Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1824-07-29

was every day weakened, In proper
ton as these ties.0f nature and eli
nate of hume and national Partially
acquired strength. There was no'.
there could not be, any common bond
between the rulers and the ruled. no
generous sentiments OF sDlicitude and
paternai regard on the one part. not
particle OF love or reverence on the
other. This was the course Of ma.
ture, necessary in itself, aud irresis-
tibie in its progress. That it has
been 80 slow may justly excite our
wonder. bot that it can ever be re.
verified by the arm OF man, whether
clad in the panoply Of despotism or
the habIiments Of persuasion. it
would be as childish to believe, as
criminal to hope.
The events which are yet to await
the new republics, before they settle
down into we'll organised govern-
ments, we forbear to predict; yet the
Justice Of their cause, and the man
ner in which it has been. for the most
part, maintained by them, leave
no rosm for doubt as to their ulti-
mate triumph and success. They
will be shackled and embarrassed
with the remnants of ancient IN
sttutions: they have the hard task
! before them of building new edi-
| fees on the ruins CT old ones, with
| out being able wholly to remove the
rubbish, and plant solid foundations
at the bottom. Even the new constl-
tntion of Mexico, promulgated with
in the present year, not only declares
the Catholic religion to be that OF
the nation, but prohibits the ererctse
of any other. 1t is to be hoped that
the enormous intolerance OF this ar
tiCle finds some compromise in Sc
curiag the powerful interest OF the
clergy. In this same country. also,
and up TO this very year. considera-
BILE revenue has continued to be rais>
| ed by the sales ofbulls Of indnlgenres;
and, what is still greater bar to
| public prosperity, the old oppressive
| alcapala is enforced. 1t may be
thought advisable perhaps to resort
to these means of revenue to which
the people are accustomed, while the
sources of supply are SO few and pre-
! carious. Abuses have existed SO
long that they have become habit.
/ with which the people would not part
if they could, altho' they are among
the heaviest stumbling blocks in
the way Of liberal ard enlightened ill.,
situations. For these abuses the re
publics are in no manner responsl.
bic; they must be treated with indul~
gence, and be removed by gentle
hand, as time and experience shall
loosen their hold on the minds and
prejudices of the people.
/ The notion that the southern pro.
yinces. which have declared them.
selves independent. are not in a con,
ditiun to admit republican forms OF
government, we hold to be preposte-
rous. They have been degraded,
it is true, but not to that de.
gree which takes away the pow
er of governing themselves; DOR have
! we much faith 10 the political creed
which teaches. that in any state OF 60
ciety greater amount OF happiness is
secured to ,he people by a self consti.
tuted despotism, call it an absolute. a
! limited, constitutional monarchy, or
what you will, than bya government
OF their own choice and participation.
This is a doctrine equally at war with
human nature and the first principles of
every social compact, and 1t only for
the few whose ambition inspires them
with the hope of being the active insru-
ments Of their own chimerical theory.
1t was doctrine highly applauded by
Ilurbde, when out of comp sion for
the low state of the Mexicans, lie kind.
| ly suffered the Imperial crown to be
placed on his head; bot bis short lived
tyranny was severe comment on this
dogma Of his creed, and plain indica-
ton of the sense Of the people on this
subject. tits doctrine most pleasing,
no doubt, to every tyrant, not only in
! South America, but in the whole world
and this is proof enough, if there we're
nc other, that it is false and PERM
cious doctrine.