Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1802-06-09

very one to whom It's Administration is con
/ fded fhould have. conitantly in view
I Mankind have confented in all ages tt
iubmit TO government, as the necehary
means to prevent perpetual wars, and fe.
cure their individual rights. Without
regulating and controlling power, it is i'm.
poiible for fociety to exit and when that
! power is employed for the ufeful purPofes
of its infitution, it affords fecurity to the
blefings of life, prelerves focal order and
induces Z. compliance with the laws of that
BEING, Whole government is founded II
infinite wiidom, and directed in all its ope-
rations by perfect rettitude and goodness.
As the national contribution nnites the
people of the ieNeral fates in the bends Of
interett, and entities them TO the common
privileges of citizens and the national go.
vernment undertakes to provide for their
defence agaipa foreign enemies, and TO
en{ure domefic tranquility it is the du-
ty ofthe feveraI fates to fupport that con-
fitutionand government TO be mutually
vigilant tor the tafety ard happineis OF
each osher---to guard their ieveral rights );
and 10 conformity to their REFLECTIVE fate
contributions, TO enact jue and equitable.
laws, for the isternal regulation and fecu-
rity ofthe citizens, and provide for cheir
faithful execution. The performance of
thefe lervices, which on the part of this
fate is now incumbent upon us, is not lefs
a matter Of interef than OF duty as the
fafety OF all that is dear to US depend on
the liability of the contributions, which
we have in the mea folemn manner .enga-
ged to fupport.
The palriotilm Of the American people
has been manifeded in unfolding the pre-
fent fyfem of national government, and
the continuance of our union, is absolutely
necefary to fecure refped from other natl
ons, and preferve tranquility among our
fe!ves !; for unleis our views are circumicri-
bed within narrow circle, we mutt per-
ceiye, that divifon would lead US to dior I
der and weakness, and expofe US to the
lois OF national importance, and individual
Liberty. So long as thele fates are unit /
ted, they will continue TO encresfe in pow
er and PROPERTY but whenever the ties
which cement them are diilolved, they
will probably decay and fall to ruin, by
mutual jealoniies and intefine feuds.
There is no evil to which free govern
ments are more expofed, than tie Preya-
lence of party fpirit. The extreme vio-
lence of this fpirt degrade; the character
of a nation, and yitiates the morals of the
people, it las proved fatal to slmof every /
other Republic, either by enabling a ipc-
cefsful chief to efablih his empire on its
ruins, or by weakening its ability TO op
pofe foreign invaGon, it tsnds to pervert
the Judgment as we'll as corrupt the heart,
and render the fubjetts Of it, unfocial and
Indifferent. Men who in the ordinary
commerce Of life would didan TO make
uie ofdeception, when a6tuated by the rage
of party, will give currency to rep orts,
which at leaf they mutt think doubttul;
tt,eir pretended patriotifn degenerates,into
an eagernefs to fupport party principles
and in order to influence opinions, or mea-
fures, or to retaliate fuppoted injuries,
they have no fcruple in violating the plain
eff rules of decency and jnfice. Our fen
timents ON political fubjetts will be diff
ferenr, but this diverGty if in expecting il
we confne ourfelves within the limits of
truth and candcr, will not be injurious,
and if it produces an honorable emulation
to promote the public good, may even be
ufeful. 1t is impoaible that all lhopld be
of one opinion, and it is reafonable in
diligence to fufer every man to enjoy his
own; in many cafes however, an open
and fair examination of public meafures, is
necedary to enable the people to form
corrsfl ind concernino them. and IF