The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1822-08-20
From the Manufacturer, md freeinaa's journal.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS.

From the Manufacturers md fleenaas Journal.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS.
The great machine of government con
tinues to move With regularity, but, like All
other machines, requires the constant at
tentlon OF those who arr interested in It's
revolutions. Although il is the handy
work of political wisdom, the most emin-
ont of the eighteenth century, and super
intended by the most ssilful engineers of
the present day, such is the inpcrlection of
every thing human, that nothing but the
mtiring Vigilance of the public eye can
prevent il from running to disorder and
RUN. IL therefore bchoyes the American
people TO withhold nothing of that attention
which they have hitherto extended To the
conduct ofther public servants, and 10 the
operation of that government, which,
though II has passed the ordeal Of one gen
Grafton, must still be considered as in The
course Of experiment,
While every days experience strength.
ems our preconeeiNcd and wcll founded
opinion of the intrinsic worth of our con
stitution, as 10 the essential wants Of "A free
community, We are daily furnished Wit,
additional motives 10 its preservation and
common anxiety is felt, TO correct, by the
force Of public opinion, "a well as By formal
legislation, those disorders which might, il
suffered, cndanger a ystem of 80 much
beauty and utility.
Ii IS not in the formal and customary
routine ofrcgular government that the first
indications OF imperfcciion and decay are
commonly 20 be found hui in those Trans.
actions, not regulated by the letter of the
law, which relate, mediatcly or immedi-
aiely, 10 IN" distribution and tenure of oil
ces. In our government, 50 watchlul are
The people 10 check the taintcst attempt of
pubic men 10 Transcend The bounds of the
constitution, no man who wishes 90 contin-
ne IN public life, would risk the forfeiture
OF public confidence, which mus inevitably
follow such an attempt
ltis, then, III the elections To office, prin-
cipally, that We have 10 fear the deSelope-
mcnt of spirit uniWorahe 10 The proper
and useful transactions of public business.
The desire of power and wealth, and nl the
distinction which they secure to those who
possess thcm, is too apt To precipitate pub
lie men into measures which patriotism
must disapproye Ofthis, the proceedings
Of the last session Of congress, the intrigucs
carried on at Washington, ard the excite
menf already produced On the pubic mind
by the contest Of the competitors for the
next presidency, are sufficient proofs.
Those things have taken place, moi in an
irregular and disorderly STATE like Poland,
nOtin 4 state where such abuses have be-
come inyetcraie and incurable, but in 90
yeumcnt only tbirty-four years old, and
undera constitution, better secured, IA has
bern fondly supposed, than any other in
the world, against such things.
II mast bt apparent, that il the presiaen.
- IS nov desired with 90 much ardor, and
sought for by such improper means, M
have been and will be-, put into rrquisiiion,
IN Inc course o. the present canvass, it W i'll
hereafter become, like the crown of Po-
land, an object of the ambitious, and nm oc-
cason ofcivil war. As the population, the
wealth and power OF the country increase,
the importance Of the office viii be proper
tionately augmented Ii will be sought
for by our most wealthy citizens WHO can
distribute brides: 1t will be sought for by
our generals, recommended by the splcndor
of their achievements, and backed by the
influence OF the army: II will be sought
for by the groyeling and undermining de-
magoguc, v hose craft has enabled him To
catch the ears and secure the palms OF the
million, II viii become an object with To-
reign nations, 10 mix in the intrigucs of the
competitor, and TO support By their money
and their diplomacy, such candidates as
may be wiling, IN order 10 Obtain the office,
te lcnd themselves 10 foreign policy. Like
the Polish diets and the Roman Conclayr.
our electoral colleges may thus become are
mas, in which viii be repeated the Disgrace
ful scenes of the old word.
II snch state of things Is 10 be avoided,
we should apply the preventive in season.
There is no time 10 be lost. We are al
ready Thousand ycars old, IN some things,
and in others, not far behind the oldest of
the European nations. What that preyen-
tive should be, is not easily imagined. That
the executive government must be vested
ina single pcr-o!iis undcniable. The Office
ofrresidont cannot, therefore, be abolished.
The evils OF which We have spoken may,
indeed, be nifisated, by redering the cleo
tons le7s frequent, and perhaps by not suf-
FERNS any individual to hold the Office for
more than one term-whether that term be-
extended 10 eight or twelve years.
In every view, the subject is one Of vast
importance to the future welfare Of the pa
ton, and one on which tao people ought to
bcstow the most serious reflections.
Lote8t and Important .Aeies from the
IN 4 TIrf