Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1808-07-11

the nursery Of genius, CONFIRMING she ra:le;s
contested fact, that literature can nourish only
/ Il tie sol. Of Hterty for can i be expected
that the politician will examine soYcrnineut
in #. various forms with the freedom OF en-
auiry, when he is compelled TO ascrlbe fer
fiction TO his own? Can tho subject OF des-
not venture to admire the freedom OF retub-
aean? Or can the poetclip the exclusive wing
Of fancy, and find subject tor his muse in
the pancgyric Of his master or the splendor
4 of a court!
It is unnecessary to proceed with the me-
lancholy catalogue OF nations whose lhde-
pendence has been beaten down by the arms
of France, or seauced Into t,le tells OF her
intrigue.
From the contemplation Of changes in tie
political state Of Europe, SO great and I'M
portant, we are naturally led % q Considers
ton OF the cause by which they were produce
ed.
To change suddenly systems OF govern
ment--to abolish al once institutions confirm
Ell by tine--and 10 eradicate the pfejuiices
os habit, are objects seldom attempted, and
more rarely attained. IN the history oil ~.
lions. we generally discern an enthusiastic
attachment TO the form Of goyeramen: under
which they had livcd iorsgcs, religious We.
neration for institutions founded by their an.
ccstors, ard a pcstinacity IN locsI pFeJadites
too strong to yield at once to the Influence Of
reason and of ruth.
I IF alterations have been made IN their cis..
CT religious ordinances, It has been the woyk
OF nme but within The last and present ccp.
turtles, Europe has exhibited phenomcAa in
politics, uncquaIled IN the annals OF history,
BY the po.e:t hand Of Bonaharte, governments
have been subrerted, institutions ssMsgd,
and habits either changed or eradicated--
What was once the work Of ages, has nor ,t.
come the effect Of camh1igH.
Superstition, ever ready to ascrbe gre2.ad
unexpected occurrences to miraculous inter.
position, would regard this n!slversa victora
a malignant spirit liberated for a time to be
the scouree Of the world. IAtri ,5uing dis,on.
tent will hail him the universe! pil-nthropi,,
while serviie tinidity would represent him
too good to err, and too powerful 10 be oPpos.
c.. fiut it is not unusua! IL times OF trouble
and confusion, 10 see Instances OF n liz d.
elevations. Popular iipetuosity must be d.
rected by some superior hand. or j. IS neces
sarily exhausted by the violence Of its ora
cxertion. Is it then wonderful, that while
France was distracted With intestine commo
tions--when rage had grown weary with In.
diligence, and cruelty sick Ct dcst,Vctio1-a
genius should appear capable to direct, AID
artful enough to concentrate the natioaal eaer
giles? To the native feeoicness or. iaEarllti0a
of the conquered. and the vast superiority os
the conquerors in Skill and in numbers, lso
be attributed his success in arms.
Let US now, fellow citizens, turn our stten-
ton 10 hA9ERICd--flitherto in the enI ov-
mehts Of peaceful industry, VIC have remained
tho silent spectators OF the revolutions in Eu-
,rope--we have seen regal government abo-
iished and imperial authority established On
lis rulns. Our indignation and regret have
been alternately excited at the pusiianirnitJ
that re!inquished freedom wi bout struggle,
and the spirit Of independence which rose in
opposition, only to render is fall, moro Id
mensahle. Events so repeie with Instruction,
eSnnot tail to make ss!ins impression on
the minds OF rejecting republicans. They
VIII teach them to repress the rising spirit of
innovation, to preserve that integral strength
without which the republie is endangered,
and to dis.rust the professions Of designing
ambition.
Ours is a nation free AL ilaep,ni,nt, II.
sfvn@icaKy greas and .toa: - We claim .
celestial origin, no superior lustre from , .
records OF antiquity. or tic splen Id.
chievemcnts ofimaginary ancestry Werscs
not our extraction to some Immaculate priest
~ 4 "a
the titled rohber, who having followed glory
T" through sea of blood" returned to mis-
throne to contemplate taesyast destruction his
viliainy had accomplished. Tne spirit Of il.
berty created us--Hce9es whosc;naynes ye.
yiblate on the arwerc. ar progentoys.
The evils which generally result from eu