Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-09-22

onLlNSc 0DJeCtS OF puIoulV' a ioltiI'i re-
COMMUNICATION of some qualities or condi-
tions as health and good humour, matri-
monial tenderness or the possession OF we'll
disposed children is rare, because it is SUI
nerHuous. No one is insenslble of these adj
vantages no one stands in need OF proof or
illustration to convince him how much they
are desirable but eulogy on wealth or
mower, an earnest recommendation to pur-
sue them, and descant on the joys that
follow in their train, would not only attract
our curiosity as new, but startle our reason
as absurd and paradoxical. The reader may
be conscious of perpetual signs, and an ever
growing envy, excited by the splendor or
his neighbor; he may regard the abuse OF
wealth in his neighbor the misaPpllcatlon
of large revenue, in selfish luxury or
transient ostentation, with compassion or
adherence, and frequently exclalm In Sc
cret-how differently would my larger be-
nevolence, and purer taste employ all this
money? The monuments of my taste should
be durable, at least my magnhceDce should
crafty the ear and eye of others with &C.
nuine harmony and Legitimate beauty, and
others should be grati6ed, without en-
croaching on my own selfish qualification.
If challenged the wonder or envy OF OBJ
servers, i, should be by means OF such lux,
uries or splendors as should afford real
qualification to their taste as well as my
own. Even m. sensual enjoymenls should
be such as others could partake Of, & aug
ment nv own stock Of pleasure, by their
participatipn. While my principal delights
should directly flow from the benefits which
nv wealth. would shower upon others.
Such an aspirer as this would probably
be startled by grave and formal encomlum
upon power or wealth. He would feel sur
prisr, ever while conscious OF an ardent
desire for these objects; though his reason
sanctify the wish by annex!ng to the acqui-
sition, nothing but more signal and etlca-
cious exer1ions of 5cnevolence nothing
but the enlargement, of those enjoym-nts,
which, if they merely belong to the senses,
are vet salutary to health, not unfriendly to
morals, and of such kind as survive even
our own lives, and cannot be enjoyed ex,
clusively by the possessor even while he
lives.
Nothing is more evident, than that wealth
NAV be employed to the lasting benefit Ut
9th rs: and that authority may be render
| ed equally or still more subselvient TO pub
&c hardness. One would, therefore, ma
,uraly conclude that wealth and power are
good things, and in a high degree desira-
bic. How can power or wealth be sources
of misery TO those who seek them with re.
solutions 70 employ them rightly, and con.
sequently 10 enjoy them truly?
1t, is common to enlarge upon the tempta-
tons to hard hearted Incidence wasting
s,nsuali;y OF selfish tyranny, to which the
possession of crowns and palaces expose
Us: but such declaimers merely pronounce
their own condensation. They inform us
indirectly, but distinctly, that they have no
conception of the uses of Office OF money,
but as instrumental to frivolous pomp, and
lazy luxury, on one side, or oppression and
injustice on the otter. They cegtanly ma.
niitst their prudence in refusing a knife,
which they know they shall employ in cut
ting ;heir own throsts, or those of their
neighbors, or which thsy enormously ina
g;ne is unified to any other purpose but
surely those may Iaudablv covet tool,
which, though capable Of being turned a
gainst innocence and merit, may likewise
be successfully welded i'll their defence
which tho destructive in the grasp of malice
and cruelty, is swift to rescue & powerful 10
save in the hands Of wisdom & benifcence.
We may say, indeed, that, if mankind
be taken as we find Them, power and wealth
will be more likely to corrupt than improve
the possessor, and be more liable to be "a
bused bv Incidence and even incapacity,
than rightly employed. That wisdom and
henevo!ence which leads to The right use of
wealth and power, may be said to be ex-
,remey rare, or of very difficult attain