Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1805-09-28

- 1eS,AA%As - 1890
As the ancient governments have long
ceased TO exist, it will not, it is presumed.
be denied by men of science, that whaSe-
verintormsJlon the moderns may possess,
IN relation to the histories, names, kinds,
and characteristic qualities, of those 60
yernmenss, is wholly derived, and can be
derived only, from the writings OF the an-
clients.
Consequently, these writings nmstcosa.
tainthe best euideace on al Points. =
Among the ancisnts who have written
expressly on government, Aristotle is the
most extensive In information, and pros
found in judgment. This great man drew
his knowledge of government, from care-
full examinations of the theory and practice
of upwards of two hundred common
weelshs (61). Grotius assigns him the
FIRST station among philosophers, whether
s. estimated by the perspculty of his nssr
tilod, the acuseness OF his Distinctions, or
the weight and solidity of his arguments;
{ {62)-and Locke, the first place among
the wrisers on government The testims-
ny Of the lateer comes with peculiar weight,
as il is given to friend in aprivate Gem
nunication, and under circumstances when
the mind map be considered most free
trou prejudice. Thereverend Mr.. King
requested MIR. Locke to taver him with
a plan of reading on politics, for the use
OF young gentleman. MIR. Locke, IN
his answer TO the request, observes" 10
proceed orderly in this, the foundation
should be laid in inqairipg into the ground
and nature of civil society, and how II Ii
formed into 81 erent ferns q government;
aud what are the several species of il. A
ristotle is all0wcda master IN this science,
and few enter upon the consideration OF
government, without reading his poll
tics" (6S)
But Aristotle is not afavorite with Z" the
Editor. The weight of his evidence, ii
would seem, alarmed him. He is there.
fore Charged with various crimes, and acts
of baseneSs and turpitude.
IS He was selected, he exclaims in the
plumber from which our text is taken, az
the tutor of Alexander, by the tyrant that
destroyed Greece, would seem to be an in-
different evidence to produce on an impair.
tiai investigate into the principles or eff.
Ecacy. Of free government. He who was rs-
puhiated by Plato would seem to be at least
suspicious. Besides Denochcres Demo
chares] accused him of an attempt TO be-
tray others, and thai bis letters for the pur-
pose were intercepted, and for which he
fed from popular indignation. This at.
tempt has been questioned, but more
heinous atrocisy is admitted, he betrayed
his native country, Stagyra,to the Maccdo-
mans, aud when Olynthus was taken by
Philip, he had the execrable baseness to
point cut to the. tviant his former friends,
the most wealthy Of the Olynihians, as sb-
iocts Of plunder. Hoary-headed error is
no longer sacred. The opinion of such an
authority cannot be cited, with moral con-
2sisIeucy, against any form Of government !;
even when he states facts, We are bound TO
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES authority corroborates
him,
AFter this manner is the profound-ss
thinker of all antiquity treated the man
esteemed and respected through 50 many
ceBsaries, by schoelmen, divines, and po-
ltieians the man exiailed by Grosius and
recommended by Loce, as fit guide aad
director 90 youth, in the science of govera-
mens. sAndby whom is the citizen OF Ssa-
gyra tEas aspersed By an unknown writer
or g The Editor" of a public paper, which
for years has been chiefly, and almost dali
" devoted tothe execrable employment of
sobscuiing truth, propogating revolutionary
principles, and :vilifying those mosr TO
whomatheir country is most indebted. The
spirit Of delnsion the widest effort OF de-
nocracy only, could conceive the idea, that
aphilosopher loses all pretensions TO vera
city, merely because he had educated
prince. How greatly did the author of Te-
t6Il Pslicius, vol. 8.