Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1805-03-13

MICS. or discovery in the sciences, only
because it was born under the auspices OF
monarchy, than to resolve that the usages
Of the British Islands brought hi,her. as
they were by our fathers and ourselves,
should nc, be the usages of this country,
merely because they have been made known
and promulgated by judges who derived
their authority from king.
It's, however, urged, and warmly con.
tended bv large and powerful description
of politicians, that, although no danger,
under the existing regimen, can te aPPre-
hcnded from the concentrating influence o.:
British politics, vet it is necessary, while
the powers CT government remain under
their direction, TO fix the republican lnsH-
tutions Of our country, on permanent and
immoveable basis that periods NAV arise,
IL which monarchical and aristocraslcal OPT
niou> may be freely preached, and, II not
now wholly eradisateG, may finally be I'M
posed on the people; and that new sys-
TEN OF law should DC instituted, founded
altogether on the popular will, and oppos-
ed, both in form and substance 20 the COM
mDu law, derived as it 10 from England.
Whether there ever did, or ever eau ex.
list, bo,fy of juris prudence more tavou:a'
bic to Liberty and kepu5hconism /; emanat-
ing more directly from the Popular mind,
AMI founded more clearly and substantial
Is in the incl.natious and habits OF the
Psoble, than the common law as adapted IN
Peansyivnua, is question which shall
hereafter endeavor fully to discuss. But
in answer to The objection that has been
stated, l will enquire what respect can.
those men really have for the virtue aud
COED sense of the people, who are thus
perpetualy fearful OF a surrender by them
OF their own rights and prerogatives who
thus believe it is necessary to shaeSle then
with liberty in order to keep them free !;
and that while in the full possession and
exercise Of freedom, such is their folly
or corruption, that it is necessary to reVo-
Iutionize their laws, in order TO prevent
their becoming the victims OF despotlsm.
Besides while we are describing all the re-
verence due to ,he maxims Of our ances-
tors, what right have We to expect any
high degree of veneration from Posterlty
towards ourselves? How can we ascer.
tain that any system we may resolve upon,
will be more palatatle to them, than the
one we shall! have deserted, mas been agree.
able to their fathers. And while We are
demonstrating that no habits, however
confirmed by usage and experience; no
principles however sancti6ed by antiquity;
no laws however conducive 10 present
peace and prosperity, can withstand the
tide of innovation how absurd is tito i'm
agine that the erection of new systems, can
havea more binding operatios upon the
minds OF our successors.
There is indeed no principle Of legsla-
ton more weak and perncious. than that
which goes beyond the application of a re-
mejy to existing eviLS. If there are per-
sons who deny that at this tine we are in
full possession of all the liberty, which nan
in social safe is capable of enjoying,
such persons act in consistency with their
opinions, when they propose more widely
to ex,euu, and more firmly 20 establish it.
But for those who acknowledge that we
do n21r participate in the benehts of pure
and enlightened spirit OF freedom; that
We are nsU in our political anI civil rela,.-
oEs the least oppressed the most prosper
oas, and individually and collectively the
most happy people, which history. either
ancient or modern, has exhibited to view
and tha, all these blessings have at least
been consistent and co-exstent with, if
they have not originated from, the tsm-
nan hzv for such men to propose, or 10
persist in risking total and radical change
in our constitu ional and legal existence, IN
order to prevent our rights from being
hereahe, endangered, or our prosperity
| in future periods impaired, demonstrates
fo!ly or dcpravity OF mind, Of which no.
thins but madness or ambition can be the
! parent.
Let us not then at once suppose that we
| are more wise than our fathers, and more
| vir,Gous than our children. Let US not
! imagine tina, our progeny will either be SO
base And nrohigate. as willingly to surren.