Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1816-02-27

,,ugaestion ofits worst propensitIes. Dos
n;Ilion, however confirmed by old usage,|
,r secured by strong power, was aiike
subject to its attack the tortitude when
and the policy which conceded,
alike The victims Of its fapacity. Europe
yroaned beneath arule, the most Cypress
I've and fatal to mankind, had not tyran-
ny contained the cure OF its own eVlls,
and reused the spirit OF resistance py the
extremity of oppression. Politicians re-
ioiced in the liberation of Europe (: yet
the philosopher, who remembered the
hopes under which this revolution COM
menced. and sought in its conclusion
some Improvement in the condition OF
humanity proportioned to its suferIhgs
and sacrifices, found little fruit, save
some sad monitions against Political IN
novation, of all these dreams OF freedom,
these projections ofphilosophy, tins waste
of life, and strife of genius.
It we're indeed strange lniatnatlon,
If this drama Of varying scenes, and
strange catastrophe, should impress no
Wholesome, however melancholy moral
If this food, which has buried so much OF
what was fair and stately, should leave
no useful deposit of prudence u this
volume of awfrl revelations, whose les
sons have beenproclaimed amidst political
darkness and tempest, and accompanied
with the wide effusion OF the walls OF
wrath on The nations, should after vain
warnings to rulers andtpeopie. Yet II
had been an obtrysion on your attention..
as well as departure from the purposes
of the occasion, to advert to themes So
often and largely insisted on, had these
events passed away into mere historical
legends; chronicles to detain the ear Of
childhood, or suggest morals 10 the OBJ
server OF the splendid miracles Of hume.
crime aid folly; and had they not be-
queathed to the nations, on whom they eX
their immediate force, durable
and inauspicious influence, which 1T Pc
culiarly concerns tree people to con,
slider.
1t Is unfortunate for man that his H.
berty is always less secure, as it becomes
more desirable; that the refinement
which augnents his enjoyments, dini-
nishes his zeal, or his capacity to defend
them. In rude tribes, where the ele
ments of felicity are few and simple,
they are guarded at the cost of sacrifices
disproportioned to their OBJ
iects, and unknown and impracticable tc
the members Of polished communities
The savage is the lord of bis hut, while
the citizen is often slave and prison
er in his palace.
The exaitation of the great and opu-
lent above The body of the people,
in such states, becomes eventually
the instrument Of their ensIavement.
Wealth and power resemble the calorIc
of the chymists of which 1t is neither
nossible nor desirable TO preserve al
! ouil;brium in the material system; but
whose excessive concentration in any
one point is the signal and cause OF tenn
pest The inequality which operates on
the one hand to plunge the wealthy into
sloth, on the other goads the INDECENT in
to jealousy and turbulence or leaving
them without profitable employment, Gre
ates those necessities in the depressed
orders of society, which ill the armies OF
nrinces with the most wretched and pro-
figate of mankind. The poverty, the
envy, the desperation of the populace,
are the eifectual agents of revolution. or
the strong security of despotism.: they
fill the ranks of CatiIine, or guard the
Of a Caesar.
The states, OF Europe already abound
ed in these elements of servitude, and
their sovereigns had already welded
them to aid their encroachments, or con-
firm their triumph over the liberties OF their
neople, when the French nation became
possessed with its dream of freedom
The huge military force which foreign
aggression made necessary for defence,
was then supported by the enthusiasm or
the necessities of populace, whom Che
riot of revolution precluded from the Or
binary sources of subsistence. A mfll-
tary despotism impaired a new energy
and direction to the varlike character
and resources which took birth in he ar
dor of liberty, hurled amaze and discom-
fture over Europe, and gave to the fear
rul machinery of war its greatest extern
SION and violence. Z more lavish ex-
nepditure of treasure a more wasteful
fusion of blood more of that pompous
horror which at once giTds and acceIe-