Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1812-10-29

and another, until she has ceased TO ASK
or we hareceased to deny her; what will
then remain but to sit down and quietly
wear the chains she has been forging
for us; or If hot satiaficd With those she.
has formsI, to have the privilege OF
wearing some of Foreign materials,
: bound on us by the hand of Foreign
master have written this With tie
design OF introducing more cofions eX-.
tracts from the spcculations OF AaEs OIL
this subject.
"The progress of party has given to
Virginia preponderance, that, perhaps
was not foresecn.-Ccrtainly, since the
late amendment 10 the article Tor the
choice of President and Vice-Presidcnt,
there is.no existing provision of any Ell
fcacy to counterfeit II.
Experience, tho she teaches WIS
dom teaches it TOO late. The must S'eS,-
nal events pass away unpro6tably to'
the generation, in which they occur,
I'LL at length a people, deaf to the things
that belong to its peace, is destroyed or
cnslaycd, because 1t will not be instruct
ed.
"From these reflections the political
observer will infer, that the American
Republic is impelied by the force OF
state ambition and OF democratic l!ccn-
tiousness-and &c wi! inquire, which OF
the twois our strongest propensity. Is
the sovereign powerto be contracted ioa
state centre? IsVirsiniato be ur Rome!
and are we to be her Latin or italian al
lies, like them to be emulous of the no.
nor OF our chains, on the terms Of ian
posing t,em on Louisiana, Mexico or
San,e Fee? Or are We to run the giAdy
circle of popular RIGHTEOUSNESS, begin
Mig in delusioa, quickencd by vice, aud
ending in wretchcdness.
"But though these two seem to be
contrary impulses, It will appear, never
theIess, on examination, that they really
lead but to one result,
This great State Of Virginia has fo.
mented icentious spirit among all her
neighbors. Her citizens imagine, that
they are democrats, and their abstract
theories are in fact democratic but
their State pnlicy is th&t Il genuine
eris,oeracy or eiisarcI'y. Whatever
their notions or State practice may be,
their policy as respects the Other states,
is to throw ali power into the hands OF
democratic zrAlots; &c" some Of them
may be dci,,,led ard others bought to
promote lcr designs. Aud, even 'nde-
pcndently Of direct Virginia Influence
every state faction will find Us account
in counting the alliance, and promoting
the views Of this great lcsdcr.
There are few, even among the de-
mocra;s, who will doubt, though to a
mass they will deny, that the ambition
Of that State is inortlinate, and unless
seasonably cnuntcractcd will be fatal /;
yet they vii! persevcrc in striving fer
power N their state. before they think
it necessary, or can !iad It convenient 20
attend to Yer entertainments.
g But there are not many. perhaps
not five hundred, even among The fede-
ralis.s, who vet allow themselves to view
the progress Of RIGHTEOUSNESS as so
specdy,,so sure, and so fatal as the de-
piorable experience of our country
shcws that it is, and the evidence OF
history and the constitution Of human
nature demonstrate that it must be.
"The truth is, such al opinion. adj
urittcd with I'll the terrible light Of its
proof, no less shocks ctr fears than our
vanity. no less disturbs our quiet than
our preiudiccs. We are summoned by
the ,ocs;n TO every peri!ors and painini
duty. Our days are male heavy with
the pressure OF anxiety, and our nights
restless VIII visions OF horror. We lis.
ten to the clank Of Chains, ADD oyerhcar
the whispers Of assassins. We mark tie
harbarous discourscs oI rl!nel led rage &c
triumph in the yell Of an Infatuated mob,
we see the dismal glare Of their burn
ings, and scent the .oathsome steam OF
human victim, offered in sacrifice.
"Thesc reflections may account for
the often lamenled blindness, as well IS
apathy of our we'll disposed citizens -
VINO would choose to study Tie tremen-
dous records of the fascs, or 10 remain
long in the dungeon Of The furics? Who
that is penetrating enough to foresee
our scarcely hidden destiny, is hardy
enough 70 endure its anxious contem-
plalion :"
Extraordinary Mstinct.