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

Zee as nhch as it illustrates the tolls and
sacrifices Of the patriot & the hero. Events
proceed not as they were expected or IN
tended; but, as they are impelied by the
irresistible laws of our political existence"
MIR. AMEs.
The freedom and goodness of every 60
vr,nment ON earth, must depend ultimately
mon the people themselves. 1t is not pos
sih|e TO establish and uphold for any length
of time. 4 constitution and form OF govern
ment tor which the stare Of society is not
prepared. Let the people Of America at
.enG TO this let them remember that no.
thing buta corruption of their old manners
and HABITS, can introduce worse govern
ment than they now live under. When *ge-
neral Hamilton and Mr.. Madison were so.
anxious that the government should be arm
ed with good deal of power and energy,
we are by no means to suppose that those
gentlemen were at all disposed to abridge
the rights and liberties OF the people. But,
tbey we're SO foresighted and comprehen.
siye il their views on this subject, as 20
see cleariy, that even our state OF society
(,he BEST on car,h) was not prepared tor;
az any rate, would not preserve tor long
series OF years, a remarkable Tree gosern.
ment. The energy OF a government is no.
thing more than the establishment OF will
or power in the executive, independent OF
the people. Now, it is a maxim in legis-
lation. that the more corrupt state OF So
civ,y becomes, the more energy or the more
power ough. the government to have. Per"
hans the connection between the two things
viii not be very easily unprecedented. AS
long as the people are intelligent and v,rtu-
Gus, as long as TIE public sentiment is SO
erliphtened as to have favorable influence
on the public administration, there can be
,, 70 necessity for the delegation of any extra
ordiuar, bo1ver INTO the hands Of any man
or set of men. This is obvious. But, where
the people are generally ignorant and cor
rupt, the public sentiment cannot &c we'll III
formed and Steacy enough to operate with
efficiency and success. lhe conflicting ln-
! ,errsts and passions, which will N that case
agjtatt the community, and distract and
w,aken its councils, will eiftctualy make
way for tie establishment OF more energy
and poW:r. The people themselves, VIII
accompl;sl this very act. When the ,aco-
bins oil Fr .ncc mace Bonaparte first consul,
they did not know that an immense power,
independent OF the people, was necessary to
weld and administer the government. They
themselves, however, brought about the
new State OF things. Such 7v7N be tie case
| IN CIR country. Oar countrymen are SO ig
norant, aud have been so far deuded by the
iacobins, that it is Impossible to teach them
| any wisdom and prudence On this subject.
! The destiny OF our country, therefore, may
| be considered as liked and rretrievable.
| We might as soon attempt 20 overcome the
! force which binds the mountains to their
bases, and the ocean to It's bed, as to turn
back the course OF events, which the next
| fifty years thai pass over our heads vii, dis
| close. The talents and virtues, the activity
zeal, and public spirit of the iederalists,
! will, however, we are sure: prevent the es-
tablisnment OF any order OF things like that
! in France. But we will reserve for another
| time, complete examination Of this sub
ject,
In the consideration of the causes which
have occasioned the declension Of cur state
of society, it must be confessed that great
! deal is attributable to ourselves. We have
not made such efforts as we ought to en-
tighten the public sentiment. The Iegisla-
ton of the country both IL the states and IN
the general government, has generally been
| entrusted TO men, who could understand
and were able to judge on TINS subject.---
But those men (who love liberty and e
quality so heartily have not consulted the
real interests and happiness of their coun-
try The sbIendor Of government, is con-
,,Oli,ici,pc every thjno