Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-02-27

on which was gradually 10 oeEa.seu '"n
fabric of our national prosperity. II
all or any of these pillars tiny country
men) are -ioosened or torn from their
this fabrick must totter or
fall, and With it, our liberties, our happl'
ness, and our existence as nation Is
it not then matter Of great moment 70
INQUIRE in wha. respect we are deV'a'"s
from the principles upon which our go
verpmen, was established, and according
to which, for short period. 1t was most
successfully administered ! II we ne
elect the examples, and abandon the
PRINCIPLES Of our ancestors, OF those VINO
laid the deep foundation of our govern
nent in the rock of religion and who'
both in preccpt and action, took virtue
as their guide, and the only faithful d.
rectress to prosperity aud honoraoie
fame, shall we expect TO be partakers ID
their deeds, and sharerS IN the +lmpeiish-
able glory Of their names!
RELIGION. my friends and coun-
trv,pen, is intimately, nay indissolabiy
connected With the permanancv' tue
happiness, and the dignity OF nation
10 proportion as government approx
mates the popular form In the degree
in which the people have the sovereign
ty, and arc their own legislators, SO Is
the necessity OF the general diffusion OF
religious principles, and the apprccia-
tim and practice Of good morals In
these we have the best pledge OF
prompt and willing obedience to the
laws;- have an assurance OF the
prosperity, and stars;ity of the nation
for when the heart and understanding Il.
mite in imposing an obligation, its OBJ
seryance is more voluntary and Certain,
than if enacted by Tyrant's mandate,
or enforced By penal sanctions the most
severe.
I, should therefore ever be an object
Of primary consideration in those who
rule, to preserve the morals Of the peo.
pic free from every impurlty to esi.
dence in ali their acts grateful depcn-
dance on the aid and protection OF the
most High, and q deep respect and re-
yercnce for his holy religion. Bn:, it is
not sufficient that government merely
discounlenance immortality; or lend its
aid 10 the diffusion of good morals, or e.
ven encourage by It's appreciation MEL
lcc:ual worship. The tree of religion,
that it may flourish, sheuld be continu-
edly supplied with geni,i soil, and re-
freshing waters, or, to drop the meta
phor, it should be the object of every
government, as the most certain mode
OF securing its duration, to foster reli
gior institutions of every description,
by enabling those who serve at The al-
tar TO live in comfort and case by the al.
tar, by establishing those institutions on
that solid and permanent basis, which
is calculated to secure the respect and
steady regard and admiration of men,
and which may be adapted to win and
fix them in the exercise OF their reil-
eious duties; fpr there is something too
spiritual and a5strac; N the operation OF
devotion or Intellectual worship for the
great mass of mankind. Ia order there.
fore to give fxity to their ideas, to inn
part 20 them an srdour and enthusiasm,
their temples nf wessh: p and other re-
lieious institutions should exhibit an I'M.
posing and disn'6sd character; and this
is Only to be Effected, by placing re!i-
g ion generally under the peculiar care
and protection Of the powers that be-
That religion is closely, nay insepara
bly connected with the Interests Of
state that it is The firmest basis of na.
tional as we'll as of individual happiness
anc dignity, and that it forms the strong
est bond of civil union, is truth with
y hich the wiscst legislators OF faga'z
times appear to have been deeply I'M
pressed. But this sentiment was oy no
ueaus confined TO the legislator, the
or the statesman: it per
vadsd the minute inteutiCcs o! society.
was the main spring OF action, formed
the rule of individual conduct, aud was
the earliest lesson impressed on the
yon,hful mind.
Rame might never have been the mis-
Iress of the world had not Romulus and
Numa. in her infancy excited by their
policy profound and constant. venera-
ion for the Gods, ard given lrstre aid
o,aies,y to the rites and cercmoniais OF
religion. So deeply impressed were
he Romans with the opinion that The
Gods superintendent and regulated The
les.inies of men, that they never pre-.
;umed to declare syar, give battle, create
or'eren to make jourDies,
without some appropriate religious c.
Religion, as the spring Of successful
,oiicy, has also received the eulogy OF
nost Of The he athen writer's Of eminence
IT'S much easier (says Plutarch) to
uiid city without ground TO hold aud |
uppurt it, than to make a common.
aI,h either unite G: subsist when the |