Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-01-18
(cantinued from jfrsf toge. }


their commercial intercouses afforded I,
those who had not promoted, but who would
have reoiced to alleviate their calamites,
a fair and golden opportunity BY combining |
themselves 20 lay a broad foundation for
national wealth.
Although occasional vexations to com.
merce. arose from the furious collisions nf
the powers 1T war, yet the great and coed
men ct that time coniormed to the force n
circumstances which they could not con.
troll. and preserved their country in securi.
" from the tempests which overwhelmed
the Old wurll, and threw the wreck OF
their fortunes on these shores. Respect a
broad, prosperity az home. wise laws made
by hnnored legislators, and prompt obe6i.
ence vie ded by contented people, had 81.
fenced The enemies Of republican institute.
onS The arts flourished-the sciences
were cultivated-the comforts and conve
nience of life were universally diifused--&
nothing remaiuel tor succeeding adninistra.
tons, but to reap the advantages, and che,
fish the resources. flowing from the policy
ct their predecessors.
But no sooner was new administration
established IN the hands of the party oppo
sed to the Washington policy, than a Fixed
Determination was perceived and avoweG
Q. changing system which had alre sdy
produced these substantial fruits. The con.
sequences of this change, for a few years
a:cer its commencement were not sufficient
"a counteract the pr0digious impulse tow
ards prosperity, which had been given to
the nation Bur q steady perseverance, in
the new r'ans cf administration, et length
developed heir week.-mrs., and dctorm.ty,
but not until a majority of The people had
been deceived by hattcry, and infiamed by
passion into blindness % their defects. I'm
der the whitening influence of this new sys.
TEN, the declension of the nation has been
n"fnrm and ranid. TIE riche,t advanta.
Is FOR securing the great objects OF the
Cons h'uiion have been wartonly rejected.
While Europe reposes from the convulsi-
onr that had shaken down her ancient insti-
TUTORS, she beholds nth amazement this
remote country. once SO harpy and So enS
We'd, involved in ruinous war, and cxclu,
ded from intercourse with the rest of the
world.
To investigate and explain the means
whereby this fatal reverse has been effec.
ted, would require voiu1i discussion.
Nothing more can be attempted in this re-
Fort than general allusion to the principal
outlines Of the policy which has produced
this vicisitude. Among them may be emu,
merated
First. A deliberate and extensive system for
Erecting a combination am ing certain states.
b. exciting local ] 'aiouses and ambition, so as
80 secure TO popular leaders in one S .ction of
the union, the control Of public affairs M Der
pet,isl succession. To which primary object
most characteristics of the system may be re-
conciied
Secondly That political intolcranc. display
ed and avowed in excluding RON cffice men of
uneXcepi ionable merit, for want Of adherence to
the executive creed.
Thirdly The intractinn of the judiciary au
thcri'y and rights, BY dcpriving judges of,heir
oHcos in violation Of TIL, constitution
Fowthiy. The abolition of existin.. taxes. re
qu'si'e to prepare the country for these changes
to which nations are always exposed, with n
view % tie acquisition Of popular favor.
fHthD The influence OF patronage in the dis.
tribu' ion OF offices, which in these states has
been almost invariably made among msn the
lest ntitled 10 such distinction, and who have
s"id themselves as ready Instruments i:r dis
tracing public opinion and encouraging adm.
D'stFation to held in contempt the wishes and
vided.
SIrthT. The admission Of new states into
sme union, formed at pleasure in the western re-
Sion, Vas destroyed the balance OF power which
existed among The original states, and deeply
affected their interest
Sevehfh!y. TIC easy admission Of nat1raIized
foreigners, 10 places of rust, honor and profit
operating as anindncement tn the maI-coptent
SUBJECTS OF the old world TO CONF tn ,bc.e
states, in quest of executive patronage. md m
repay it by an ahject devotion to executive mea
sures. '"'"
Eighty Hostility to Great Bsitain. and mar.
tisiity TO the government Of France, adorded az
coincideht With popular prejudice, and sub.er.
went 10 the main object, party power. CAM
nected with these must be ranked .rrorroms
and distorted estimates of the power and re-
sources OF those nations. of the prob,ble re-
suits other controversies, and of our ,,olit;cai
relations TO them respectively.
LHs'y and principally. A visionary and su
perncial theory in regard to commerce. sreoyn
PANIED by a real hatred but feipned regard 70
its interests, and ruinous persev. ra,cs =, 81
forts TO render it an Instrtlmen, of coeyc,o a.,
var Vi COERCION anu
But 1t IS not conceivable that the ob,;e,,,v &C
any administration could, in so shor, n,r;od
nave SO nearly consunated tn work of ra,;oOai,
ton !" ule conStitus
To enuInerate all the improvements Of which
tnat Instrument is susceptible, and 10 pronose
such amendments as might render !, in ali res.
poets perfect, would be a task, which ,bio e.
W't'oh mas not thought proper TO assume
Ihey have confined their atteu,;op a., Ct. =
experience has demonstrated 10 be ,ssa~,;' |
ana even among these some are csns;d.,o,; -,
u,eo 10 more serious attention thpn n,L.a
til