Berkeley and Jefferson intelligencer. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va.) 1802-1810, 1808-08-05
[coNr1NvEn FROM OUR LAsr.1
LETTER Nv.
To the Editor ofthe North american.

HAVING established, that a cont;;-
nuation of Federal principles in our &C.
neral governments, would have raised u
to the 6rst degree transitional epulencs,
and that the democratic policy has been
directly such as TO invoke III the evils
OF our present Political confusion, and
i7the increasing miseriesA which. must
hereafter result from il, il now only re-
mains to examine the cause Of that un-
fortunate change from right to wrong.
1t seems to be the melancholy fate of
all nations, that their political matters
cannot always be supported BY reason
and justice. The powerful effects of
prejudice, interest and ambition ID In.
dividuals. frequently bear away every
just principle, delude the great body Of
the people, and sometimes make them
become their own destroyers. r.
The effects Of this complicated force.
made. an early attack upon the FIRST
measures of government. Men Of gro.
yelling ambition, disappointed in being
the FIRST choice Of the people, others Of
uniform discontentmtnt .under any re-
straint, and still Others willing to sacri.
Ace every amer principle, to satisfy an
avsricious thirsl for power. constituted
q force against those worthy patriots,
whom the nation had rewarded with
their confidence, bya promotion to pub
lie functions. In prosecuting work
void Of principle, il - unnecessary to
observe, that all measures, whether
right or wrong, good Or evil, were
equally doomed TO the same condemna-
ton, by those Office. hunting persecu.
tors. Falsehood and SANDER, deception
and misrepresentation, were Distributed
through every quarter Of the union snd
many Of our fellow citizeps, unmindfnL
Of these secret springsr ofsdsslne.ions
were gradually led Away iasoz the. most
unfortunate belief Of every unfounded
charge against The government and the
constituted authorities. = s,,..., ".
As this party became more formida-S
bic, by the acquisition of men sedueed
to false impressions, and new stock of
grovelling ambition, It's secret promo.
tiers, ia which class i hesitate not to
place the Immaculate philosopher, and
our famous general, were. encouraged to
greater bOldnese.; They pushsd forward
their dog.like emissaries, with ravenous.
cruelty, TO complete the chase already
begun upon those worthy patriots, who
had been the FIRST and beat choice of A.
mericsn WISDOM. Public printers, and
political preachers, were hired to traduce
and defame, without distinetion. Il TO-
in vain to contend, that the. true iuterest
Of our country, formed any part Of these
views. There never vas d diaboiical
iunto .sb4 proclaimed truth for their
guide, and liberty for their watch.word.
But truth was mot theiEobiect. To de-
ceiye and delude, could ecnly answer
their purposes. And here let the true :.
American read and read too, ifhe can,
without blood.boiling indignation, !.
their language in relation 10 our illnstri-;
Gus WAsH1NcTon. i appeared IN the !;
AURORA ON the day which closed the
political career of that venerable father
Of our liberty, and must only be,-consi-'
aered as the last paragraph in a large
volume of persecution and slander.