Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-04-03

.,apA: ~, yoweY. An alIuslon was also made
nv way of example, 10 the ancient repa5-
s;cs of Greece, at a period of their mercdlan
splendor--whcn their liberties was suppoos-
ed to be fixed upon basis as hrna IS ada
,nant itself, TO shew that this people relled
chiefly upontheir religion and morals Tor
the maintenance Of their liberty and inde-
nendence, and SO deeply was the whole So
eiety impressed with the necessity OF these
supports that the smallest alterations met
with the most exemplary punishment. 1Df0-
tagoyas celebrated s2bh1st OF those days,
for saving & that he knew net whether there
were Gods or not" was obliged to seek MS
safety in Highland L>iqgoyeee another Pm
ios0bksr. accused Of profsasng reliSlon ana
deasv;ng the Cots, was Obliged ssso TO ~
and had decree passed against nina oraiio-
imp him with inianny, engragsn upon aofa-.
zen colunan. Yet cur repa5hcga legislature
Boosting the orthodoxy Of fbelr brzne11paeS'
neither governed by the past or the present
state Of society, and totally regardless OF
cause or effect, haze by their actsS.andcst;'i:-
en- to put the axe to the root OF those pf'nci,
nles. the existence Of Which have rendered.
other countries free, powerful, and happy
The only consideration Of a pubic nature
which, it is believed entered into the sieWsof
the advocates OF THIS ls1v, was 10 rsTtier 20
Duiarity to the favorue eostarSV system OF
then political ;3oi, without rejecting silat
by their own actthey past the sefercst cen
Shire g,pcn that SYSTEM. il the embargo oc-
casioned this violent invasion OF priFate
rights. this innovation upon the morals OF
the the country, and no one, it's presumed
will deny the tact, il may justly be regards.
as one ofthe most pernlcions measures OF
/ the general government, and the advocates
of it. SO far from screening their i4ol by this
sa cridce Of Justice, nave signed aud seaEed
his condemnation.
The constitution, which IS paramount 70
law, secures to evesy citizen, the right 81
acquiring, Of possessing, and enjoying pro-
perty By ali lawful means. In contracts
bctweel man and man, both Of sound mind,
there should be equality Ct knowledge, and
freedoms Of will and ct value; this being the
basis. the contract becomes valid and bad
ing upon the parties, rot only IL legal bat
IN Q moral senses cvery interference 81 tif,
legislature, &c impair OF SO prevent the tut
g.Tnent Of it is both immoral and unjust,
and destructive of the Fist principles of tht
social compact. 1'his lazy NOT only takes
away the ,ilhg of coercinG the payment OF
debts in ordinary cases, but dep1lres the
creditor il al cases tween individuals, OF
the right Of eVstorcing payment at ;a.t mo-
MES due TO him--thus those WAC depend
upon annual receipts for their subsistence,
(~;idows and orphans included may ~ thi;
law be absolutely starve,ito de.'th, or driven
TO the necc ssity 0! seeking aims, at tie pub
&c institutions for the Support q the poor,
whilst their debtors, these Hl1o withhold
their annual Subsistence, under the au:hori-
tx Of ibis immoral iaw, this 1qJA95ra' 52:>S,>
are permitted TO batten upon tAe;r spoil nm
til the pleasure OF the mex. General Assem-
bly shall be known. It is true the law IL
its dt.ratioa is limited to tie end OF the
next session Of the legislature, bat who that
considers the circumstances undes which it
was enacted, can feel any sort Of security
that his pyivations VIII then cease, who
knows but that some other political -99nix-
otism like that Of the emharso may cali up
on the patriotism of the next Legislature to
continue the socrifce for another year. The
unworthy part Of the society can only de
rive any benefit from this law, upon the no.
nest man and moral citizen. it may operate
with peculiar disadvantage, for such Rsen
Should they unfortunately happen to be in
debt) will deny themselves that indulgence,
which otherwise they might have received,
rather than avail themselves ola clishonora-
bic ction--thus, to preserve their ho-
nor and their morals more precious than life