Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-04-11
For The azerandria Daily GazefFe.
ARIsTIDES No. !.

ARIsTIDES No. /.
l1R SxowDBN,
IT IS only within a few days past fnat
have seen the late law Of Virginia sas-
pending the force of judgements and exeeu-
lions. I have been led to,a more pafllcuiar
examination of this law from having
read In YOUR paper some reflections upon i
by a writer under the signature -Aufe-
lius...
It's certainly cause of grief to every ci-
tizen Of Virgimiato find his state, 50 cels-
brarcd for her talents, political as Wen as
forsnsie. SO de6cient. In morals as to De
Z unffversally considered abroad indlsposed. TO
the payment Of debts, a circumstance thisr
has cost her citizens pnlli0nS. lae mer-
chant Of Virginia pays in foreign marker
from 10 to 20 per cent. more Tor ms Gooas
.haa. the merchant in any Of the states east
ward of us, as a kind Of premium OF m
sursnce against losses apprehended uader
a system of Jurisprudence uaiavoraoie 70
the collection of debts, and security OF the
creditor.
The repeated acts Of the legislature "
friendly to the speedy administrator OF JUS
B tice which have operated SO injerioasiy Up
on the credit of the state abroad ana upon
the. citizens at home, must be ascribed TO
some defect in the. organization OF our go
vernment, perhaps to our education whlen
has not taught Us, in regarding our own !.
rights, sufficiently to respect the rights q
ot6eys. If they may beascrlbsd to want
OF moral rectitude in our legislators our
condition is. deplorahle indeed We are
afoat upon. TIE :. ten pcst,t9ats sea q tt0eftH
without chart or polar star" to direct our
co5Yss. as it's declared by solemn law
q thas oar ciuiI RIGHTS hqee no ef3en@s7'ce
.ohaseves.,u totl religion, * a deelafatlon 50
novel and-s dogn1atically expressed against
the invariable history. Of mankind deserves.
q particular examination.
The most civilized as well as the most
harzSrous people have united IN aekrow-
hedging Superior Being, who formed,
Guides and directs the material, intellectual
and naoralworld, and their characters have
varied according to the moral attribute be-
slowed on that being. Wherever re has
5 been regarded not only ell powerfui, que
all wise, inAexibly just, generous and mer-
ciful,. these opinions have produced CORES IS
bonding effects on the conduct OF those who
entertained them. On the contrary, whtre
naeions. have fol med less correct notions OF
(,otl--wbere. he has been regarded as
passionate. capricions and teroeious beng,
we.fnd their affairs smoking with human
blood and the condition OF man hardly
lix;lier than the brute. AS religion springs
from cir belief Of the moral agency OF the
Deityin the government OF the world, Il
must be either baneful or ben< -sclal TO the
society, according 10 the notions entertain
ed Of his character and Of the conduct IN
man most acceptable to him. lhe Chris
tian religion, whether considered IN relation
/. to the doctrines regarding the De7fg, or TO
the duties eDioined on mGa, tor saoillnlty,
is equailed BY nothing in human affairs
Nothing can contribute more TO human
happiness than the performance of those
duties. In fact, that its injunctions, com-.
prising every social duty, if observed, would
almost superesde the necessity OF govern
nlolit and laws With what truth can it
then Be asserted that our civil rights have
no dependence on. Our religious opinions:
Whatber the Christian religion will be long.
esteemed IN our orntry--whethera general
gNr1te 6ete DRAFTED orator ard statesman Pa
trick Henry, enleTtaiHed an opinion SO dit,
fsssss; sSss,~S7 fl.is that Senu after our inIe.s