Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1816-08-13
From. the Connecticut Courant

From, the Conaecticut Courart.
a scrap of Roman History ,corth mind
ing.-The usurper julius Casar, was i'm
|prudently disposed to assume the name
of king name or title which the Roman
Republicans held in er.abhorrence and
|detestation; they, like all other large bo-
dies of people, being marvelleusly influ-
fenced by the magic of names. This te-
|merity of Julius was, In no lnconsldera-
|ble degree, the occasion OF his assasslna-
|tion. The Romans might have been pa
|tient under his yoke, had Genuine Repub-
!lican been Inscribed upon that yoke, in
capital anu gIaring letters. But the idea
Iof living under one who bore the title of
king, inhamed their minds, and wrought
then. up to pitch of fury and madness.
After the horrible carnage of civil war,
Octavianus, commonly called Augustus,
succeeded to julius Caesar /; like his pre-.
Idecessar, cutting his way to the supreme
power BY the sword. According to Glib
bon, he possessed g cool head, an un-
feeling heart, and cowardly disposition
In his early years :. he assumed the
mask OF hypocrisy, which he never after
wards laid aside" His virtues were
artificial. His moderation was insplr-
| ed bv his fears" {" He wished to deceive
the people by an image of civil liberty
IF these traits Of character given him by the
historian were real, he was exactly the
right man for making republicans to be
slaves in their own way and so the e.
went seems to have turned ont.
The willy Augustus ac'ed the part OF
demagogue. '1'he death ofCae ar was
before his eyes" Under the popular
name of consul or tribune, Caesar might
have reignedIin peace,& even syranized to
ibis hearts content It was the title of
king that armed the Romans against his
lie. Augustus took special care to es-
Icape the wrecking of his fortunes upon
| that rock. lie was sensible that men are
governed by names. 1t was his expecta-
top ''that the senate q people would sab
init to slavery provided they we're respect
fully assured that they still enjoyed their
ancient freedom" With these impress
Isions and views bis cunning management
perfectly correspondent. He assumed
not the title of king, but was contented
with that of emperatOr, which in those
times was the ordinary title of distin-
guished generals of the Roman armies.
No sceptre did he hold in his hand, no
Grown did he wear on his head. Angus
tus was plain man, transformations in his
and a pattern of simplicity
ia his apparel. which was manufactured
by the fingers of his own wife. The
names and forms of the ancient republi-
can administration were preserved by
him with the utmost care. The usual
number Of consus, praetors, and tribunes,
we're annually invested with their re-
spective ensigns of Office" Sc In the e.
lection Of these magistrates, the people,
during the reign of Augustus, were per-
mltted to expose all the Inconvenience of
a wild democracy.
That aftful prince, instead Of discov
ering the least symptom of impotence,
hu,Ably solicited their suffrages for him
self or his friends, and scrupuIously prac-
tised all the duties of an ordinary candi-i
date" Though Roman freedom was ex-
pred, he feigned tender respect for a
free constitution. He treated the senate
with reverence; permitted their stately
attendance to the accustomed business
Of their functions; and pretended to be
guided by their decisions. At the same
time he was absolute master of the Sc
nate, which durst not stir step in any
business without first knowing his will
and pleasure. He was absolute master
f all the officers elected BY the people,
is well as of the people themselves. But
the forms OF a tree constitution being
puIousiy preserved, slavery sat light
apon them they even mistook it for IL
erty.
Augustus, after a very long and a very
quiet rciga, died in peace-leaving an il
iustrious example of able management,
2hich possibly will lie initiated even in
these United States some centuries hence,
however unlike i: things Look as yet.
N'EW-I-ORK, yaug. 9.
Captain Bond, of the brig Ocean, who
arrivedhere last evening III So days from
Narsei;jes. Informs that the frigate y. S.