Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-10-05
place every thing upon true foot
From the L1GHT-HoUsE.
III Kentucky Democratic Pafer.J
.OTpMpop.! O MoREs!

TEMpoRA! 0 MoREs!
In an otherwise well conducted demo-
cratic paper, l was some time ago sur.
prissd to read sentiment, which to all
intents and purposes belongs to times OF
terror. -.
The sentiment was that one OF the
surest signs of public papers becomr
ing anti-republican, was its EDITORS be-
coming greAt stickler for the constltu-
ton. Every public officer is sworn to
maintain the Constitution the oath OF
allegiance to the American Republic, is
to maintain the Constitution by what,
kind of political Hocus Pocus has Rell-
gion, Morality and Patriotism, become
friendly to barefaced perjury, 80 as to
make the strict maintenance OF the Con-
stitution political crime, a stigma,
mark OF Toryism? Were not the llber-
ty of speech and the press, as guaraD.
teed by the Constitution, the watch
words of the illustrious republicans, who
saved our freedom Is republicanism
camelion that changes its coiors with
every change Of position If 1t be re-,
ally so that a few years intatuation has
totally inverted the Specifications OF
words if the appellation of Tory signi
fies an admirer of Washington and &C.
nuine disciple Of Jeffersoli's school, the
Editor of this paper must court this dis
tinguished epithet; for the last stroke
of his pen, the last bresth of HE lips,
shall be reverence for those sacred artl-
Giles of agreement of an august nation,
which secure to man all that life is worth
saving for equal rights and freedom OF
mind and body under the regulation OF
salutary laws.
If the reader of these lines should find
them insignificant now, let him read
them oyer again about IL months hence,
when. perhaps, they may appear to him
of great;r Importance. The apple has
been ripe for some time it 10 now mel
low it must be eaten, orit will rot.
Never country on earth wanted so
much as ours does at present, the main
tainance of the liberty Of speech and the
press BY a magnanimous, freedom ador-
ing people.
Man is as incapable of unanimity III
sentiments Of political nature as he is
with respect to those o! Religion The
massacre, of millions for the sake of diff.
ferenccs in religious tenets, wars. de-
vastation, plumber and rapine, the de-
struction of whole empires in the cause
Of religious unity, the holy Hernandez
and the Inquisitions in Spain and Por.
tlgal themselves have been found made
ouste to the purPose.-The contrary OF
what is expected of such coerciye mca.
sures always has been and always will
be the result. In sight of the flames OF
Smithheld new sects and new heresies
will arise. The most contemplate sec,
will become numerous and powerful by
persecution. Force, instead of con
vertiDe, confirms opinions. If must
have enemies, l would prefer such as
would tell mel don't like you-keep
ont Of my way Il! before such a. will
smile and smile again, and secretly plan
NY destruction
For the sake of that liberty of speech
which is iuseparaLle from Republican
Government, if man pays his taxes and
turns out, when called upon by the laws
! of the majority to fight the battles OF the
country; let him otherwise talk or write
with all the fret dom which the Consti.
tuition and the laws guarantee to every
American citizen Actions may be, but
opinions are never controlled by force
If reason be left free to combat error.
the liberty Of speech and the press can
never become dangerous in Republi.
| can Government but beware of those
that 60 about in sheep.skins, but in
f, wardly are devouring wolves" Of those
I vine, under the specious garb of Repub.
licani: m, sap the foundation Of all ration.
al liberty. or under the mask OF patriot
ism troubh the water, that they might
catch fish Those exclaim NEST a.
gainst the "licentiousness of the press -
who have most reason to be afraid Of its
justice.