Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1801-08-21
FyomMs n. England Palladium.
Nov ANGUS.

IL lone OF the States therea featote;
enacted at an carly period, TO exclude A.
5lze;as, and DeiRs, on conviction, from Of
icc.. This flows the fenfe our anceGo,s
had of the nature and tendency of the cor
rupt opinions which ditsinguith tho!e un-
happy men, and Of their pernicious inRu-
ence on focie,y. Their opinions had, In
deed, at the time thofe laws were enacted,
produced very little practical effect; bat
experience has fully evinced, that our ar
ceitors were right in theory. l: is now
generally admitted, that the writings OF
Philo!ophiRs have done more to produce
the revolutions which have Of late torment
ed Europe, and threaten nothing leis than
the total extinttion of all regular govern
men. in that quarter of the globe, than the
fword ofFrance. Thofe writings, propa-
gated with he greateit zeal and induary
among the people, have corrupted public
opinion, with reflect to religion and go
vernment--thsy have incalca!ed the tenti-
ment, that theie are cuy!e rather than a
betting TO iociety; ard thus they have
paralyzed the nations OF Europe, Especially
thoie on the continent. The fame writ
,ings are difufng their deadly influence
enough the United States; and have done
.npne than any other Jingle caufe to create
d Affection to the exiting order of things,
AMI certain frenzy for innovation, which
marks the preient period.
But it may be faid, that men, who have
rerpunced revealed religion, have frequent
Iy been ufefu', and have often acted their
pans we'll in high and important ltat;ons
that this has fometimes been the cafe is
granted; but fill, the celebrity which e.
ninen, Aation has given to their corrupt
opinions, has, it is believed, injured, much
more than their fervices have promoted,
the public interea. 1t has indeed often
been objected, that thefe laws, and all O.
theirs, which punia men tor mere opinion,
are opprelive; and it mutt be admitted
there would be force In this objetiion, if
there was no connection between opinion
and practice; experience, however, ihows,
that the reverie of this is true. Opinion,
leads to practice. If a per}on fhould fu-
diouily propagate the opinion, that 'nur-
de: or theft was innocent, whenever
man lhould iappofe an important advantage
either private or public, might be attained
by The deed; common tenfe would dictate,
that the perlon ought to be placed in f.
eua.ien, in which he could not put his o.
pinon into r.a5t;cc, or intufe it into O.
rhes; much more, that he ought not to
tcarmed with the influence OF Office; or,
if che fhcula teach others that any private
mn had right to anai.inate the Chief
MgiArate, il he fhould foppoie TIE pub
licgood required it, we fhould deem 1t
improper for fuch one to 60 at large;
weihoold not think it fate TO wait till the
ded was perpetra,ed, or attempted, either
by himfelt, Or by foone other mailman
prompted by him.
would no, do TO y,his opinion hurts
noman i, breaks TO mans leg, or picks
hizocket Or, if one houId advance the
ephion, that religion AID government
wee curie, it would not furely be pro-
pe,o make him bilhcp, or mas'it:ate.
Tire are opinions, then, winch may AID
ouht to be re!&rained by law certainly,
thee may be iuch as ought to diiqna''ty
fo.ofice. The principle then OF the!e
Laws is correct their ezi~aiercy, howe
We, may be doubted except as a n1"
dad Of public opinion, and a sef''"Gl 1'-
nm, 70 God and lis Son. The DOUBT
srics from the fee,iag nature of opinions
Ii, difficulty of proof, and the ps1:lali'y y
of the rer1edy.-But if the nen de,ef''so
- .h.e laws cannot, in many cafes, be
convicted By tlvm /; and 70, as laws 'hey
mutt be always wholly inoperase YET \
will not follow, thar they may not DC
convicted and excluded from of'ce by pro-
IL osiaisx. Tbefe men are well Sn'" q :