Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-08-03

ne"' actua,ed by public virtue, may often terminate
in private ambition The original motive is lost
| 4" resulting designs, and n union of mel for noble
purposes, becomes transformed into combination
for pernicious ends. The moment rl,ereforc mar
parties outlive just nperatiea of the casses that pro-
duce them, they are converted into factions, and
are 10 DC ''s''icred not so much the CONSEQUENCES
al freedom, as the causes of TYRANNY. Selfish and
unprincicd men, daring from ambition subtle from,
profigacy, or desperate from want TO whom the
iair competition Of capacity and virtue would be a.
sentence of perpetual obscurity, eudeavor to widen
asa en'oi,ter these distinctions, and confer on
names and professions more value and prpularitv
than on deeds andmerit Hence, IT sometimes ha,i
pens that an occasional difference of opinion or a.
temporary diversity of Judgment, is made pretcxt
to' perpetual disqualifcatons and inveteratc oro-
seripao; liberal opinions are denounced even gene
ro"s ana patriotic men tempted sacrifice love of
country tn ielixto party cautlor and indepeudcnce
discautaged, calculating acquiesence aud angry
opposition instisated and the eXigencies ncreasin
with tue abuses Of faction, the iuuda mental laws
al the state disrcgardcd the rdinal ma x,esoS
Justice dehed, and spirit Of discord engentered ilc
comparison with the cruelty and violence of which,.
the tempest is gentle, and hurricane caIu,-
BJ process somewhat similar to this, riAc we-
scntd'stinctions in the United States have beerf
preserved with an invetcracy which the success OIL
the causes that created them seems no longer tc'
Justify. In regard to those causes the capacity OF
tile nation for the formation Of parties was freely
eXer'ed, the political evolutions the republicans
ana tile OF the
government was faithfully adjusted the colistitu-'
uonal principles wl.ch then prevailed.
In the success of these principles tie natural
causes OF distinction ceased, and the close of
fortunate war, the nation acknowledged great aud
pcrvading sense ofunammiiy. The administration
ieit and ohcycd the grateful impulse, and assumed a.
direction coincding at with public sentiment
and constitutional principes-popular and liberal
elective and JUST and the community was left free
10 resolve itself INTO new parties due re-
nj lin ii.
rests oflibciy should require. But there are uoli-.
tcians who from interest taste prefer dissertio
To concor'i and these forsake the republican cause
at the moment ofits triumph. When natural causes
cease To produce dstinctio thew endeayor TO Gre
ate them by artificial ones; become apostates that
they may be itolerant, and pretend that the free
dom Of the country depends upon the domination of
perpetual faction In order maintain this false
position in society, which illustrates the triuurhs of
reason and TRUTH dninislies the public supply of pa
triotism and talents, and gains asccn6ancy for ne-
rior qualifications, system of cabalng has been
adopted, the most odious, the most obstinate and
the most dangerous that ever abused to confidence,
provoked the torbearance, tempted the power of
| a great people.
Although the press has done much TO prsduce
ana little to prevent, this state of things, yet if our
attempt to explain the operation of party spirit has
bcen successful, its power it need not be
deSpaIred Of Its chief property that of reactjpg
on ITSELF is necessarily the latest that acquires vicor
and activity and until this is maturcd by expert
mental adaptation to the demands and condition of
The society upon which it is to operate, the effect
and sautary nature of its Influence will not be OBJ
tanned. Ii would seem therefore that the appear
ance OF new ournalin the metropolis of the United
States is calculated to bescak the favorable notice
OF the people, and likely to be kindly regarded
by those who are most warmly devoted to tieir
| county.
The editors of the American Gazette, in SOLICITING
the confidence and patronage of their fellow citi.
Zens-a patronage they hope not to dsappoint, aud
! a confidence they intend never to betray-have 10
'hculty in declaring their opposition that mar
! row and exclusive system of political mana CEMENT
which originating in honorable views, leads its yo-
taries into facous excesses into central caucuses
and provincial juntos aud nculcates dstaste for
me rue and sublime political ma xm-Niat The FIST
magistrate ofHte Union should he Tie chief of he
nation, not The head Of a party.
However the limits of prospectus might counte,
nance reservation of opinion reg ard to the con-
Stfuchon OF the constitutions, the editors are so sem
SiDie OF the importance of The subject that conscious
Oh 'he integrity oi their sentiments, they neither
aliec ambiguity nor practice conccaIment. Although
r may not DC easy to be explicit subject which
requires detail and exempiIeaeion it is not difficult
TO be candid.
II VIII be their endeavor to support fair and ma
tural Interpretation of that sacred instrument 10 he
g"iued ny the intention of its authors aud the inn
port OF ITS language aud not by views of local or os
personal advantage. To its express grants they arc
inclined to apply liberal construction, to its impli-
ca powers Il strict one--by which means they should
hope TO reconcile justice with policy, to combine ex
pedience with safety, and to demonstrate that the
strength ofthe Uuion is neither to exhaust the sove
reISAty OF the states be sacrificed TO their in
| dependence.
| Upon these principles, they conceive Mr.. NJad;
sen proceeded in his celebrated report to the Asseu
Dly OF Nirginia--wbich far as il goes thew cou-
sider a model OF just and profound constitutional
feasN9ihg, as well as paper of unriy He'd confirm
versial elegance and power.
The Gazette will be open to the ESSAYS of ,bos,
who may wish to investigate and define the princi-
pies of our governnent-discussions upon which,
the editors feel disposed to promote and encourage
being persuaded that the better the federal constitn
| ton IS understood, the more Il will be rcyered and
| valued
merses Pro)itado, pulcltrior erentf.
| Besides containing faithful account of Tho
proceedings oil the great branches of the admins
traioD and literal and exact report of the debates
oil Congress, with the customary selections of do
nlestic news, the Gazette is intended 10 furnish sac
cnct ana candid reviews of the growing literature
OF the United States. Earnest and unusual atteu
ton will be paid to this subjects from convictions
that liberty which is fortified from diffusion o.
knowledge, is at the same time einineptv favorable
to the cultivation of science, the advaucemen, n
iearnIng the creations of genius, and the embeJls
ments oil taste. 1t is time that the literature of the
country should emerge from its colonial STAFF
! hoeVer reveTts to- the recent original of this
powerful republic, hardly forbear to prefipuye
the magnifccncc of its future fortunes or be deter
red by The uncertainty of human ~ eatncss from, he
leivg, that, if the citizens Of the United States
continue to cherish sincere devotion 10 liberty and
justice, aud constant attachment to the eoyeru-
net they ENJOY they viii reach the highest attain
I n lIn 60 rT