Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1803-02-22

WHIT uiHSlSiilC !" III sti~ Hi.u WV ~
lre under the jurlidiciion ofthe rate OF
Colrmhis,sor OF The tate of Mary land.
But i this objection were removed, 1t is
inpoGible't that this territory can become
fate. The otasr ssates can never be
brought TO confcnt that two fenators and
at lrsit three electors oEPIetident, !hail be
chofsn cut Of this fmaii fplt and by a
handful cf men.
The contribution ieems to have intend
Ell, by It's proyi6on on this lLbjrtf, TO
guard the general government againit
tie undue influence ct any particular tta'es
wherein il might fit. An infurreciion IN
PHILADELPHIA is mentioned by Tome gen.
tlemen as having given rife 10 this clauie
in the contribution. The conttitution, 10
doubt, had wife end in view, bur II has
failed in The means Of attaining il. no
man has higher fefpett rhaa myieN tor
the raleats of the trainers OF THAI inttfu-
ment. Bur let it be remembered, that
they were making great experiment,
and to have failed in but Jingle object,
is the higheit proof Of their wildom. The
phyiical force of this fmaH dilfritt would
prove bot poor d fence againA the az
greilion of large and powerful Rates
Happily our iecoriryis more amply pro-
vlded for it reiulls from the command
which has been given Us over the iword
and the purle OF the union. Our pro
lection is not in mathematical liue-
which would opp9f- but feeble refitances
to an invading toe. But let gentlemen
ak themielves WHY tie inhabitants OF thls
ditrict lhould be leis formidable if dii-
poied 10 infurletiicn, htcsuie under ouJ
own jnrifdietion Look at Paris ! was
the iDiu!ret,ion of the 18th July, which
tumbled into the duff the antient monar-
cay OF France, the effect Of want OF a
iurifJittion- ola want of power in the
government over the lives and fortunes OF
the people Did the city afford the
government defence no it was IN IN
1urrettioo. Did the military lend its
aid ?--on the contrary, 1t joined the IN
fufurgents. What twas the ,iatt az Phi
Iadeiphia Thar Cougrefs WAS inlulted
by its own troops. Would sthe civil jo-
rifdittion Of the town have repelled the
bayonet No, i, was not in parchment
10 afford this defence. 1t has Left US ar
awful lsiion againf handlrg armies--and
if we fhall ever be 70 iniaiuated as % rul.
r;ply armies about Us, we may rely IN
vain on the lines Of decentralization which
the limits of our exclulise jurifdittion
fo,m. The conlituiion therefore has
failed in its endeavour TO give congress
any other fcuriiy than thar which spublic.
osinicn and the command OK the national
reiources afford.
But whit | have no doubt on the flb-
iect of our constitutional rleht, [ am op-
pofe1 to the recitation on the ground OF
expediency. 1t appears to have diiitmi-
mated great alarm among the people OF
our immediate neighborhooc. Alta pro-
per time, when greater unan'miIy can be
obtained, it may be carried into effect.
IF now pa1sd il is irrevocabie, and haye
no indilpoiition to give the queflon tee
mott mature deliberatioa, End TO give III
iair operation en- tie public mind. !
could WIN indeed to fee the people within
this diRritt reaoTed 10 their rights. Men
In luch.a hyuation are, as II has eeen wife
H. I'd eloquen!ly fald, fit inaruments 10
enllaye their fellow men. This ipecles OF
government is an experiment how far free
men can be reconciled 10 live without
rights. An experiment dangerous to the
liberties of thele aa,es. But inafmuch as
it has been already made, inaiinuch as it
was not accegary TO it, and as, at lome
future time, lis dele,erious effects may be
arreRea, | am diipoted TO vote againit TIE
relolu,ions. view them as a fatal preient
to this houft, although ! reflect the mo-
fives IL which I believe them 10 have 0ri-