Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-11-01
AN EXrR ACr.
PARTY SPIRITS

1t is very current opinion at the present
day that in all free countries parties are
necessary checks upon the administration of
the government. A moderate degree of
party spirit, it win be admitted on all hands,
may be useful.--But where the government
is purely elective, and the great body of the
people enlightened, as III this cur favored
country. the existence of violent parties is
not and certainly canno. be necessary. On
the contrary, it is highly pernicious, and if
suffered to continue, must at some future
day fill this land with blood and civil war;
1t is incredible, neither Indeed is it possible,
that free aud enlightened community can
have their welfare promoted or their interest
at all advanced by splitting ir.to divisions, by
virtually giving up the right of suffrage to,
and submitting &c be controlled by the die
tates of unprnCip.od demagogues Such
government is an aristocraCy in fact, al
though democracy in FORM Prejudice
here usurps the province of reason, while
corruptioR suppiants the dictates of justice.
The spirit of party in all former republics,
has uniformly rejected the COUNCIL oftpeArse
and virtuous; it has drowned r.. wi i>
motion the feeble voice Of the patriNid@<Etes-
man it has been the food gate through
which every possible evil has unceasingIy
flowed: and eventually has overwhelmed
the land with darknesa, disaster and rem.
For confirmation ctthese facts, look at the
history of the most powerful republics, and
mark the rapid and fatal progress of domes-
tic faction. Mark the tate cf Greece: Ihey
were once eminent!y Conspicuous III the re-
fined arts and sciences in statuary, sculp
tu-c, architecture, pueiry and oratory. The
moderns have REASON ia blush when they
contemplate on the Aas,onshing displays Of
Grecian gesius ;--wk hen rhey consider with
what great, amazings perseverance, with
what energy and asdof they cultivated ev-
cry field ut sc.rnce.
Greece was not only f7tst in literature but
she vas inst IN war. TMe period has been
IN which she could boast of troops that re-
pulsed tie confined forces of the most war
like ard powerful nations OF her age--cf a
COMMANDER that led them on TO victory, that
conquered the world and who is said t. have
wspt cause he had not another world to
Conquer But now how Illuminating is her
Condition Her inhabitants have sunk into
the NEST dep!orabie ignorance and disgrace
have become q sorCiid, gloomy, miserable
horde of slaves--tHe devoted sdbiects OF 81
gotry AND OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES why this sad
Change! The answer is too plain 10 be mis-
taken. The different states became mutu-
ally jealous OF each other, and instead of u
4ttllih NUClF own uCiGniN, Wy iGNClN CG
upon each he's rnn.--They fought, they
bled, tley conquered themselves.
Carthage might lave Il urished. perhaps
to this day hid it not been tor the dness
of an abandoned faciion--Hanihal, the biav-
est and greatest of warriors, nIarchedhis VIC
torious army through the hostile regions OF
of Spain and Caul lover the Pyrenees and
lofty Alps descended like AN over Shelm
ing torrent ON he plairs of Italy (; defeated
and nearly DESTROYED five Roman armies in
succession But aias while waiting at The
very gates sfRnme FIR reiaforcements which
the Carthageiians might have granted, Inc
received the melancholy tidEgs that his
countrymen we're. sXhiusting themselves by
their own intestine omafrelS. so that hey
refused to ID in subadpg tina. very peopte
who soon afterwards acSamplisIed he 6nal
subjugatioh of Caethage. q literally plough
ed up the foendaa pns.of ~ cilYs.
The next yictira N the list-t}republics is
Rome. although sx;ensioH oftsFiitory is of
ten assigned as the kricipaFc ause If her fall,
domestici diSseuton WAS NO doubt power
f,il agent in hurryingsper % the altar. This
mighty and pcpuous republic, a republic
which con. aimed an hyfdred and twenty
millions ohpsoplesIF which was found IN
wealth and glory: which floated for ages on
boutdless tide OF prosperity, and swayed
an undispu,ed sceptre over the world, was
ruined for the want of order and union. In
the declension ofgreatne IS, ambition, intrigue,
licentiousness b .ibery and corruption, con 4
spircd III welding the destneSof the nation.
And so completely was she swallowed up
in wre:chedness. vice and luXuty, that the
empire was actually offered at public auc.
ton to the highest Bidder. Under these
circumstances i was Of little avail that she
had produced an unusual number Of heroes
and sages; poets aud orators statesmen
and hilosophers,--Fcr with their united ex-
ertions they were incapable of ayerting her
ruin.
Poland was subNgated by her own inhabi-
tants. Her eoclesRsVCai and civil dissenti-
ons introduced anarchy and confusion iu,J
the state, destroyed government, and de-,
lated the country.-k the latter stag, Of
her existence she exhibited a vast theatre
Of civil war. Of instruction aud carpage.
The ncighbouring coantries having eXpefi
Cnced tie disagrteable Effects Of these dis
orders; having been obliged 70 adopt the
most expensive measures o secure the iran
guilty Of their frontiers, deemed i incumbent
upon them 10 step In TO their assistance, ard
take upon themselves the management OF
this ill-fated republic, Accordingly the
courts OF Vienna, Berlin ndPeprsbuTg qni
city partitioncd Me Polish territory. Whie
al the same time The Poles were 20 xhausted
aud enIeebe ed by their o@n quarrels, that
they had lost the pSwer OF resistance tho
oace a Formidable ADD independent nation,
they now were helY&s, and submitted al