The Portland gazette., 1820-10-31

Dl'ee ct decornm es pro patrsa mori.
s Those who have searched deeply into
morality arr convinced, that virtus Is the only
path. that leads 10 true felicity
No proposition was ever more entirely sup
ported, than this observation from Satlei, by
The experience OF individuals and The history
Of nations The man ol viGuc and integrity
Is never tortured with the .emorse OF quit
conscious OF inaocenee, ne isars ,he detection
OF no crime, that Mill bring him to disgrace /;
he hears the malignant whispers oi caiuuny
with indifference, and lriunphs over h's adscr-
sar,es without struggle. Virtue IS The only
basis on which Republican Government, can
securely rest.-Remove this, and the poitica!
fabric will soon to,ier 10 lis fall. "Wnen vir-
tue is ban,shed," says alonteseueu, " ams'-
ton Inyades The hearts oi those who are dIspo-
sed 10 receive IL, and syarioe possesses the
whole community"
II then public aud private virtues are so
necessary 10 the hRpP'ness o. The individual,
the security oil the government, and the pos
perlv O. the nation, while we cherish them
IN our own bosoms, we cannot be too active
IN giving them our sutIgases, when we zee
marshailtd against them, dishonesty, intrigue,
and corruption. Supported by virtue, ma
tions have risen and shone with unrisa He'd
spiendour; but, when this has gradually
yielded to the encroachnens OF arariee aud
ambition, they have sunk again from their
pre.minent rank to the lowest abyss oi mise
| ~ and degradation.
Here II may be inquired, do We see any
thing IN our houri.hips Repuoiic, toIsboding
state dl morals, that will eventually disrobe
II OF the leaves thai ornament II. deprive 1t OF
the fruits that hang in ciusers uPoa It, lop OIL
the branches that give Il majesty, ana coTfcde
The roots that sustain 1t Is there any reiaxa-
ton in our adherence 10 the rule oil morality,
that presages TIE sLesAne Of private felicity 2
Is there any evil example, exhioiled among
our first characters, which, while II circuiaies
its contagious influence through an expanded
sphere, indicates deterioration of principle,
where honor, integrity, and virtue should pre-
side in unspoIied purify aud unladins iuslTe.
Our anceslois ever mindful Of that remark OF
early wisdom, which the annals OF every ma
ton prove 10 be a true one 8 When The
wicked rule, the people mourn," excluded
from all participation IN public olhces all those
aLo were not distinguished as well by their
christian pieiy, as BY their zeal tor the public
good. Do we SO Tar follow the sdmonliory
example, which they have set Us, as 10 make
even morality an Indispensable qualification
in our choice OF officers Al our elections, do
we so much as inquire whether the candidate
has uniformly observed the laws oi his coun
uy ar do we entertain that most preposief
ous notion, tha, the individual, who is destI
iue of morality ard perfectly 'osens'bie TO
public duty, IS the most suitable person TO
place in stations o. iru,, and responsibility
Property, talents, knowledge, ,poiieness and
hume rous sad active friends are SO proposes
sing, that we too seldom inquire into private
characters. We are prone 10 forget, that pos
sessions and en6ow ments are the instruments
by which bad nen sacrifice the interests o
the state, aud afford the strongest reasons icl
excluding them FROM Office.
liza person has, 10 any one instance, viola,
ed the obligations OF his allegiance, Tor pri
vate emolument; il from motives Of avaTIce
be has deliberately lrampled upon those sau
tary laws. which hs himself has advocated ant
approved il with Ihe base and mercensry
ne has entered inlo engagements for supPor