Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-10-18
From the Connecticut Courant.

-ss Never can man be known,
{. His mind, his will, his passions, ne er appear,
Sc Till power and office call them forth.
SopEocLEs.
IN a very excellent speech of Mr.. Madison,
in the convention of Virginia, which was IN
session, June 1887, for the purpose OF consi,
dering the question OF adopting the feuerai
constitution. he made use OF these memorable
exDrcssions: "Since the general civilization
of mankind, I believe there are more IN
stances of the abridgement OF the freedom OF
the people, by gradual and silent encroach-
rnents of those in power, than by violent ana
sudden usurpations: bat on candid eNamina-
ton Of history, we shall find that turbulence,
violence, and abuse of power, by the majority
trampling upon the rights OF the minority nave
nroduced factions and commotlons, which, In
repubIics, have more frequently than any o'her
cansc. produced despotsln. Ii we go over
the whole history of ancient and modern re-
nnblics, we shall find their destruction to have
Generally resulted from those causes.
We need not ransack the history OF other
times and other nations, to support these seh'lc
ments of Mr.. Madison; since inc histo'! VI
our own country, for the last ten years. gives
ample proof of their business and wisdom II
would be impossible indeed, IN SO few WORDS,
to give clearer description of the genius OF
our last and present administrations
The two evils, which Mr.. Madison consl-
d.red as most dangerous to the American re-
nnblic. were, " the abridgment Of the free
dom of the people, by gradual and silent en-
croachments of those in power " tur-
bnlence. violence, and abuse of power, by the
majority trampIing upon the rights OF the NIL
nority." ~
For the illustration of these two points,
facts are better than arguments and to facts
we appeal-As to 4" the abridgcment OF the
freedom of the people, by gradual and silent
a,,cro,cbrnents of those in power the follow
;ng notorious facts speak for themselves.
After Burr's conspiracy, there were ar
bitrary and most daring violations OF tne P1i.i-
leges of Ha5eas CORPUS Clhzens OF the oii,''
ed States, on mere suspicion, were seizea og
military force, imprisoned, and some oil tnem
transported near thousand hlies from nome
This was such a monstrous stretch OF eSecu-
rive power, as, in England, would nave shook
the throne of royalty. 1t was horrible act OF
tvranny; a deadly blow at the tounda'loh OF
orr riehts and privileges. 1t was much the
same With the Lettres de- Cachet, In the Old
cro,e,n,nent Of France. Three OF the articles
00f ;mpeachment against George the third, IN
orr declaration of independence, were-kis
,rna,rng the military indctendent OF, and s"-
A-rior 70 the cipH h9gver-his dtfirivi"g Us,
~ mann cases, Of the 6enGfts eftriat by Jury
-snd his transferring rs beyond the seas 10
BE- trisa for pretended o6tnces. Every one Oh
tbese things has been done since, either direct
" or indirectly, by the penman OF that decia-
ration.
.. The peoples money has been drawn out
of the public treasury, from time to eme'
without legal appropriations and IN dlfect VIC,
l,tion of the laws and rights OF the nation ana
the culprits who had done this have been
screened from punishment by the arm otpow-
er and the phrenzy of party. Witness inc
affair Of the Berceau ;-the contrvances OF
Wilkinson, sc. sc.
2 The Judiciary, which is the great bull
wark Of our liberties, has been audaclousy
struck at by the executive, IN divers instances.
1yitness the case of Judge Johnson. Witness
also the taking forcible possession OF the Bat
Sture, not in consequence OF judicial decis'oh'
hut bv an arbitrary order from the Presldeh1.
4. What is worse perhaps than all the rest
the al!-inportant privilege of election has been
ins;diouslv undermined. Prior to the last e.
lection of President, Mr. Jefferson first pub
Ishcd s.y hi.., as clue to guide the pro-
ceedi,rs OF the heads Of his party. Then the
,le,nocratic members of the assembly OF the
state of Virginia met together in caucus and
,,o-,;,,ted MIR. Madison. Two or three days
thereafter, the democratic members of the
house of representatives and senate OF the Y.
States, held caucus, and confirmed the no
1o;nation Of the Vifginians. Lastly, sort OF
S,,n WAS issued from the UaticGn, denouncing
AT who should dare to dissent, and threatening
chem with the. pains of political excommuni-
cation. ,,,a
ton to such infatuation, as to toi'o" ms ma
NOUS example for the tutuFe' II VIII aiMa!s oe
-, ,,,,,,-er ,of some half score master-Jug-
lers to .ppoint the President Of the =. States
and i. people viii SO to the polls not as