Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1805-06-15
lcoNcLUpED

iueas Oh government. because the bes
land wisest men will differ on those points,
as the general tenor Of our sentiments
hand actions.
/ This proposition we have already DUAL
ified. There is a certain limit beyond
which political charity ought not TO 90.
The sovereignty of the people mus, be
allowed; so must the principie OF repre-.
sentation, as being lis only legitimate or.
gan; and the necessity of rigidly circuin.
lscribing executive power, so apt virtually
to swallow up the other departments. But
with regard TO the length to which the
right OF suffrage should be carried, the
modification and distribution of delegated
powers, and the periods OF office; il is in
vain to expect among republicans identity
ofideas. On these points we have shewn,
that they differ from zach other nearly as
widely, as from their opponents. Want
ing this criterion, we have, Fortunately a
much happier one in the general tenor of
mems sentiments and actions.
! Ii you entertain any doubt Of the since.
,frity of their republican principles, mark
their course for q succession of years.
Their deportmcn, in private life viii shed
no feeble light on their secret thoughts.
Havethey been virtuous, LIBERAL, ealighlen
edf Have they held consistent Ian
guage! Have they been industrious, L BY
the exercise OF their own faculties s,rove
10 gain an honorable inelerendsncei These
are the solid foundations on which the
true republican character should rest. If
TO these, you can add that they have on all
pubic occasions. cischarged uprighlly the
duties Imposed upon them, and that they
have IN no instance sacrificed the welfare
oil the public to personal views, you Can
have no hesitation In pronouncing them
republican.
In the TIN PLACE, genuine republican
sens oessvssls ~ the hai,ituai administrator i
o. respeSt ior Republican institutions and
Tor the people.
This must be TO hollow profession Of
devotion "a thousand demagoguss have
made THIS their ladder to power. It must
EaPPear more IN actions thar ia words
The want Of this respect will perhaps We
more evident in most cases, than its pos
session. Those who want il will not pc
morally openly avow their predifs ction e.,
a monarchy or aristocracy; bn, ycu vii,
hear them pronouncing eulagtums on en- .
erSeftc governments expressing their adj.
mira'ion ofthe British eonstifu,ion extoll
ing whats Eng isll, and deprsciatlse
whatever is American; ridicufinp. the DO
puiar exercise of political rights: laugh
ing al elections, and magn tying into fla.
grant exec ses, their slightest q, via IONS
rom decorum or good order These men
are not, cannot be r. publicans.
la the arm PLACE, genuine republican
Ism consists IN an habi,ual and cheerful
submission to the will of the people a. sx.
pressed by the majority.
However arduous nc attainment Of The I
duty,It - oil cardinaiimPorIance and he
IS fHracHcaay not republican, however !
pure his theory OF government, who does !
not respectii. II results directly from the |
possession of equal rights, of which it's !
hon-obsersaoce is absolutely destructive.
30 lar AS IL involves tae IN pendent and
unconiroveTtiols exercise of I've bowers of
the mind it has its limits. These powers
cannot be invaded. Whatever. Their. foyc.
the viii of the majority may be, though
am bound TO obey and respect It, while II
remains in force, my mind remains un-
tet,ered; and If consider il correA.
may controvertit by the weapons Of argn.
ment and truth.
Genuine repubioanism, in The sevenh
mace, consists in stronger attachment, TO
measures, than men, in an attachment SO
strong asto prevent violation of the for
mer from regard to the later.
This also is duty OF difficult perfor
nance. Men become the Objects IF our
esteem, our affection, our yeneraton.--
| Accustomed 10 look up to them, from our
earliest years, as models of patriotism, we
reposc the highest confidence in their mo.
tiyes and actions. In our estimate Of these
We do not always make a proper allow.
ance for the influence of time and The IN.
toxicating ssduetions Of power. We do
not realise the mournfuI truth, that pow
er is a great magician that most wonder.
fully, aud miracuIously metsmorphoses
the human heart we do no, realise the
truth, that such me,smorphoses ave often
elfeSfed without the consciousness of those
who are their victims, or that il is posi-
bic for man, without himself being an.
prised oft, to cease TO be sincere rcpub.
licau. All these things and many more.