Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1811-07-01
To be continued
csa,
-anSSycr Of the House Of Rct,rcsentatiues oil
Massachusetts
TO THE SPEECH OF
Governor Gerry.
May il please your ErceNency,


WITH sensations of pleasure, the House of
Representatives meet your Excellency, elect
ed second time to fill the high Office of Co
vernon of the Commonwealth. Badmen NAV
attain power by force or fraud, and weak men
may inheritit; but to rule in the confidence
and affections, and by the SURFACES of a free
people, is that honor which a wise man can
never despise. Mankind can present no scene
more interesting or more dignifed, than the
assemblage OF numerous people, by their
Representatives in harmony with their chosen
chief, to make and modify their laws. What
ever lustre history reflects upon men in anci-
ent times, is where she exhibits their virtues
and their energies, under free republican go
vernments Sciences and the arts, all the
sublime virtues, and even rational religion,
are their produce, and flourish in free states,
as in their natural cline. Transport them
to regions of despotism, they degenerate and
Jade. The bright light and generous warmth
OF tree spirit are necessary to their vigo-
rous growth. Ancient republics were either
pure demccracies, or mixtures of such with
parts of aristocarcy. Calculated, in their
small beginnings, for the government of sin
gle cities, or confined territories, they were
sure to flourish and increase at first, and as
sure to fall into decay, by their very in
crease, and go to destruction by the extent
OF their own power-because they wanted re-
presentation. To what extent representa-
tive democracy may spread ITSELF has never
been fairly tried, nor how long it may exist
To the people of the United States, is given
glorious opportunity to prove that man
may yet make further advances in the art of
civil government. Under our constitutions
we continue to enjoy, in an eminent degree,
all the advantages for which government was
designed. Why should any men be found so
bigotted to the old school, as to think of chang
ing such constitutions to government more,
supposed, energetic But all republics, it
has been said, have undergone revolutions
and come to their end. And so have all mo-
marches. So all men have died-yet suicide
is folly and a crime.
If it be true that good and evil are so COM
| bined, that no good can be obtained without
its proportionable concomitant evii--if it be
true that party spirit, seen in all governments,
| is more apparent and more violent in proper
ton to the degrees oflibcrty enjoyed ; and if it
be true that the government most freeis best
then may we console ourselves, that we have
the government the best and most free that e.
yer was known among men. That different
| minds should have different views of things,
| and different modes of thinking and reason
ing and that this difference should most
manifest itself in that state of society where
the mind is most free, is either a subject of
surprise or reCret-But when men inveigh
against every measure of government, for n
series of years, without solitary instance Of
| appreciation, then we suspect that this is not
from difference of opinion but a party spir-
| it. When they call aloud for particular mea-
sures, and disapprove of the same, as soon
| as the administration has adopted them, we
| believe this to be from party spirit. When
they change both principle and practise, and
profess and act on principles they once pro-
fess TO abhur, we know that this is from par
ty spirit. When they Judge the same point
differently, at different times, as seems to
make for thcimmcdiate interest Of their party,
we charitably hope that this is not done will
fully and knowingly, but in the blindness Of
prejudice and spirit Of party. This spirit is
the common contagion among political men.
No condition escapes it. Often, those most
disciplined in the school Of morality and gov
eminent ofthc passions, while attempting to
pluck out the mote from their brothers eye,
exhibit beam in their own. The excuses
Of his spirit on one side arc apt to inilame the
other. IL shall be the serious 'endeayor OF the
House Of Representatives to guard their minds
against it. 1t is important that the citizens
of state where the mind is left free to think
and speak on subjects Of religion and politics,
should cherish in their hearts generous
bencvolence. While party preserves itself
within the cssentiakTUie Of submission 10 The
majorifg, and k4.os coasfi,ufionaHy made, c.
very freedom of reason and OF speech, con-
sistent with the rights Of character OF lndivi-
duals should be tolerated with good humor.
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