Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1816-07-31


llic measures, the depra ity of ~, BIC
linen, and the rapid appro nation Of our
government in its admin tlation, to the
corruption and avarice f the govern.
ments OF Europe, are ap to despair Ct
the republic. Nothing thar has occurred
lin the transactions Of our general govern.
ment, since the odious alien L seditiop
laws in 1898, has produced SO much dis.
gust and indignation throu shout the union
as that shameful imposition called the
IS compensation la1V."
But men should not despair of TIE re.
public so lightly (; the government las
|still, in its sovereign authority, an effect.
ual and an easy remedy. In monarches,
indeed, where the case OF the people is
literally subject, there is noremedy bu.
revolution no hope but in the last ex-
|tremity of despair; the alternative OF re.
yolution or death
In our republic there is not only pre-
sent power of correction, but The strength
of the corrective, accumulatiSe ana pro-
gressive. Every augmen alton OF our ma.
tional number increases the security and
the power of depressing corruptlon'--'
There is necessary progression in the
increase of public expenditure. A mig her
state of improyement--the multiplication
I of the resources, the cultivation, the pro-
! auctions, and even the rational refine
'iments of the nation, must subject the 81.
,ivernment to more ample expenditure,
than when society was limited to one half
its present number, and its cultivated and
peopled surface, circumscribyd within
narrower limits, and our frontier less
comprehensive. But the increase OF off.
cial patronage. thoagh augmented in some
. measure proportionate with those neces.
, sary and inevitable ci~cums a1cas Of
. society, very soon find their u.aximum,
where population augments, as it aug.
ments with US, duplication of numbers
in less than 90 years.
The Limitation of the number of the -.
sislative body, determines the period
when the numbers must be so cOnsiders.
bly, more numerous than at present. in or.
der to proportion the distribution of suf.
ifrages with the number of members. that
1.-THE difficulties of imposing BY caba and
lartifice on society, will be diminished in
!, the inverse rata OF the nambers who have
1.-THE right of suffrage.
! 1t is, however, the duty Of the men Of
the present day. who do not sell suffrage
for office, nor delegated trust for pecuni.
ttsary compensation, who feel something Of
THAT kind of sentiment which those felt
I whe, In the revolution risked every con-
;sidera ion of ease, fortune and lie, TO Sc.
cure Liberty and independence Tor their
'po>terlty we say j, is peculiarly incum.
S bent o. all who have not learned toiaugh
virtue, and to make of Liberty onIys
t pass word to power and enrichment; it
D becomes every man who wishes to pre-.
! serve freedom for his descendants, and TO
enjoy it himself, to bestow some attention
on the course of public measures, and to
/. 'ask himself soberly,if the practices ofthe
, men in power, for seven years past, are
consistent with their professions for the
fItweuty preceding years :
! There is no situation so dangerous too
,Ifree people, as that in which they Shmber
! lin security. All history afford, demon.
lstrations of this fact. The moment Of
sIgreatest confidence has often proved that
, ot the greatest danger. No man Of Ordi-
J nary reading, can be unacquanted win
= the exclamation" Curse on bis virtues
! they have undone his county"
I Society is very apt to run into tbs ez-
rlcess or confidence Seasons OF great
] Prosperity arc often dangeFOusas those OF
Aadversity. Men very constantly per-
-,suade themselves that no exertlCns ara
necessary to protect society, because DC
immediate pres,u e IS felt; and IN sea,
lsnns of adversely, every misconduct anu
tIwick edneos is forgotten. il the ircapacit!!
. Iof men in power is made up ply WHAT IS
Icalled good fortune.
How many topics which would have "a, a,
Weakened the eloquence, and lnsns''eq
1.-The virtuous indignation of great anu
loood men in the ancient republics, nave
Ibeen suffered to sink into obinouS l,I''
ference. in consequence of the sudden
land unexpected termination OF the 3 gs
lby the interpositiop OF tie mlni5tero' Wv
|Emperor AIexander-only six week, M
Iterval between the sine qua "0i': Vh.'"
required all the states and terr l's w. y;
| yond the Ohio to be ceded to Great'O"c.
iItain, and the fortunate interference h..
; the Russian minister, as the mediator :"
tween England and America: ''a' Nv.
,diatien which was rejected IN the FE.
Ioutset of the war, with a declafa''9!n s"'
England would admit of no meoiA"A