Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1822-09-28

those nations which in our. lectures and
studies at school, and the professed doc
1trines of.morals and wisdom, to which
we hear much in speeches, sernou, and
official re portsit would bewefl. Per-
ihaps in our land legislation we have
not very much which we ought not TO
be ashamed Of, and unquestionably!f
our country and it's legislation were to
be tested by that branch of our public
policy, that part Of our Boosting had
better be consigned to chapter In our
history among the things not entitled to
much praise.
Asto our constitution, this is fruit
full theme, and yetif'the tree be known
by it's fruit or like men be Judged by
their works, we shall probably, upon a
dispassionateinquiry be not able to dis
cover this fruit, nor those works. No
practice, no error is more general, than
that which attributes to an object, quail
tiles which belong to another. No man
would consider man of great muscu.
lar power, transcendantly wise, or the
great moving cause of the happiness
Of his neighborhood, because he
did not beat or abuse his neigh
bors, because he did not burn their
houses, plumber their property,
or abuse their wives and daughters,
merely because he was strong enough
to commit any outrage with IMMUNITY.
Yet this is one of the kinds of merit
which is SO much extolled. We praise
our government as men praise pic
ture, or landscape that is for the skill
of the artist, not for its practical use !;
it is sometimes praised as Trinculo
praised Callahan, because the 'szceet
monster did not devourhim. 5
That would be indeed curious revos
luton which having shaken off the des
potism of kings should claim to be me-
ritorious because that was shaken off
was not continued as in Mexico, the
yoke Of Spain has been broken, only to
fix upon the necks of this independent
people yoke, which though for the
moment it may be mild, must in its We
ry incongruity with the laws of nature
and modern society, terminate in mis-
cries or conflicts, the extent and effects
of which cannot be calculated. ftst
The Distress that pervades all parts
of these states at this moment, would
seem to call for little moderation in
our pride, little reflection or suspen-
sion of the vanity by which we have
been made drunk. The whole concerns
of nations have changed with the reyo-
lutions that have agitated the civilized
world with little interruption for near
ly half a century. If the. people of the
United States have not lost sight Of
those feelings for posterity-if love Of
country be not a mere hyperbole-if
those sentiments of generosity which
have distinguished this nation in war,
be not extinguished ; it is time to cast
off the apathy under which this nation
has been sinking for seven years past,
prominently, and incipiently for some
years before: the condition of the west
ern states is now similar to that Of the
eastern few years ago; the middle
states have had their vertigo and pa
ralysis; the disease has travelled from
east to west; and has RECOMMENDED
easterly again; and approaches the cen .
ire second time. There must be some
cause for al this--but it has been the
fashion to cry out, let as alone-we are
told that government 10 notunder any
obligation to interfere in the dearest IN
terests of society; to act for its preser-
walton, for its prosperity; this business
of letting alone, is rather too much.
Governments are not instituted among
men, to let them alone; it is wisdom
not to govern too much-but not to GO
vern at all Is rather paradox be-
cause at least it was formerly believed
when the rational ideas of government
we're maintained, that the only end of
governments, was 80 far from letting
the affairs Of society alone, the very
end of rational government was to put
society in motion--to keep the circula-
ton Of the blood in wholesome action
and to guard against the moral disease
of idleness and the influence of ,nlsgui-
ded and mistaken passions to keep a
constant legislative remedy for the con.
stantly recurring mistakes of inexpe-
rience which Providence has ordered
shall be in constant progress and in as
constant decay; thereis no letting time
alone, it will act, and if it be not sell
zed by the forelock it flies a nd is lost.
2 The whole system of the national
and state policy of these states, must
undergo total change, adapted to the