Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-12-12
From the Connecticut Mirror.

Os THE DEMoRALIz1Se EFFECTS OF Con-
nERc1AL REsTRIcTIoNs.
6 Even faith and truth decay,
.dnd from their ashes fraud and tatshood rise. =
Much has been said, and very Justly, ofthe
depIorable effects of our anti-commercial laws
with respect TO pecuniary interests; but their
ill effects on morals have been passed over un-
noticed, or but slightly mentioned [; yet the
evils of the latter are unspeakably more dread
full than those of the former A virtuous ma
ton, though poor, may continue tor long
time free and happy, as in the instance of the
Swiss cantons but free nation that becomes
deeply corrupted, and so continues, will ine-
vitality lose its liberties. Hence the notorious
Machiavel remarked, I" He z1Ao Evould alter a
free government, and set himseLf uh, mast at
tend till time hath CORRUPTED The mass, ard by
degrees brought all into disorder" The rea-
diest way if not the only way to enslave free
people, is to fit them tor slavery by corrupt
ing their morals.
Scarce any thing affects the morals of ma
ton more powerfully, than the EXAMPLES gift
rul.rs. When the princes and peers of a
realm act with consistency and dignity, it
terds to awaken manly spirit among the SUI
coordinate ranks whereas shutting admlnl-
stration of government makes shutting peo-
pie. When tree is seen to wither at the tot,
there is little hope that its trunk will remain
green and vigorous. We are told that when
Richard the third, called the erookback, reign
ca in England, the courtiers especially, and
great many besides, were at pains to give
their shoulders an artificial crook, that they
might resemble their monarch. Crooked
ness Of mind and conduct in rulers is, Noreo-
yer, great deal more likely to be initiated,
than the crookedness Of their bodies it never
fails to be initiated, and to become more or
less fashionable.
The morals ola nation depend much on its
laws. Equal laws, which bind no unreasona
bic burdens on the general community, and at
4he same time apportion necessary burdens to
all parts of it as nearly alike as possible, will
meet with. general appreciation and ready obe-
diencc. The great body of the people, in
stead of thinking such laws grievoIs to be
borne, will esteem them Is their richest trea-
sures, obey them with alacrity, and defend
them at the risk of life. In such state of
things, habits Of subordination become gene
raj, * are more and more confirmed by time
On the other hand, partial laws, laws which
press down and impoverisha part of the COM
isunity, whether by obstructing them in their
accustomed lawful business, or by any other
means-arouse the bitterest feelings of the
human heart, and of course occasion evasions
and oppositions, knavery, perjury, and every
evil work. They change peaceable honest
Industrious citizens into dangerous charac-
tiers. Many one first learned to cheat by
being cheated himself
The stability, or Instability, Of laws, deeply
affects the morals of the people, one way OF
the other 1t Is not enough that laws be e.
quitab'e; they should be as stedfast and i'm
movable as the nature of things will admit.
For laws and regulations which have had
long duration, if they be not in their own ma
ture grievous, are the more venerated and
the better obeyed by reason Of the sanction
given them by age. The people are accus-
toned to obey them, they understand them,
and by habit their yoke has become easy.
On the contrary, the huctuation and inccrti-
tude of laws tend to throw every thing into
confusion. II the trumpet that summons the
people TO action give an uncertain sound, who
can prepare hiInself to act An almost per-
petual changing of laws makes it impossible
even for the well-meaning to know what to
do. when the laws of country shift like
the wind, commanding now this, now that,
prohibiting to day what they allowed yesterday,
then taking off the prohibitions, and then again
laying them on anew; both the laws and their
makers will lose al title to respect. 1t is the
ready way to bring Old .Anarch back to the
throne.
We DONE say that these who have the over.
sight OF the affairs of our nation nave followed
exactly the aforementioned advice Of Machia-
vel, with an infention to debauch the morals
and subvcrt the liberties of the people; but
We do say that their measures, for several
gears back, have had direct tendency to
produce these effects.
Through the inequality ofthe laws, operat-
ing directly to the Encouragement and des-
srucion of trade, many thousands of our in
dussrious useful citizens are impoverished.
many thousands are thrown or, of all business; !
the means by which they bad honestly earned |
their bread being wrested from them. What
shall they sdos "Dig they cannot" They
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