Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1805-10-14

| nigh, still preserve their force that so
our elder cittzens might first arise IN dus
and decent form Gas the laws Directs with.
out lumult or confusion, and each declare,
In order, the salutary counsels OF his sage
experience thar after our citizens who
chose to speak, might sevtrally, and in or
der. according to their ages, propose their
sentiments on every subject.--Thus in my
opinion would the course of government
be more exactly regulated, and thus would
our assemblies be less frequently engaged
in trialss-Butn now, when these Institutions
SO confessedly excellent, have lost their
force; when some men propose illegal re-
solutions without reserve or scruple when
others are found TO pat them to the vote,
not regularly chosen TO preside in our as
sembIies, but men who have raised them
selves to this dignity by intrigue when if
any of the other Senator'S, en- whom the 10
ofpresiding hath fairly fallen, should dis
charge his Office faithfully, and report your
voices truly, there are, men who threaten
to impeach him men who invade our
rights, and regard our administration as
their private property; who have secured
their vassals, and raised themselves TO So
.vereignty; who have suppressed such ju-
. dicial procedures as are founded on estab.
'lished laws, and, in the decision of those
appointed by temporary DEGREES, consult
only their passions; now, ! say, that most
sAge and virtuaus proclamation is no long
er heard Z" who is disposed to speak of
those above fifty years old ~ ard then,
"who of the other citizensin heir turns -
Nor is The indecent licence Of our speakers
any longer restrained by our laws, by our
magistrates, no nor by the presiding tribe,
which contains full tenth part Of the COM.
munity." (l26)
1t was in this changed and degraded
state OF the commonwealth, when dema
gogues and democracy reigped triumphant,
that were seen such DEGREES as that 20 ex
tirpate- without regard to sex or age, every
citizen of the noble and pcpulous Mitylene
C27), TWAS then that bribery at elections
and at the courts of judicature became re-.
spectacle (l28). It was then candidates
for office gave general feasss, and made
presents, severally, to the citizens, or NOV
ed in the assembly Of the people, that th,
tributes of provinces and islands be por
toned out individually to the citizens, or
applied aggregately TO their amusement aud
qualification (l29). 1t was then they ma.
,uralaed the most abject and proaigate
(13o). 1t was then the rich, who took no
part in public affairs, had to purchase their
quiet and security, by the same means as
the ambitious their Offices, and criminals
indemnify (1sfy. 1t was then after good
and great men hadrendered signal services
to the state, that thsy were illuminated,
aned, or condemned G32). It Was then
that men of eloquence and ability found no
other mode left to acquire power than to
become demagogues, and cnbroil the state.
with new parties. [, was then that clan,ors
in. favor of one candidate, and calumnies
against another. divided the business Of
the day. twas tFep thar public acts were
framed with lews TO self interest, and ap.
proved or condemned wih-view to party.
Il was then that virtue and wisdom we're
Ro longer the motives Of elec,;oa, and con.
sequeHtiy, coQid not DC expected IN Tie
ministry elected. Twas then that c,etrac
ton, persecution, craeisy, or oppression,
has exciuded from Office, prescribed, or
forced into retirement or exile, the wisest
and best of the citizens. /, was then:that
were seen the worst men rising into power,
by he worst means.
Thus the government of Scion, by sue
cessive alterations in the relative import
ance of'Ns constituent Paris, by the destruc-
tion Of old and the introduction of new
powers. by the abolition OF the. census Of
property or qualifications to Offices, ard
the perverslon of some of its wisesr provi-
siors, was changed in,o ga complete and
perfect Democracy. in every sense of the
word"
Thus every.successiye alteration in the