Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-04-12
improvement, save that Of arms and build

/. u,
been swallowed Up or anlalgamated .,info
/ large sovereignties, whether Tor ths oehsn'
of mankind or not, the historian and STATES
man can best Judge, and At will be founa
that lioht. civilization and science sprung
III and have driven neaAyjof equal pace
with the changes IN tbeif goveriahenis, bi
whether they were the cause OF the effect q
such changes is not easy to decide.
The friends of PRESERVING the state SCI
yereignties in the convention, relis d fsilea'
on two grounds: first, the advanced stafs
of society which would enable men to dY-
tinguish, and. secondly, the participation
which the people had in the general govern
nent, by making the house of represents
tiyes to emanate directly from the peoph,
as did the whole body of the state govern
ments-hence it was concluded that both
being equally near, and appointed for the
good Of the people, either no hostility wold
happen, or if it did the people would y
able to perceive which was liz the wronlg
and control its measures bv Withdrawing
their confidence from those leading then
astray.
Such calculation was indeed extremely
natural. and it is much to be lamented mi
should fail--it isnow on its trial IN Ney'
England, and it may be well to look ott
for the consequences. Whether 1t tails
there or not, however, this much is PROVED
by the measure-that men clothed, with con
sequence, because of age, wisdom and pgI
I yate virtues-yea, the reverend clergy, who
more than any class, are expected to speak
truth and advise peace, are found capable
of uttering base falsehoods, of preaching
disobedience to laws, and laborihg by all
the means Of profound art and consummate
hypocrisy, to destroy general government
rather than not rule therein themselves.
:. To rule" we all know is the real obiact
Like Satan, SO with them, better. rule If
T He'll than serve in Heaven We see there.
fore such is. man, when pride and envy
unite, and the only question is, are not the
state sovereignties, ike the ancient baronies
dangerous nurseries of detection and hos.
tility to the national government.
4, In answering this question there can be
TO difficulty did noe Massachusetts pos.
sess a state government, her measures q
opposition would be no more than the fee.
bic discomfort OF the ambitious disappoint
ed--hut her state government becomes 3
laboratory in which to manufacture, and
from which to disseminate, nlisrepressnia
rio1g and fsrroC1IO1JG uuQer tie most othC!a
and sanctifed forms, and ultimately to cal
on her people Tor formal resistance, and up.
on such result the people as formerly AN,
der the barons, will doubt to. whom the al
legiance is due, whether il case of an ap.
peal to force (lFhere the state government
declares the act of congress unconstitutiop,
all the people are bound by their allegiance
to support and aid the state and general go.
vernpent Il
As | have only Intended to call attention
to this deeply intere sting, subject, in order
to a consideration of the consequences,
shall dismiss it, barely limiting at the only
remedy the case admits Of after recapitu-
lation. ~,
lst. We nuss have one general govern,
rnent, but can do without the LITTLE
- state government.
I'd. Ifboth cannot exist together we must
remove the latter.
Sd. In case Of a struggle, what will be
the result, as history proves with those
of Europe.
18th. Let then the constitution be altered
now while the friends of free govern
ment rule.
5th. IF the enemies Of free government
hasten the appeal to force letits friends
join issue---Ehey. will perhaps never
find better time. Traitors and by
pocrites must not be tyusted-shey ne
yer should rule freemen.
THE AMENDMENT. IL