Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1805-08-29

n
ef PHILADELPHIA,
"Etery thing seems out OF nature III this
strange chaos OF levlty and ierocity, and OF all
fo;ts of cranes jsr,oled together With ali se-ts OF
foliles. In viewing this monitsous tragic-comlc
fcene, tic mott Opposite passicns necessarily iuo-
coed, and sometimes mix WITH each otaer in The
miud alternate con1ea,Pt and Indignation al.
rsfaarc lausaesr and tears alternate icorn and
hossor." ~Eu&kE.
MANY ethical writer's have maintained
the certainty of retribution even here BE-
low, upon the grounds of divine justice,
and the moral fitness Of things and indeed
il would be hazardous 70 deny that expe-
rience very frequently serves to prove the
truth of that proposition. The man who
in ais passage through life has not wasted
his lnielleetS upon barren vaeulty, but on
the contrary exercised them In observing
hamal actions and suferings, and investi-
gazing their causes, viii fad httle difficulty
10 recollcce many examples which tend TO
>cekrm that opinion, maay Instances waere
,ratttrs seems TO march out of her usual
track, in order TO accomplish the business
of rstribation, aud In which the conduct OF
the actors caQnet be otherwise accounted
for, than by preference to the will of the
Most High, In his justice, bringing home
retribution to the doors ofmen. ShakesPear
toe poet inspiration, makes his murder
Gus Macbeth, Avsw his consciousness Of
that truth; 6 even-hauded. Justice retNrns
the ingredienss of our poisoned chalice 10
oar own lips" and lady Macbeth herself,
merc.Iess, u.-relenting aud unappallab'e tho
she be portrayed is made by that master
othunan passions, TO exhibit even II her
sleep tremendous testimony to the truth
of thai doctrine. THERE'S another kind OF
retrioution too which is not always post
mned beyond the grave. lIust ard injured
as wehas wicked men, often receive 1t In
this world by means out OF the reach OF
calculation or hope, and at times when least
expected. The political transactions Of
your STAGE, gentlemen, present at this mo-
men, 4 momentual proof Of both. Even
handed Justice now dasEes the contents on
your own poisoned cha!ice IN she,!eces OF
you and your party, as. it did in thoss. OF
the wicked Theme of Cawdor, and MS
mere wicked wife. The virtuous Duucan
IS who bore his faculties SO meek" could
not receive retribution here for murder.
Bur the federalisss are now receiving retri-
button for their wrongs IN the mutual ex-
posure and disgrace of their divided wrong
ers, aud in the return of that public good
opinion, and confidence Of which those
Wrougers despoiled them.
If the misconduct OF governor M'Kean,
and-of you, gentlemen, his parti2ans, had
ITS sources IN ignorance and erreT, and It's
limits within the narrow compass OF ordi.
nxrv, everyday evil, the situation in which
YOU are all involved, would en,illc you
perhaps, to commisseratleu. For assured
~. seldom has misery mory emphatica
fallen to the share of party--uever much
greater distress sheen. felt, or even in,agln
ed, than yours must be, if you have hearts
capable Of feeling any thing. Your daring
and unprincipled ambition has, in the pre-
sent contest, precipitated VOC into diem
ma, in which you canRot lay claim TO Jus
tice fer yourselves, WITHOUT confessing in
justice 10 others--in which you cannot con
tend with your adyersaries, without In
sistiug upon those very truths which yet
had once, and but lately, the presumption
to dsny--and without taking ground upor
those very principles which you then en-.
deavored 10 counterfeit: In which, if you
are victorious, you will owe your success
70 the exposure aud reprohation of those