Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1807-02-25
AN ADDRESS
s-rENTLEMEg,
TO TIE
FLASHING TON SocIETN
TO TIE

a. RULE of your institution makes Ftt
my duty TO discuss subject, Which was peas
inc to the ilustriaGs man whose nativity we
scosn7ae.aoYyte Toliberate his country, and
establish its freedom on a lasting basis, were
his fayorite employlnents 1t was fortunate
fa. the Ii5egty OF America, and the glory OF
her Grief, that those objects were attempted,
when her strength and disposition were ripe
fer thais accomplishment. This temperate,
fertile region was lestinedto be the faeaffe,i
and washington the eo'aancfor, OF a great ipo-
litical experiment..
Alta period waen civil AMI. religious tyranny
> prevailed in Europe; when superstition haa
exploded knowledge, and feudalism destroyed
) l.Ssfty this newly discovered country oneree3
an assyluia toopprcssed humanity, astl.an ex-
tcnsive field to ehterpriaing genius. /: was
seized with eagernesss ty our ancestors, who
were weary with seryitude, and Charmed WITH
adventurous life. The scenery OF a wlld coiln-
try ennyened their native attachment to Il
berty; the activity Of enterprise lnvlgorateu
their faculties; the habits and pursuits OF n
.fa,t sosiety improved their morals, and SIM
p,iSed their manners. They were habitualiy
animated with Independents feeling and could
not submit to an arbitrary power. At favor
able coniunoture, their concealed temper ana
o,enias were aroused into effectuai resistance
by irritating encroachnent on their rights
Statesmen Immediately arose from obscurity
Of private lie, to enlighten the mind, regu-
latefbe feelings, and direct the energies OF the
naonle. The tenants of rural fields, the IN
bahitants of cities, relinquished agricultural
and commercial ernployracnts, and raihed a
round the standard OF their country. Com-
rnurity Of danger united, necessity disclPlhea,
despair. armed, and liberty inspired thehl'
The brave people, who were Struggling 20 re-,
bel invasive hostility from their country, were
presented with a chief, whose corporeal vlgor
military tod could not weaken whose gdeit-
berats yaloe danger could not intinidate
whose temoerats 6rmness prosperity could
not s,ate. nor misfortune. tepresss; Wi2ose-pe-
r,trat;f,e. mind attifisc ooala not dcceive, nor
stas.ssena surpFize ! whose active spirit ana
,i;sseyaiae wisdom no successful enterprl5e,
oreas,,Say,t measure could escape whose am
b;tion WIS patriotic and genius, marital and
nac;Ss.1ET his consunlmate soldier conducted
: gaebla band of untiiscipinsd warriors against
veteran leeiens, and planted the Standard OF
liberty on the ruin OF the enemy.
Ar the close of the rsyolut5oas a concur
.sy,cs offayorablc circumstances facilitated the
esFsssishsnent of republican, government
Fron, ,s;o,an,on nsisfortunes OF revolutionary
states, our rising nation was preserved. Love
osIiAsrty ha1 been animated, and feelings OF
social attac hnaent enhYened, by the difficulties
re an Impressive war. The patriotic leaders
of the state had no othes, view, than its inole-
pendencc; and the people, no ether OBJECTS
than security and freedom. ne nation was
happily uaconneeted with the worls. $50 Jea-
ious or ambitious neighbor endangered her
tranquility, no aspiring citizen disturbed her
deliberations. The liberal views OF political
philosophy, which her enlightened statesmen
entertained, correspondent with the feeiinggs
and habits Of the people. These advantages
assisted by tie wisdom and beIevoience OF Ia-
tnre. who. seems to have tempered the cll-
mate. prepared the soil, and divided the ter
r;tnrv for Republics The local situation OF a
.n,onlc has powerful influence on theirpolltl-
ral institutions IF our soil, by protuse tertl-
I;fv. had cherished Incidence, or discouraged
labor, by sterriiity; if the climate, by lntena-
nerate Warmth, had produced enfeebling lassI-
tnde. or by cold severity torpltude OF
mind the genius Of liberty would have3e con-
tinued her flight to a happier region.
The American people instituted CO.
vernment under the smiles of those ausPi.
e;ous circumstances. Their political IN.
yention is admirable for simplicity aud
wisdom. Love of happiness is the ruling
passion Of mankind, who would pursue it
with undertaking recsi,ude, i governed by
Instructive justice or beneyolence. but
human. nature is incapable of such sub.
-: 49,, .v,.n.;ve virtue. Self love O.
vesleaPs the boundaries OF justice, and re-
qaires,,hs ressraioing arm OF aataar''y. -
Mature prracribes 40 limits 10 the pur:
sui, of happiness. but the rules OF social
Justice. Ts dehns those rules, for the re-.