Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1804-08-25

tRe snsai'' iueSsn were jealous of II.
aspiring ambition of the great. In ,b;a
emergency, asystem of mutual conces<;as
was introduced. Each part OF the uo;os ~
made some sacrifice to the good oftbs
whole. The constitution was thus forme1
on one general principle, of comprom;,s
aud~conctssion. From this principle aross
the equality of the states in the Senate; And
the Representations Of the South. But H.
most Important instance in which /; was A..
parent, was the mode OF exciting the erea>
Offices Of the government. Tie sm,l
states wercjustly anxious tosecere 10 them.
selves a participation ia the honors and
emolumeats Of these great Offices. 70 et.
feet this the mode of Siecton, WAS adtniy.
ably adapted.
Some pr oftais sys'em Of compromise
havs always been CALLING othe pride Of the
large states, < particularly Of Virginia. She
was .vell pleased with the weight she re.
,oeived in the general government, from the
nefrnber Of her slaves. THIS black stain of
OF, 'constitution--thi bnflesqur upon re.
presentation was gratifying TO hsr lust Of
power. Bat skc could broci, no check on
her ambition. Not content with holding
predominant iuauente over the popular
branch 81 :he government, she asplred to
the controul OF every other. The honor,
Influence anhpatronage attached to the ex.
ecntive rendered thar important station
the particular object of her desires. She
here say the means ofgratif yingrhe smb.
ton and avarlcc of 'acr own numerous
citizens, and the citizens Of those states
who were willing to become her humble
landmarks. With such wishes she has
always looked with jealousy and hatred
on that partof the constitution which fur.
nistted the means Of frustrating her designs,
She was indignant at heholding the small
states-the object of her uniform contempt
and enmity, invested with the power ofcur.
bing her proud spirit and arresting heram
bitious career. In the fulness OF her re.
sentiment she determined on the destruc.
ton Of that salutary provision Of the con.
| s.i,ution. To effect this work she seiz-
ed moment of terment ard delusion,
which sprang from coincidence of clr-
cumaances, that the lapse Of ages would
rot again produce, and which so blinded
the smallermembers of the union, that they
nadly Joined in the completion Of their
own disgrace ard ruin.
With astonishment we beheld the smal
states adopting an amendment to the cor.
stitution, which s,dessreyed their politi-
cal Importance, and degraded them to a sta.
tion, little above inslgni6cance. When
they awake from this -delaeion and sre that
they have inflicted a fatal wound on thai
very member Of the constitution, which
has hitherto preserved and protected, their
existence, az independent states; they viii
then feel the extent Of the sacrifice, which
they have voluntarily made. They will
then perceive that they have been the vic.
tims-not oflhe resistlcss power OF their
eae&a;es-->but Of their .own folly and mad
ness.
This system Of compromise, of which
have been speaking, is the spring OF life and
vigor to the constitution. Without this
SYSTEM it could never have been establish.
ed, and without this system tnever caa
exist tis has been the powerful cause,
which has thus far preserved the union.
which has appeased the jealousy and lulled
the suspicious Of the different states, which
has sof,ened the collision Of discordant H.
serests, and which has rendered harmless
the rage and fury of political zeal. 10 this
weiooked for safety, when the spirit OF pa
ttiotism, which sprang from the revolution,
should decay; when our country should be-
come agita;ed BY all those passions, which
in every age, have prevailed in other rePuo'
lies: when ambition and jealousy should u
surp the place ofmoderation and confidence,
and when wild and disorganizing notions OF