Berkeley and Jefferson intelligencer. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va.) 1802-1810, 1804-06-29
WHoLE No. "a.

pie and innocent from the attempts Of IA.
cri6ce and fraud and to produce such i
state Of tranquility, that the most defence
less among the people may be safe under
the protection Of government.
The principle Of equality among the
citizens, Is recognized and established
blythe constitution. II il an equality of
rights which ensures the same protection
to each individual, and requires that all
men ofeyery description shall b. amena.
BILE to Justice. Itvsults from equal jus.
tice and impartial laws, when the way TO
honour and preferment Is open to- every
one and the pretentions Of no ritizea
are limited, except by the distractions of
merit and capacity. But al equality of.
property never can exist until al men
have the same faculties, and are equal ii
prudence and industry; and even If they
were perfectly similar ip these respects;
still their propefty wonld be unequal un.
less Providence should smile alike upon
the labours ofall, and grant 70 every man
an equal share Of prosperity. The ine-.
quality Of property therefore arises FROM
the nature Of things, and not from any
defect in the form or administration Of
government. Aitthat the best govern
nient can do, is 10 prevent that inequali-,
~ which fraud, oppression or violence
would produces. To encourage frugality
as far as Justice, and the constitutions
will permit, 70 restrain luxury and pro.
fusion andto protect the lawful pos.
session Of every man, so that each may
enjoy the fruits Of his labbpr ii perfect
security: j 5 .s,
But though spirit Of equality i g.
vourable to public happiness, an extreme
degree of il Is sometimes Injurious, and
disgraceful. This happens when mans
ncrs are exceedingly dspraved, whenups
right magistrates are no longer respected,
and parents and public instructors are
treated with rudencss and. insolenee;
when the child behaves proudly against
the ancient, and the base against the hos
nourahle, and ths.naturai and necessary
distinctions IN socissy are disregarded.
The terms liberty and equality, In
their true and Just import describe essen-
tial rights in republic, which ought 70 Do
assiduously preserved and cherished; bus
they are snliable to niseonstruction, and
have been understood in such differene
senses that | presume you, gentlemen,
win not think II unworthy You, 70 assiss
our fellow citizens in forming correet o.
pinions concerning them. For If on
these points they should entertain mista-
ken ideas, they might be in danger Of
loosing substantial benefits BY aiming
1t those which are imaginary.
Ii some nations the genius and habits
Of the people seem not 70 admit Of : free
! goyernment-T They appear 20 Be incapa.
Bic Of that Just and reasonable obediencs
to the claws which is necessary IN free
state. Few indeed have been wise g
nough TO enjoy perfect liberty with mos
deration. How far the people Of the
United States are possessed Of this wis.
dom must appear from6khe experiment,
they are now making, upon the issue Of
which, every thing valuable 70 NJ de-
ponds. You, gentlemen, have no
donht, win be solicitous to contribute %
its success, bya faithful discharge Of
your duty. But all the efforts Of legisla-
tive wisdom viii not be SUFFICIENT, with-
out the aid Of those institutions, which
form the manners and morals Of the peo-
pie and which tend 70 inspire them
with yeneration for the Supreme Being,
with reverence for just authority, and
respeetfor themselves.
Ia the course Of this year there win be
an election Of President and Vice Presi4
dent Of the United States, AID it win
be incumbent upon the legislature n tho
present session, to directshe manner in
which electors on the part Of this state
shall bs appointed But gentlemenit u
unnecessary 20 mention The particular
subjects which now require your notice. !
They win occur 10 your fehec,ion, and
AZ s.sss. 49,.