Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1805-08-30

Aristotle observes co. that all mat
ters of elaboration should be decided by
GRthe people is consonant to democracy
bat is susceptible of many variations Tor
|. ali the broble may be entitled to deliberate
and decide either collectively or sac' esstve-
h." Hence whether the votes or saffages
OF all are given collectively or successively'
still it Is the majority of the votes OF all
that is 70 decide in the formation OF laws.
Our knowledge and notions OF democra.
cy have their source in the ancient demo
cracies. or what we find 10 ancient wrl-
tiers concerning them. All OF modern
date have had those for their model
10 this source, therefore, we must APP
ply for correct information, relative to
their distinguishing characteristics ana
composition.
The general characteristics OF democra-
cy are thus described by Aristotle.
The nature of democracy requires that
the supreme authority ef the government
should reside, not in the distinguished tew,
bat, in the great body Of the lpe0ple. QD
That all the Offices. of the mag'stracy,
or at least the greatest part, should be con-
fcrred, by lot, on each individual. lhat
sill the citizens be alternately aIstrl6utea IN
thesceurts ofJntice. That senate De Ia.
stituted to prepare those affairs which are
finally to be determined on in the national &
sovereign assembly, at 1vhich all the cAtzens
may be present. (12)
For particular case shall select the
celebrated Athenian democracy.
Scion determined that the Supreme po7e-
rr shoula reside in the assemblies, at which
every citizen should hare a right to 6ePre-
sent; and where all ordinances respecting
peace, war, alliances, lazvs, imposts, and oil
the great interests of the state, should be
finally decided. 1s)
The assemblies were held in the theatre
of Bacchus, in the public market, or in
spacious place near the citadel named the
'Pnyx. ~
Six thousand sufrages were requisite to
give.t the force of the law to several DEGREES.
Il5) 1t was not however at all times
practicable, it seems, to obtain this num-
Der; for during the whole course of the
Peloponnesian war, it was found impossible
to collect more than FIVE thousand citizens
in the general assembly. (16)
Herodotus says that Arstagoras, ambas-
sador from the Ionians, found it harder to
deceive one Spartan than thirty thousand
Athcnians meaning in loose way, the
1oheAe state supposed to be met in one Pc.
r,,,iar aesap,blv IN
With respect to the Athenian courts of
justice.
Sc The right of protecting innocence is
not acquired at Anthems by either birth or
riches. All may be present at the assem-
bly, of the nation and decide on the interests
of the state, all are likewise entitled to give
their suRfrages in courts of justice, and to
regulate the interests of individuals. "C8)
There were ten tribunals at Athens, four
for homicide, and six ter other causes, as
we'll criminal as civil.
These assemblies did not meet at the
same time, with those of the people, be-
ing both composed nearly of the same
persons. Q9)
do not take into view the Areopagus,
which was a perpetual body; nor the Sc
nate and archons, which were elected tor,
one year, and aristocratic nor the mode
of distributing the citizeas among the
courts of justice, as particulars not of 400
mens to the question. Those who may
desire more particulars vii! DC amply gra-.
tiled by consulting the travels CT Anachar-
sis, the younger, and Aristo'!e's politics.
After this description i, is easy to con.
ceive the noise, .umult, and confusion, that
must prevail IN democratic assemblies.
(1o) Aristst. De Rep. lib. iv.
(1l) Idem. BIB. viii.
(12) Rcm. lib iv.
(13) Pint. IN Salon.
t(1AN LIN