Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1805-09-09
SEaoM THE BALTIMORE REPUBLICAN,, OR.
ANTI.DEMocRAT.
ESSAY x.

1he FIRST and eighth numbers OF the Edit
SRI We beg leave 70 refer the reader pre-
Stunning, without pride. On the result ofhis
sentence. We shall, therefore, offer but
afew remarks, to shew how very distant
the Judge was from considering the con-
s,itunon Of the United States demo-
ctacy.
Speaking of the nature of the constitu--
zion he expresses himself thus:
have already had the honor of men,
tioning its general nature, but | will re-
peat il. Sir, IN its nature it is purely de.
mocratical; but It's parts are calcalatedfn
Such manner, as TO obtain those advantages
aIse which are peculiar to the other forms
of government. in ether countries. BY APP
posting single magistrate we secure
ST. engtit, vigor, energy, and reSb0nslbillfY,
in the executive department. By appoint
ing senate, the members OF which are
Z elected for six gears, yet by rotation ai-
ready taken notice of, they arc changing
every second year, we secure the bentFt Of
experience, while on the other hand, we
avoid the ipconveniencies that arise from a
Icing and detached establishment. !" (S2)
Let it be borne in mind, on this occa.
sion, that the Judge, in preceding speech,
describing the advantages and disadvan-
tages of the three forms OF government,
monarchy, aristocracy, and democracy, as
signs, as the characteristics of monarchy,
strength, dispatch, secrecy, unity Of c0un.
ca, of aristocracv, 7Oisdom, arising from
experience and education. (53) Here he
observes of the system, that, altho' In It's
principle il is democratical, yet thai It's parts
are so calculated as to obtain those advan-
tages also, peculiar to the other forms OF
government.
-<Fo the nsonarchieaI principle, therefore,
we owe that the executive powers OF the
aoageu n a sIuyrc PrTsou,f whence
proceed strength, dispatch, secrecy, and
unity of council; to the Gristocratical pria-
ciple, the duration of the senate beyond
the period common TO senates in democra-
cies, from whence proceed the benefits OF
experience; and to the democratical prin-
ciple. the Limitation of the one to t6ur,
and of the other to sir years duration, and
their renovation from the body of the PEG.
pie.
Thus the uionarchical and aristocratical
principles, which pervade the presidential
and senatorial branches of the government,
secure to the state, the one, strength, "
gor, dispatch, secrecy, andunity Of council,
and the other, uvisdom, arising from ex-
berisnce and education; while the demo.
crasical principle, which is carried into
egerv part of the government" (54) guards
for the former against the Disadvantages Of
monarchy, and the latter agaios st the neon
Ue1ts1ces at aristocracy. And thus, as
has been observed 10 former paper, the
drmocratical principle "glows in the pre-
sideut, warns in the senate, and ~burns IN
the house ofTepresentatlves."
Could words render it more evident that
Judge Wilson, who was certainly a pro.
found thinker and able statesman, consider
ed the constitution not as one of the three
simple species OF government" (S5) he had
described, but as system mace up Of the
principles and best properties of each?-
With what propriety then can it be demo.
minated by the name OF either!
The constitution of the United States a
democrGcy! with the executive powers OF
the state lodged in an individual, elected
for four years and,re.eligble with ase-
nate elected for six years and re ,eiigible
andwith all judicial athority lodged in a
few,persons, nominated and appointed by
the president, with the advice and consent
of the senate, and holding their Offices for
life; with all foreign ministers, and COM
manders of armies and navies, appointed
10 like manner, by the president, and hold.
ing their Offices athis will and pleasure.
The constitution Of the United States a
democracy! WHAT without the right ap-
pertaining to the whoie people, to meet n,
assembly or assemblies, TO appoint their ge-
(s2) Hem: p. 1879.
(33) Ident D.. 88.