wirneaed the various critical f.
tuations through which We have paied,
AMI alcribes to THAI tranc.os government
much of the poGtiye good we ,poilefs, as
we'll as our eicape ffoa saote Ills which
have fer years Afflicted lage portion OF
the human race,-who looks to the fame
s4ource for the fareit guaranty Of future prof.
perisy, and counts upon 1t as that from
which, ifpreierysd in its purity, the fame
bletli1gs will flow for his POTTERY: which
have been 70 amply enjoyed by himfeIf;
any premedifased attack upon the contti-
tuition of the United States, which ihall
endangef its vital principles, and render it
lels capable Of protecting public liberty,
and of affordins iatesy 10 individuals, mutt
b.cau.e of the mott ferrous alarm. That
the great MATS Of my fellow citizens are of
this deieription, and are truly folicitous to
prsierve unimpairei that wife, and hither-
to, beneficial fyItem cf::civil policy which
nov prevails in America, l will not per-.
init mytslf to doubt. If they can be fe-
duced into meaiures which aiiail the fun
dauen,als of the contribution, and radical.
ly change its eaential parts, am perfuad-
ed that iuch melancholy desiasions into
error matt be attributable rather to the
fall:bility of the humsn mind, than to an
intentional abandonment of principles it is
alike their duty and sheir intere!t to main
tain. Unfortunately for the happineis and
liberty of man, the warmth OF dilcufion in
popular governments, produces zeal, and
too ofien malignisy in party, peculiarly
calculated to favor ard produce thefe de
viasions. Under their influence, 70 un-
propitious to tn. exercife Of Judgment or
che dominion Of rea!cn, we overlook the
pro&ration Of the mott iacrei principles,
provided oar political antagonists be prof
trated with them. Ia the triumph of VIC
tory wa forget that We arc sriumfh:ug O.
yer the contribution of our country: and
Will: xc fpeak ionly of eradicasing milf
chiefs againa which we have been in habits
ofdeclaining, we not unfreqaeu,ly eltab-
lii, presidents fatal to the cacicea intt!tu-
tions of iocie,y.
1t is then in the hrt moments of iacceEs
that the honef men of a party, for lach
there are in all parties, ought TO diaruf
thelnfelyes, and examine with cautious at
rention their own meafares. That fplris
ofparty which generally animates an op-
petition, is no longer allowable when cea-
ting to be mere oppo6sion, ithas become
the government of the country, and has
acquired the power of debating the mea-
lures of the nation. While new in this
petition, and yet under the influence of
shole limitations experienced in acquiring
it, there is much danger of being till attu-
ated by the }pirit of revenge, rather than
that of liberal policy; by the fpirit of
party rather than that Of the nation. To
guard againlt this danger, which in repub.
lies has often produced luch lericu, calami-
ties, which has ieldom been more imm;-
,aent than in the prelens moment, all ,hoie
who love real liberty ought, unmindfLl OF
former difinstions or aninoGties, to rally
together rosnd the handard of the coniti,u
ton, and form one indiiloiu5le bard Tor its
Protection.
To prove that the times require this
virtuous effort, aud that the contribution of
our country is in danger, needs no other
evidence than the cpehy avowed plan
formed by perfons high in the new mini
iferial party, to annihi!ste The iniepen-
dence CT the judiciary Of the United
States.
If any one POLITICAL truth has been de-
monitrased by unvary;ng experience, it is
that life and property can only be iecured
under iyfen of government, IN which the
Judges are withdrawn from that influence
which refa!,s from dependence on the will
OF Others for the continuance in Office.
There is no propohtion on which the beG
.poli,iea. writers have ;aare generally conc
Cured than on this. There is none ON
which the Judgment of America appears to
have been more completely flrmed.-.
zThsrs is none which the contribution Of our
country eems TO have more causiouGy
guarded.