Berkeley and Jefferson intelligencer. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va.) 1802-1810, 1804-12-07

what he could no,preVent, The enEgh-
tened Athenians publicly ridieuled one
Of the greatest men that history has ever
immortalized; accused, condemned and
poisoned him. But no sooner was So
crates dead, than those same Athenians
adored his memory, and his judges were
banished or destroyed. Dcmosfhenes
was entinto Punishment By an enEghtea-
edpopulace for having received bride ;
BY the same populace he was welcomed
with the highest honours and appreciate
on, when recalled. The people alter
nately swear allegiance and enmity to
kings, and transitions from one to the o.
Their have caused large portion Of those
distresses and enormities which history
has recorded.
Modern events prove that man Is the
same giddy, capricious being in all ages.
The people Of France loved their king,
as a king, to idolatry; the people Of
France brought him to the scaffold be-
cause he was king. -
Robespierre was hailed as the saviour
ofFrance-the man OF the people while
this was echoing through every part Of
the empire, Robespierre was behsaded As
bloody tyrant. The people OF France
swore eternal hatred to kings and eternal
devotion to rePu6iieanism; scarcely had
they time to reflect on their oath, when
they chose king and submitted to uu-
controlled power. The people Of the u
nited States Of America loved Washing
ton and within the lapse Of o few years
appointed his malignant foe As his sue
ccssor. The people Of the United States
were lately jealous of power to be jeal-
Gus ofpower is now a crime.
Such are the perpetual changes to
which the state Of society ever vas and
ever will be subject. 1t may be lament
ed, but il cannot be avoided. 1t Is an
imperfeetion inherent in the constitution
Of human natute, which win neither sur.
prise nor discourage men Of reflection
and sound principles.
When political re, olution is in pro-
cess, many are the causes which have a
tendency II extendit. Many people feel
areverenee for power, in whatever hands
it NAV be placed and however it may be,
exercised. The hopes Of gaining power
by apos.acy induce many more to sban-
don their wonted ground. There is not
a small proportion Of society that cannot
separate In their minds, the idea of GO
vernment from the men who administer
ii, however different those, men may be,
both In their theories malpractice. These
men, with an intehtiol Of preserving
consistency, are of all people, the most
inconsistent, and contribute n large share
in promoting the most striking revolu-
tons. 20
The causes which have justbeen men
toned hape for some time and are now,
strongly operating in the United States.
But there is always, to the honour Of
our species, class Of men, who in all
circumstances retain > high sense Of in
tegrity !; who respect more the dictates
Of conscience, than the aspect Of exter-
nal affairs with whom consciousness
Of moral rectitGde is paramount to every
contingent motive Of action. They. do
not change with Tie times-they proudly
adhere to truth and justice. They are
the props of society-the sheet anchor Of
public welfare. The rallying point to
which the people fly when Populor delu-
sion has spent its force.
g. =, IRebertorv.