Berkeley and Jefferson intelligencer. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va.) 1802-1810, 1805-08-09
fWuolr No. s24 ]

GOuLu SNSs 0uSu POWSiIVt AUS u lICS
government; il ought to be said with
equal sincerits that they are subject 10
like passions with other men. They Cons
sis, Of the rich md the poor, the simple,
and the wise, he idle and the industri-z
Gus, the virtsbus and the depraved.
They have prghdiees, which are strong
in PROPORTION they are unreasonable !;
they have wand, which may be aatter.
ed, and passioas which can be excited.
They are imptient Of restraints, when
they are iek they are, credulous, Of
course, the pro- Of impostofs, liable 20
suddsnimpplsss, blind infheir zeal, and
violent in their rcsentmehts. These al
belong to human nature, and philosophy
has not yen found. out their cure ill i
does, governments must be suited 70
mes as they are. I,,.,.-,, Z. 49,. -
Recently escaped from the Crap ofars
bitrary power, and still smartink with
the pain, the people ofthis country be-
hold no dangers but in.thc Tom ofmon.
archy. i The prevailing sentimeut Is, that
the people cannot have ton much power,
nor the government TOO little. While IL
is uncontrolled in tleir own hands, Il Is
.Harmless, and, becomes terrible only
when exercissdin the form of regular
authority. Governaient IS regarded as
matter Of convenience, rather than ne
-cessityd; aud rs there Is little need of
any, i may be changed or new modelled
without hazard. A revolution, there.
fore, carries no ierrors with il, because
il is considered as an experiment, which,
like 4 prescription in medicine. may be
safely tried tillit succeeds. Such opini-
ons are patural, asthey are founded in Z
Just adherence of despotism. they are
dangerous because they are extreme, and
blind US at the approach Of evils, more
palpable. and nearer home.
Another popular error connected with
this is, that the power of the people Is
their Liberty, or that whatever they can
do, they hRvea right 70 do. Il Is true,
that every pan has right, by honest in-
dustry, TO gov asrich and learned as his
neighbour \but every man has mot the
disposition d ability. Hence real dis
tinctions willlexist, which are entitled
to equal projection bun indolence and
vice say are not all men eqlal, and are
we not poor !! The member Of Congress
from Pennsylvania, in his late address
to his eonsdtusnts, observes, that he has
now returned to his plough, and shall
use his best endeaxonrs 70 prevent all
rich men, and men Of talents from being
elected to olice. &c such sentimens
prevail, neither The rich nor the wise can
long hope to &c main in peaceful obscure
~; the property of the one will be con-
6scated, and the other driven INTO exile.
The opinion is not new: bun not the
less dangerous for that reason. 1t Is in
the very spirit If Jack Cade's project for
reformation, Of agrarian laws, and, natl.
onal DEGREES.
Liberty is no, the creature Of 4 day,
nor can't be secured by merely making .
new Constitution, or altering an old one.
Il is 10 the political body what health u
70 the natural the effect ola well ad-
justed system. Its the result Of The mo-
raj sense or religious conscience Of men,
operating upon their thoughts and dc.
sires Of known laws wisely made, and
administered uniformly, without fear OF
Partially, supported in the last resort by
the arm Of government. Factions will
exist, lawful authority viii be resisted
there must then be power, which can be
relied upon for the projection Of rights,
| the suppression of insurrections, and the
resistance of popular delusion. Thi.
security, without which there can be nc
liberty, ought MOTTO rest upon the iniu.
ence or popularity Of any one man, how
| ever great OF good.
i The demagogae whoenllects Eve hun.
| dred followers, by abusing their creda.
| lily, or feeding their vanity, is 70 the
extent Of his power despot. tits true,
he is satisfied withthe name ofaservantl
and leaves to them all the tides Of sove-
lreipIty still he is the rival of govern.