Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-06-05
Frsm tie Bal Federal Republican.
EIItrITRE p~RQSpECTSs

NrUruRE PROSPECTS.
ln a republican government wnere tnss
- first stations are created and filed by tnt
people, political parties differ WATERWAY
from parties in a limited monarchy and II
despotism there aare no political parties
within the meaning Of this phrase, as appril'
ed to monarchies municipalities. Not ina /,
in despotisms, in despite of'the fear whlcl
palsies the nation, there are not many Whe
murmur discontents and a few OF a ola
cast, who are sometimes found inopen ane
desperate resistance to oppression; but par
ties there are no more than reasonable con
spiracies, which eitherexpire as they began
in secrecy, or end in assassination II sue
~cessful, or if detected, IN cruel and barba-
rous executions. In France, where the
Duke de Enghein, whose only crime was
his better title to the throne than Napoleon,
was murdered, there is no division OF po-
litical sentiment publicly avowed in Eng
land, there is freedom of opinion, and per-
sonalliberty, Blu, the most successful oPpo.-
sition can only effect the removal OF a nj
mister, who is not alwayssssucceeded by the
leaders of his opponents or any OF their
number. The opposition is still, only an
opposition the king still sways the. seePtTe,
and the subjects are still loyal, and nothing
can shake the one, or the other, but a re-
volution. But in a republic, the people ne
yer speak in vain their voice. Ike the
thunder Of heaven, never fails to beheard. 1t
is indeed sometimes terrible and destructive
but often, as q summer tempest sWeetenS
the air, and disperses It's unhealthy vapours,
it c~leanses and puri6es the political atnos-
phere !; not unlike are the popular termen-
tation which America has experienced but
in republics, tho the voice OF the people is
sometimes clamorous and turbulent, 1t is al
so frequently silent and passive. Whilst
Gen. Washington presided, there was a
faint & distant rumbling (which the troubled
state OF the world had favored, but he shone
his full day !; in.the time Of the undlscern
ing Adams, the storm rose to It's height,
and its destruction cursed the country with
thelate administration. Mr.. Madison IS
too experienced a statesman (and we hope)
too enlightened and discriminating not to a
vail himself Of that knowledge Of the nature
of parties, which no man has had a better
Opportunity Of acquiring, and we further
trust, he will consider his situation, that he
certainly holds his Office under circumstanc-
es materially different from any predeces-
sor, and that the use he may make OF the
experience O. others may result in his own
glo-y and the happiness Of his country.
Gen. Washington was elected president
by the nation, Mr.. Adams was appointed
by a majority after the nation was divided
IN opinion. and MIR. Jefferson came into
power after two severe contests tor popular
preference, which almost left the people two
nations. Not so with Mr.. Madison, he
has quietly succeeded Mr.. Jefferson, he has
followed on until his predecessor chose to
make room for him, and has muniicently
made him a present of the presidency, or
indeed we might say, quietly installed HIM
in the (" Icing" which Mr.. Jefferson seem
| ed to have considered as benehce within
his gift, as attached to the brincipaftya in
| which the vices and follies of democracy,
have enabled him to lord it over the people
of the United States. The consequence We
trust is, that Mr.. Jefferson has made all the
BARGAINS, and that Mr., Madison has made
no contracts or promises with any body
else, SO that if the jacobins OF the party
are disappointed, they have themselves and
Mr.. Jefferson to blame for selecting a man
unfit for their purposes. Mr.. Madison is
neither the. choice of the people nor was he
formidably opposed by any portion OF them
he is therefore literally On his good behavior
for never having been opposed as Adams
and Jefferson were to each other by any
rival competitor, there are no keen and bitter
feelings reused against him, nor anYot those