Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1810-09-03

be WeIl-Tcdu pohtieia.A", t''"I .''~y
understand tbs science OF legislation as
gurke and Hamilton. But it is absolutely
necessary that they should have good hearts,
that they should be men of good sense, ana
devoid of all that foolish, Ill tempered Jea-
lousy of their rulers, which is perpeiually
afraid that they are going to exercise some
power and oppression over them. ne de-
mocra,s believe assutedv, that the federal
lists wish to establish monarchy or an a
ristocracy. And yet there are no men,
who love liberty more heartily and warmly,
who are more attached to the interests OF
the people, and to the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
OF their country.
In the+ New England states knowledge
is more equally diilused, and the better are
generally better informed, than in spy O.
Their country on earth, not excepting Hol-
land. or Scotland, Saxonv or Switzerland,
before the late revolution. But, in most
of our southern states, the people are de
plorab!y ignorant and corrupt. we would
recommend it to the legislatures OF those
states to attempt something on this subject.
We are persuaded they would succeed IN
their efforts, More may be done IN this
way than is generally imagined. The cha
racter and condition OF the people IN the
three northern counties Of England, have
been very much improved by the cxcrtlons
Of few ;19ividuniy, wilnn the last tour.
teen years. And the good which those ~
diyiduals have done in their country, is
more delightful object TO look at, than the
splendid administration Of Mr.. Pitt
Strange as it may seem, governments busy
themselves very little with their internal do
mestic concerns. A scheme of policy in
our government, ike the embargo, would
be considered of infinitely more conse-
ouence, than the establishment of free
schools through the country. The first
would be surrounded with so much splen-
dor as 70 dazzle the eyes OF the vulgar
while the latter would be ridiculed, because
II neither improved the wealth nor the gIo.
ry of the county.
But it is more especially necessary at the
present time, that efforts should be made
to purify anu enighten the public senti-
ment when the iacobns are SO actively
and necessarily engaged in disseminating
their abominablr principles. Notwithstand-
;pg all the care which the Swiss had taken
to preserve the virtuous principles and ha-
bits Of their fathers, the French politics and
philosophy have made solid progress in
Switzerland. 1T may be questioned if the
emperor Napoleon were to die now, and
the states Of Europe should be left to them
selves to new construct their governments,
whether the best of them would be able to
establish free governmclts SO completely
has the state Of society among them been
ruined. The influence OF French politics
and philosophy in this country, 1t is easy to
see is destined to have Il very serious effect
on the progress OF the government. All
good men have sufficient reason now to re-
rret the decline of our republican institu
lions. and the degeneracy of our old vir-
tuous habits but all this will not compare
with the caamitcs which are to mark the
future progress of this government and,
which, (uness great efforts are made) may
bring upon tia dissolution as rapid and as
terrible as that Of Rome or Venice. And,
+" If in the nature Of things, there could be
any experience which would be extensively
instructive bot our own, all history lies 0.
open for our warning open like a church
yard, all whose lessons are solemn and
chisseled for eternity in the hard stone, les
sons that whisper. Oh that they could thun.
der to republics" y9ur passions and .viccs
for6id you to be free.
Perhaps it is hardly worth while to write