Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1805-07-06

fncrc Deine aOandpncustQ- HIN WltHout tns
least limitation first,
" The whole supreme .admin istration. OF
the national pecuniary means, to.dispose OF
them according. to his pleasure.
2. The free disposal OF the whole mill
tafy force Of the country, as,well;by sea as
land. y
81" The arbitrary. nomination Of all
high functionaries, and the free appoints
mrne of the administration OF the place
where the government resides, to the pre-
JUDGE of the right of it's inhabitants to
the free election of their own magis-
trates.
4. The exclusive right Of alone max.
ing propositions in the assembly of their
high mightinesses, and the limitation of
the power of that assembly, which cannot
deliberate on any other subjects but such as
are proposed to it by him !; thus when ne is
silent, all are silent, and deadly lethargy
ensues,
S. s. That he is made accountable to no
nan, but only to the supreme being, who
is contemplated with far too much loose
ness and liberty; for there being no ruling
or distinguished religion established, surely
wide door is open for every body's con-
science, upon which the people of Batavia
must entirely depend, and embark all.sheir-
concerns.
/" A power, therefore, Of which one Of
the members OF the legislative assembly
has justly observed, that if the person vino
possesses it be Cato, managing the re.
public wisely and honestly, the commons
wealth may possibly be happy for the time
being; bur on the contrary, if he be a
Cesar, il must stoop under his controul.
I" And is it now eligible and prudent for
the inhabitants OF this country to adopt a
plan of constitution of that nature upon
an unc 4rtainty, and for the nation to be
hazarded upon the chance whether Cato
or Cesar shall be az any tim placed at Its
head? With great reason did the aforesaid
member exnort the inhabitants OF this
country TO watch diligently over this point,
that they might NOT deliver themselves up
indiscrlminately to despotism and violence,
and thus suffer themselves to be tettered
with bonds Of slavery.
| ssThese are the reasons, citizens, why
we, as we'll for US as our posterity, are nei-
Their willing nor able to resolve upon the
acceptation of a constitution, by which.
under the specious forms of old names
or titles. the most arbitrary government
may be introduced. {
6 Far be it, nevertheless, that by this
rejection of the proposed plan, we should
Be understood to approve of the existing
constitution in the whole, and that we
should not be considered as disposed to
agree with you in any wise Improvement
of a more concentrated administration
no, the contrary is the fact! for if we are
to speak out what we think, aud what our
hearts dictate, we have experienced none
but unfortunate years since the revolution
Of 1795; and the sounding words OF
equality, liberty, and fraternity, Oh Bata.
Wan libr rty, of unity aud indivisibllity, of
pretended patriotism, and OF far-famed
and loud cry of love of our country have
produced none but the bitterest fruits to
the principal part of the nation, TO those
| who have not enriched themselves by the
treasures levied at so dear rate.
/" We long therefore for change, but at
the same time for an Improvement; and
| nothing win be more agreeable to us. this
we speak confidently in the name OF the
| whole nation, than. after being so long toss.
ed IL and fro, to see for once, good plan
ola constitution offered, resting solely on
the basis ofrights, ofequity, and OF sound
| politics, by which liberty and divine wor-
ship should be maintained, every ind,vIdu,
| al protected in the possession of his lawful
property, justice exercised without 'mped-
! iment, so that even the meanest lnhabitant
| may obtain his due right, and by which
the supreme power nay not be placed a
bove the law, and sovereign and unllm-
80 ~ IN