Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1804-08-04
FROM THE BALANCE.

] 1T is maxim founded on truth and ex-
| perience, that to destroy the liberties o!
the people, their vigilance must first be Sc
duced by arti6ce and deception. Fraud
in such cases precedes force. Flattery is
succeeded by violence; insIdlous profes-
sions terminate in usurpations, and deceit
full promises are followed by tyranny and
oppression. The people, mac'erthe dupes
, of their own credulty, are reduced to sub
Election; they sink into desponling indo-
!: lence; every generous sentiment becomes
I.dormant; their spirits are depressed, and
outrages must be carried to extreme,les be-
fore they make one manly effort to recover
:heir right.
| The above observations, though Of a ge-
neral nature, in my conception admit OF a
pertinent application here. We live an
/ der government wearing the mildest as
pect, established on the most liberal prin-
Iciples, and securing TO US every immunity
and privilege necessary to the happiness
of rational creatures. The people OF this
country are truly and emphatically sove.
reign. The supreme power resides ultl-
mately in them, and this power respect
| when exercised with justice and modera-
| ton.
| Enjoying a government, which, in its
nature, is thus propitious TO the rights OF
man, and to the happiness and prosperity
Of society, tits incumbent onus to guard
it with vigilant attention. The principles
| of this government ought to be preserved
pure and uncorrupted. The purity ofthose
| principles is the safeguard of our rights,
and when once this purity is gone, the de-
| scent to anarchy and from these to des-
potism, is sure and inevitable. A govern
| ment thus vitiated .hastens its own des-
truction. In vain will the patriot endea.
your to carry it back to its original princi-
pies, The impulse has beer. given which
IS too strong to be resisted.
That the principles of our government
are already corrupted, many will deny
! but that there is an impending danger Of
corruption, l sincerely believe. The vir.
tue which supported us in the trying sea-
son of rs, is now considerably enervated.
That political jealousy which was express
ed with so much warmth, at the time of
| the adoption of our constitution, seems
now to be lulled to rest. That exalted OPT
| Mon which our forefathers held Of the
liberty of the citizen, is now much de-
pressed. That high spirit which once re-
sisted the minutest infringements of right,
now scarcely breathes feeble mErmur
against tbs most fragrant injustice. Our
brobeyty is, as yet, secure; and we feel
regardless of the danger which hovers over
our liberty. We riot in present prospe-
rity, and little think Of consequences. We
view with complacency the present appear
ance Of our political atmosphere, and con-
slider it as pleasant and serene but lerit
be remembered, that the clearest sky often
forbodes the most dreadful storms.
| lay it down as an eternal principle of
| truth, admitting of no qualifications or ex-
ception, that men who, byintrigue, impo-
sition and discrimination, obtain the conf
dence Of the, people, are never satisfied
till they have accomplished the ruin Of
those by whom they are raised into cnnsi~
deration. while on the threshold, they
may, indeed, for moment, adopt nlea-
sures plausible and insinuating; butin pro-
portion as their measures are popular, so
are their views pernicious and destructive.
] AGAINST such men, let tie People Of tie
United States guard Their good sense,
1 trust, has only been abused. A bad man
will sometimes steal the favor, and impose
on the generosity Of the most virtuous peo-
pie, enjoying the best Institutions. 1t is
| an evi. incident to society, Actuated by
the lofty spirit Of freemen, the discernment
I of generous people is quick; they will