Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1808-05-27
70 the Editor Of she North fscneax.

4. :
The late extraordinary measures of
administration present wide field for ami.
nady ersen. There is always danger that a
popular government may degenerate into
. eespousm. The people coa6dc too much in
their Hatterers, and wink at violations of law
committed by their favorites The least as.
sumption OF power should be viewed with
jealousy the arst advances towards dcspot-
ism should ae checked. Ii it he vice for a
free people 70 be jealous Of their rulers, it is
OF all vices the most pafdo3abe; if conf
dence be- virtue, it is Of the most equivo-
cal nature, the Eaoss liable 20 abuse, and the
/ Isost obstructive in its consequences. Such
have always understood to be the doctrine
2of rel republicans; but how widely do the
fretended republicans of the present day de-
part from thess principles. five may Judge
OF their sentiments by their conduct, conf
dence is, In their opinion, the first and most
saletary OF public virtues. They seem to
apprehenc no danger from intrustns the pre-
silent with the most extraordinary powers,
relying, Oh pretending to rely, upon his viz
tue, that they she'll not be abused -
But 1t should be always remembered,
that the irnmediate injury is not SO nuca
the evil 10 be feared as the remote corsc-
qnence OF a pernicious precedent. When
In an eafly period Of the Roman republic,
Lartlus was created dictator, it was nst
oresecn, that the example would be fol-
lowed and improved upon; TO the utter
destruction Of Roman Liberty. Il was not
then toresaen, that temporary delegation
oi authority would be a precedent for one
more durable that a dictator for few
months would give place to dictator for
lie. The Iinstiious Washington, whose
patriotism was eMnced by a long course of
public services and individual sacrifices, was
never entrusted with such extensive and
alarming powers as have been conferred upon
Mr.. Jefferson, who has given 10 p!eagc to
his country OF moderation Or dislntcrested-
ness who tetrays desire to exercise exor-
bltant power, and Willingness 70 airosate
where 1t could not be eonsti;,itionlly com.
mumeated. The power Of Legislation which
the people have given to their representatives
IN congress from whom it is unaiienabIe,
9 has been shanieicssiy transferred 10 the presi-
dent. honSh the, 8lscst precautions have
been used to hm,t the powers OF the execu-
tive, The representatives Of the people have
presumed to give that which. the constitutions
delfied and withheld.
In subsequent letter, sir. / shall more
fully rotise these acts: at present shat!
ccntsne my observations to the act Of Con-
grcss passed April IS, 1903, supplemental
to the Ealbargo La.,j andthe subsequent pro-
ceedings of tie executive.
Inc circular letter OF the President 70 the
governors Of New Hampshire, Nd sl,achli.
sets, South Carolina, Georgia ard Orleans,
has been read With reculisNk 1;erest. 1t has
caused reference to tic act of Congress and
To the constitution. Many hase doubted whe-
Their the constitution, which guara.,oes equal
rights ana privileges to each OF The respective
states and free intercourse between taenl,
has delegated to Congress the power ofinter-
dicung trade to 2 particular portion of the
country, without extending the Introduction to
All. II has alss been doubted and denied, that
the act referred 70, excepsionsbie IS i; is, cone
tains any authority for the proceeding adopted
By the executive.
itshouie! ever be kept in aaind, that the
constitution Of the United States is deega-
ton, and not limitation of power. Under
the cid confederation, the states we're SUI
presnc, all the attributes OF sovereignty be-
Ing possessed by them. The general con-
gross could only recommend they could not
enforce. ~ adopting the constitution, the ]
states rel'nquishcd some pol'tioi. of their pow
er TO the federal government but wiz. they
Old not expressly grant, was retained. Hencs
1t results, that Congress can hare 10 powers
by implication,
Now, SIR, can any pswizan CT sd,nin;sra-
ten sheW me sentence IN &c constitution,
whlch authorizes Congress IL aliopt q yn22-
sure, SO severe, so partial, so4ioltrs.y, and
So unprecedented
The respective ssatcs ofthc tu.ion are en-
titled to eGual righ,s aad privileges osher-