Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1801-10-13
PROM THE NEw-JRRsEY rEDsRALIsr.
TIE ./u6/e7uent communication contains
mayJea/'nable and important ob/erVa-
hous on The Jnlyetf of
l.. b + l. ST.
OPUS mill, magma materie,.

Free enquiry, INDUCED in matters of
political concern, is the foul of free 60
vernment. Without it liberty cannot
exit, and while fuferance is given to this
insitimable privilege, opprellion cannot be
extreme. The federation of political
-diicuilion is, in fast, but another name for
liberty itfelf: for where is the region,
which recognizes their di&inttion? Or
where thail we find them ievered by
momentary feparation! Their being is
co-exiltenr, their origin and death mutt
be co-eval. Every great and enlighten-
ed government will folter this privilege,
and, from the nature of things, it cannot
but induce freedom and fecurity, and give
liability to the rights of mankind. OPP
prehors isell to envelope thcmielves in ie-
crecy and gloom, while liberty and enqui-
ry tends to dncloie all that is tranfatted.
They frive to bury their fubjeets in the
profundity of ignorance, while this great
enlightener, peoetrates every receis, and
illuminates the mind with the rays of &C.
lefial truth. Information is the great
guard againit every encroachment, and
there is no furer method of iecuring the
rights of the people, than by perpetually
reminding them of their liberties, and a
Weakening them to every minute aggreiii-
90 which may lead to their ufurraton.---
Ihele iensiments are not Gngular They
may be fortified by the opinion of a great
political writer, who declares, that if it
was pohible to introduce into the mott ar
bltrary fate, the freedom of enquiry, a
portion Of liberty mutt Immediately fol-
low the increafe of which would progreis
with the extention of this privilege.
Happily this great point is fecured to rs;
and | feel confidence in laying, that we
have LpirR to preferve it, and prudence
to regulate its enjoyment. We will not
eahiy furrender this invaluable right, nei-
Their fhall it be uied as the vehille of un-
manly detraction. The freedom of the
prefs is one of the great items in our con-
ititution, and whatever may be the opini-
on Of iome men, the fedition act did but
render Is the greater bleiling. We glory
In fair invefigation of the acts of public
men, bat we feek not to injure them and
ourielves by falfe inhnuatiens. We en-
JOY not, ar prefsnt, the benefit of this
Improvement, and in confequence engage
with lefs advantage: But our rulers can
not take offence at animal verions on their
condutf, fince they are the great advo-
Gates Of liberation, and fticklers for the
unlicenfcd freedom of difcuflion. In name
they are the puref of republicans to be
fuch IN faa, we TX no more from them
than confirmation of our prefent enjoy
ments, without Improvements and with
out corrections. The privilege of com
plant, we hold to be the mott excellent
and valuable Of theie enjoyments; bur |
tremble for their coniftency, when re-
fleet that they are to be objects and not
authors otpublic reprchenGon. They are
Impatient for the reign of philofophy and
emancipation, and their matters have de-
clared, that this is TO be brought about
foley by liberty of fentiment. They mutt
then leave Us the right Of divulging our
opinions; and perhaps we may aid them
in the accomplishment of their object, and
afit in crufhing the monfrous wretch
--But---they are mex, in ponenion of
power, and invefed with The enGens of
authority. Like the ref of mortals they
mutt be pleaied with dignity, and are not
willing that their integrity or wifdom
ihould be for as moment di(puted- Yet
they cannot be infallible; and when we
fee them miltake, we cannot, nor fhould
! not, refrain from telling them their cr-
rorS. If theie truths be allowed, l fear
we fhali fee cur patriots lofe fight of prin-
eiple, atf. the apofate, " and feeling
power they will forget right" But can
condor advance luch an opinion of men,