Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-02-25


rection of which Washington labored; 10 the
doubtful experiment of It's efficiency, his
wisdom and virtues impaired selidity, and
ensured success.
No pne can read the public addresses Of
our Patriot, without remarking the earnest
ness with which he constantly urged upon
the minds of his countrymen, thehnportance
of an harmonious and indissoluble union of
the states. The establishment ola federal
government on some solid basis. which mo-
wing within its proper sphere, not inter
rupting the state sovereignties, yet draw
ing to one point. the seperate energies OF
remote and extended communities, he tho't
a subject as worthy of his best exertions as
the cause of Independence itself. Hence
he gave towards the formation OF our pre-
sent constitution the benefit of his wisdom
in council, and the support Of his influence
and firmness in bringing its practical ope-
ration to happy result. He has left US in
the history ofhis administration, principles
which may serve TO guide future rulers; to
which il will be safety to adhere to de-
part from which would be guilt and dam
ger. 1t is to be regretted that his admin
istration was cast on stormy and inauspi-
cious times. But Notwithstanding the crude
but deluding novelties Of reform, the wild
and eccentric theories of Incorporate en-
thusiasm, which warred against the cross
of Christ-against the thrones Of earthly
Kings, and the bland Liberties of peaceful
republics, he performed incalculable good
Cor his country; not the ast,perhaps, in the
early demonstration of the strength OF 60
vernment which rests for It's support on the
consent and virtue OF a free people.
The study of this constitution can never
be useless or unnteresting-it would seem
peculiarly appropriate to the present mo-
ment.
Extensive confederacies have seldom ap-
peared on the theatre OF human affairs, and
it has been remarked that SHE part they
have acted has been short one" An at
tentive research into history, affords ample
confirmation Of the remark. We should be
excited to an anxious and di'igent enquiry
into the frame of ours, lest the principles of
self dissolution and decay Turk within it,
that 10 time we may eradicate them, or at
least, delay their operation. II will impart
to the patriotic enquirer no common gratif-
cation, that in the differences between our
confederacy, and those over whose pre-
mature downfall history laments, and inthe
in the science ofgovernment
which later times had made, an exception
to the rsmsrk may be distinctly discerned
in our case.
In the Lycian, Achian, and Eiolian
leagues of antiquity, the defect consisted
in the weakness of the confederate arm.
Tie distruslful republicans OF Greece we're
ever Jealous Of any sovereignty other
than that to which they could appeal in
their popular assemblies A common dan.
ger to which ca N state would, singly, be
unequalled, occasioned united exertions
of their wisdom and va'or, The only at
tribute Of sovereignty, however, which
was exercised 10 any beneficial extent was
delbelation. The obvious deficiency was
the absence of executive powers. These
were left to, the states. The necessary
conse quence was, that simultaneous ef-
fort was seldom made against the common
enemy. Federal functionaries were un-
known to Grecian politicians. Another
error consisted in this, that the sovereign
~ essential TO the creation of a national
spirit was too sparingly yielded up to the
union-a form of government in which the
majesty of state sovereignty was repre-
sented in one deliberative body, and the
sovereignty of lie people of the states
viewed as Que nation, in another more nu-
merous and popular branch, is looked for
elsewhere in vain. For this anomaly, as
some might term it, but as We would main
lain, a masterpiece in po|itics--we are
% American statesmen.
To impart to federal government sufi-
cient vigor, without impairing the sove-
reignty of the states, was The most difficult
task our statesmen had TO perform. Tho
The natur, of the case admitted not of dis
,inct and specific enumeration of every
possible power which it might be salutary
for the general government to exercise, an