Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1804-04-16
Fran tle@Ll,lited Statss Gazeffes
q Caem yocet diyum populas fuentis
q ,lsri y.hus - Hoskc

=. ~ - s 4 =
The infancy Of governments IS like TIE.
infancy of man; it is the period ws9sa. It's
principles arc to become fixed Waen It's
character is to ae formed; AMI when those
solid qualifications and darasle habits are
70 be acca;red, which render iF-actlve IN
youth. vigorous in manhoosi, anEi enable
it to support the .infrfaities af1andant upon
old age. While public virtues yet aou-
FISHING, end. patriotissn molly imPelssto the
,alvancelnent of the public good, an adj
syantarc may be taken Of the disposition Of
the people, TO concentrate the Fundamental
principles of government into one great
model, and to secure the blessing Of rati-
onal liberty For ages Convinced OF this.
and aware of the fate that has hitherto be-
fallen republics, the administrations OF
Washington and of Adams, enaeavoted to.
unite, with the most exalted notions OF
freedom and energy, that would secure
the government from the dangers OF popu-
lar CONFUSION, and that would lead the
people, in spite Of turbufence and vices, to
the highest state of political happiness. TO.
such men our veneratlon is due. They
are the men who truly deserve the epithess
of saviours OF their country and patriots
without reproach. Their names are IN
scribed on The records of fame, and the
glory tina, lluminates the page on which
they are written, can never be oDscured
by the mists OF detraction.
This, however, is the day of popular de-
fusion. The good sense and virtue that
distinguished Americans some few years
since, seem swallowed up in idle theories,
and sel6shyiews Faction, with her hum
dred heads, threatens destruction to all
that is generous and noble; and deser-
ton of the principles that actuated the peo-
pie at the adoption Of the federal constitu-
ton, seems to withdraw the vital heat from
the body polite. Guided BY the flimsy.
speculations of fantastic philosophers, we
seem to be in the high road 10 confusion
and death; and without having run ca
reer of glory, to be fastening to the ter
mination of our political existence. In
place ofthe integrity, wisdom, and firm
ness, which SO eminently characterized
the administration when in the hands of fe-
deralists, we are directed by measures,
whose absurdity in theory, is equalled on
ly by their mischeivous effects in practice
and which iniure our persons and our
rights, in the same proportion that they
insult our understandings. Without con-
,ributing to strengthen the government,
or to secure Its permanency, these mea-
sures render us unhappy, and divided at
home, and procure fer US abroad, the
sneers and contempt of all the discerning
observers of the times. At one moment,
we are told that the administration is to-
be guided solely by the public opinion, that
arepublican government knows no other
rule of action. Flattered by this conf
dence, the public opinion, becomes loud
and clear bat gulbble or evasion is rais-
ed, &by jesuiticaI subterfuge, administrati-
on amuse us with the notion that they scru>
pulously follow the general wish ofthe peo-
pie, at the moment when they directly OPP
pose it. A. one time, unlimited profess
sions ola most enlarged iberality are pub
lished-we are told BY the organ and head
ofthe ruling party, that all our distinctions
of citizens are merely nominal, that in eff.
feet we are all federalists, all republicans /;
at another, the idea is rejected, and the
first qualification asked of any candidate
for Office, is, does he entertain decided
and exclusive attachment to Cur partv'
His honesty, his faithfulness to the consti-
tuition, are never questioned nor regarded.
The public will, as expressed through the
various channels Of daily communication,
is not the only object ofcontempt that sa-
cred charter, which is the recorded and
testified will of the American people, is
no longer regarded; and, Notwithstanding