Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1821-02-26

.rdepeGQent STATE, not inc IeaSt DoaSt o
nitaln! Taught by her exalted examples
mbued with her sound and tasteful litsra,
,ur.. her protestant faith. and the boldness
oil inquiry which has always accompanied
that hath, as il FIRST produced tive are
likely, whatever accidents befal her,--and
4 trust they are remote Ito prolong the viz.
tuous glory of her name; as the young Sci.
>on of our own forests displays the species
aud the vsrdure Of the majestic trunk which
decays beside It.
There is one aspect in which it is most
oratstu TO consider our country. however
We nav regret some of the miscbiets which
are TO be discerne6 with il; II is the com
,nor refuge of wIetcbedness. The very
s,r,pser who only looks on its map, beholds
IN il Inc signs OF its being The common asy-
Inn of mankind Various names, of vari-
nm, tongues, designate its hamlets, rivers &
,Ia,ps. and show in how many parts OF its
wmg surface, wanderers recall by the
names of their country, their national SYM
r,thies and reeollectiOns. In such cOun-
trv seem to see the proper soil of true
philanthropy. That patriotism on W hich
nations have so yaunled themselves, appear
20 me, if | may asssil sentiment made sa-
cred by all our habits OF thought, 10 nave
been as often a spear to their neighbors, as
y shield 10 themselves II has ssnctihed the
ambition of republics, as loyalty has that OF
monarchies and, unless limited by that re-
soect for the rights OF mankind which redu-
ces il, in truth, to the principle would sup
plant il with. is, at best, only one OF those
better prejudices which supply, IN the I'M,
perfection OF society, the place OF truth and
reason. Strongly animatlns the savage
horde, this prejudice Is Seen 10 tade with
the increase Of the rshnements which mish t
seem to justify it and benevolent Phi'oso-
ply has sometimes from the general ciViii-
zation anticipated the genera dniiy oil ma
tons. and the extinction OF at least the hit-
,fTnsss of their national prepossessions -
This comprehensive sentiment OF beneto-
I.nce has, | know, been brought INTO Kind
o, disgrace by the daring innovations which
have been attempted IN its name, aud has
been ridiculed IS in possible AMI aaturai.
Ye, know not by what other principe The
filth and peSce OF states are 10 subSist.--
The intimacy of nations ha, certainty in
creased their good will, amidst all the m
bilious contentious of their rulers; and |
have oyer found the wisest thinkers 10 be
-rnst citizens OF the world, and rulers who
nave been rxgardful Of other countries
rights. 10 have been the best friends vi
their own.
ano,her important result Of d'Gasing
tlnraton through our country, III t''ai
stability and correctness of public o
pinion to which have already alluded.
The history of ancient repuhli's shows
how uncertain were all calculations on
thr semtimcm; OF pupulace, nn whose
r,thasia,m ambition or accident was
always able t. act. These people
WIRE artly compar d 10 the Waves, and
I cir ora,ers tn the winds, whose breath
cnnid always lash them into fury and
IN sruFa observer at human affairs has
rcuarkrh that every memorable ,e'"
ia,iuu in Eoa,, was cCedcd by some
spectacle which appealed to the cnihu'
siasm of the people. 1t We awe To this
susceptibility that series ut beautiful
stories, which reasonable poetry more
tlan history, We NAV, on tue "th"r
hand, from the more prosa'c character
of modern republicans, cxprct less $50.
lence of faction. fewer rash 'cra'a ms,
less scope for the machm&aohs OF am.
biti..n, aud less likelihood OF any dura-
b!r usurpationa ~ their !ibetties. 1t
is in ,hr elevation it hath given to the
character OF the wu;titpdc, that mo-
dem literature exhihi,s It's prmcipal
Superiority to anriemt: and 1t u, pro
srrss shall prove that it has been in
tue ignorance, urt III baNeueHs ut the
people, that Tyranny has hi,h" rita f'""d-
CT Tue somhrc Citadcls of its opprrs
SONS, it will have reared ii more OK
releut trophy, than to have g''9nbirth
10 all the h Isl of literary heroes.
ftheSe views have any Foundation
il truth, the charity, my audience.
which fosters this young assembiage
hrlure YOU, has been engaged in a yet
trtter occupation than imparting lit
lie instruction "a the means OF subsis-
tenCc. BeaeN oieuCe assumes higher
Vaaiity, when from the INDECENT aud
the ignorant she raises up intelligent
m>m5rrs IT the commonwealth. aud VI
! Si;aut guardians of its policy and law.
TIA hi, spot. where she has poured
knowledge AMI virtue into thousand
teattI. cheer d Dis o,dtnHe. animat d
81 thtul aud ,qual'd poverty. and sent
II tr,h % take It's share ut the honest
romp"tt'nns Of society ;hsrr, WI here IN
u 20 d order and dscoreus manners,
faruiIar even n uur yirtu0us c untry,
Ia the decent me hanic. in youth re-
F'aim, d tn lie he prep nf age. in the
naoroken Sabbath, and ,he thr"nged