Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1805-10-11

tvol1itionary France, is faithful transcript,
from the most accredited ancient authors,
of the arts by which the demag6gues OF
old revolusionized the most celebrated Ro-
spuIar governn rnts of antiquity. Win the
fste al thoss ancient fabricks, will the fate
&c ,be Italian governments of The middle
aaa,. will the fatesof the late constitutions
az France, all destroyed by the same acts,
afford no useful lessso to the peoPis OF the
United States!
|. !. Che fate of the revolutionary govern
mshes of France is determined. They
have been seen by some with pleasure and
admiration, bur by most men with dread
and horror, as they passed rapidly through
the grades ~uf deKosracy, murders assas.
sinations, prescriptions, aud bansshneats,
to their final issue.
Let us now carry our reflections from
France to Attica, and view the reaowned
Athenian. government, in It's rise aud N its
fall, IN its glory and in its degradation.
Let us, therefore, consider it first, yassllt
came Out of the hands Of Scion, and, Sc
candy, asschangec by the arts OF ambitious
demagogues.
+. I, IA The constitution established DIV So
lon. his admirers observe THAI, the jarrlng
Interests of hostile orders are sklfully har-
monized into one equitable system justly
formed and accurately balanced by the oil.
garchy of the Areopagus, which is perPe-
tual; the aristocracy Of the Atchons, who
a,e el.c,,ve. and the democracy of the
courts of iudicature, whose members are
appointed unfortunately from all the Ct.
,izens by LOT" G16)
Scion divided the people into tour class
es, regulated by census Of property. l,he
arst class consisted of those whose reye,.
Rues amounted to 60e hundred medlmnl OF
LIQUID or dry commodities Q17)s the Sc
cond of those who had rent OF three hun-
dred the third those OF two hundred me-
DIM: and the fourth class consisted OF all
those whose revenue was OF less amount,
aud who supported themselves by mental
arts and labor.
The inhabitants Of Attica were OF three
descriptions. The first consisted OF tree
men or citizens the second OF soJonTneis
or residents, who were permitted TO dWeit
in the city and follow their business or re-
spective employments; the third OF servants
and slaves. The servants which formed fhe
most numerous part of the inhabitants were
Of two sorts first those whothtough Pc;
verify were Obliged to serve torwages beng
otherwise free born citizens ;second the
slaves. The citizens or freemen. amount
cd to about 10000 the sojourners or resi-
dents to abont ten Thousand and the ser.
wants and slaves to about 400. 900
70 the first, or the citizens, were entrust-
ed, exclusiveiy,,he whole power. OF govern
ment. Citizens were those who had both,
or one Of their parents an Aihenian; they
were divided into four:uibes, each ofwhith
was subdivided into three parts, and each
Of these again into thirty families NatH-
ral,sed Citizens were excluded from ezer. .
cising the functions OF the higher orders o.
Priesthood, which were appropriated TO
certain noble families, and also from hold
ing the Office of Archoni the legislator in,
tending thereby to.ensrust the religion, and
the mauagemest ofpubiie affairs, solely 10.
native citizens.
The principal powers of government were
vested in the Areopagus, nine Archons, "a
Senate of four hundred, an Assembly, con-
sissiDg of all ths citizens, and ceftain exc
cutive officers aud magistrates.
BY Selon's.. constitution, 90 the Areo-
pagus- were consulted the inspection and
custody of the laws, aud the disposal and
management of the public funds 80 them
also it belonged to appoint tutors and 60
vegnors to the youth Of the city, and 10 see
/ that they were educated suitably TO theirs
veral Qualities. Then power also extend
ed to all persons of all ages and sexes, TO
the punishment of such as lived isorderlg,
or were guilty of immortality or ihaPiey,.
ssnd TO reward such as were 1evideat for a
cr,f,ree Of life There was also a