Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1822-03-05

The same conclusive reasons may b
assigned, to shew the justice and soun'
policy of expanding public money, in thu
erection of forts on our Indian and mari
time frontiers. The experience of th'
last war, which is fresh in our recollec
lions, will demonstrate to every rejecting
and intelligent mind, that such dispo
sltion of our resources is the best econo
my; and the great source of regret is
that such improvements have not beer
prosecuted with more yigor and sue
cess.
From this brief view of the subject, il
It clearly evident, that the criteria, upon
which the writer in the Argus has insist
ed, as the best guide in the election of a
President, are absurd and fallacious. II
statistical estimates are once permitted
10 mingle themselves and decide ques-
ion of SO much moment, they cannot
fail to excite faction and schism through
out the nation, altogether subversive OF
its harmony and happiness. No other
criterion but merit can be safely relied
upon, on such an important occasion.-
Wherever it may be found, whether in
the East, South, or West, the people are
.imperatively bound, in duty TO them
selves, TO give it their undivided patro-
mage. We shall be highly gratltied to
find This patronage concentrated upon
some distinguished ci'izeiI Of she West
of acknowledged talents, and tried Patri-
otism; upon one, who is considered a
yirtuous and enlightened statesman, and
who will engross the confidence and aiiec-
tons of the great body of the American
people. Being one people, having
common origin, laws, habits, manners
and interests, and living under govern
ment emanating from themselves, they
should always select those best qualihed
TO administer its concerns. The first
consideration in all public appointments,
is honesty. After this is secured, our
next object is to obtain as much talent as
possible. Ifthey cannot be combined in
the same individual, the honesty is to be
preferred as talents without il, become
more dangerous in proportion to their
extent. If a republican government de-
pend upon virtue, it is impossible to
preserve it, unless we elect honest and
enlightened men TO preside over its adj
ADMINISTRATION. This will always be the
case, where the people are yiftuous and
well informed; but it must not be for
gotten, that this state of things reaults, in
great measure, from the uprightness
of public funciionaries. If they are cor
rupt, they will by their intrigues, poison
the fountains of justice; infuse a delete
rious Ieaven into the laws, and dissent
nate venality throughout the community.
Such were the fatal effects of the ambi-
tious projects of Julius Cesar at Rome,
and of Pericles at Athens; and from the
nature of things, the same effects must
proceed from the same causes, under
every other republic in the world. The
history of all republics proves. that the
degeneracy of the governed has COM
menced in the ambition Of their goUer-
nors. In the advancement Of their own
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, they have lost sight OF
the public good: fortified the confidence
of the people, by either f1a.tcring their
passions and vices, or corruptly exciting
wars and factions, by which the nation
lost its liberties. Those governments
exhibit awful warnings to the people Of
the United States, upon this subject.
They display the rocks and quicksands
which causedtheir destruction, and incuf-
cate the necessity Of always exercising an
unsieeping vigilance, in order to guard
against a similar fatality. Let US not
neglect to profit by the experience of
others 1t is an invaluable treasure, if
judiciously appropriated. 1t is " Philoso-
ply teaching by example"
CRITIC.