The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1824-07-09

can never be productive of such perniriohs
effects, "a where ii is liahle 10 rush in =
single tnfrsfd, vernheiming whatever IL
eneonnteIA IN It's enrr.pf Iins Invaluable
boom atone places ihis ustioH uroa IN eTni-
uence lrniu which We may view alt others
with 10y rxdted feeling OF conscious
supsfiofiiy aud exrltBlan. II IN fact rcnz
does this country the sffy slid As yiam Of
Irgitin 4. ffcrd0m, and ~ citizens the
exclusive guardians vi its security aud pro.
tccfiun. Elevated 10 So pre-eminept u
destiny, let vs. cpdeavor TO make 40 emu
luus exerlion To- improve and perpelaate
Tho advantages with which we arc pecu-
lGuly favored Abree al, lr' rs revere the
genuine principles of r"pablitanIsni, aud
steadily pursue il. d. ,irs, that we may
rrflite tie calampies of those who traduce
lis purity aod delight IN III defamation.
The freedom ol the press is another ac-
QUESTION of M iuconslderablc magnitude.
The protection by law from any infringe
irh.nt Of IFS pri,Ifges is NO less lhr sugges
ton Of rcasun aud Justice, than II IS the
result Of usefulness aud policy. phe sove-
riign power resides IN the people, and
those " hoadminister itare considered Their
agents. II would, then, have been u poll
/ tic.1 selerism to impose any restraint upon
their rishi 10 investigate, approve, censnre,
reward or punish these agents, Is circum-
stances may render necessary. The con-
stitutlun, therefore, guara,Itees their unl
mited right To do this by any rode Of pub
licatlon, IL being the only plan by which the
responsibility oil these agents could be c"r.
tsiniy secured Il practically enforced. The
liberty of the press appears, then,to be nae
parably intcrwo,e EN- with the liberty OF lht
people. II is The substantial palddlum ot
the iatcgsity aud salibriiy of ihe body po'
lite. II IS public monitor, which apprIzes
of spending dangers, before they can he
maturcd into actualiul ivy. Its tribunal
which protects weakness from power add |
humility from arrogance. II Is a mirror, |
winch, permitting the languagr oi truth 10
rrneet its own image, exrmpis Innocence
from detfaCtlon, and reputation nom re |
proach. II yon would ENJOY the purity Of |
Ibis medium, let not lis transpareueE he
ubsenrcd 10y the vcnOrl of party splrlt, or |
the nn,llgnily of calnmny. When IT trans
cends the bOuDds of dignity aud drcornm, |
II becomes an engine destructive To the re-
pose Of all who are obnuAlous to lis bdn, iuI I
purpose.
IL m,ttrrs ofrcligi0n, evesy citizen may
nov consult his own conscience without any
drcnd Of lnqulsitori7l persecution. To the
Of the human character,
frequent attempts have been made uadGr
The pftiext OF lis sanction To aaplrc at inur
dinate power and influence. The annals
at ma,tyfdUm cone,u,tely attest that su
pcrsttIon and lanalclsnI, under the diIsc-
ton Of jealous enthusiasts, have been sue
ccssiu weaponsi in ohstrnclii the course of
justice, and snh,ertlng the pillars of legiti-
mate power. Under most other govern
ments, the clergy, protected by power aud |
promoted by patronage, do not feel that
Indictment to useful eXertien which is the
ordinary consequence Of want and drptn
drnec. There, also, the mitfe sparlslcs with |
gems ,xtorted from Involuntary contribu
ton Here, thrr maintenance being the |
effect of au homage, proportonate 10 THEN
ability aud nsolanrss, must necessarily |
produce Il practical iahurnce upon their
habits aud character. Bot the experience
of history dictates that IL separate civil and
religious institutions by Insrperable bar.
iiers, il the only effective instrument 10y
which the genuine duties of both can be-
performed with certainty and fidelity.
The IIbcraliy upon with the laws for
the dnmlclllaion of foreigners is founded,
forms one of the most brilliant stars IN our
political constellation. Tho the soundnrss
of this doctrine may br contested by PIE
JUDGE and policy, yet the disintcrestedness
and sJ mpnthy ii discovers IN the cause of
suitcrlng humanity entities It 10 the most
unqudlih d and exalted commendatiou.-
! The access now tocXcellrnre being restric.
ted only 10y mental aud moral attaunicuts,
! the candidate for rcnonn may asCeud To
commence without any aid from the pnmp
| oi atlluencc or the pageautly Of hCraldry.
| The puhllC rs the object, generous elnula
ton IS the incentive, and the appreciation Of
! his cnnpatrlots the reward of all his un
tcrprl1es. To detail all the conspicuous
| features of our political resurrection, would
| greatly exceed the limit, of fugitive dis
stnatian The general happiness il has
dtinsed in numerous ways through the
! community, prochinls in tones Of rrsistlrss
rlolnencc, lis asoeudancy over every event
IL history.
The experience Of past ages aud thr re
nrmbrance Of human revolutions, have
excited some disquirtade in relation to the
future drsilnies Of this country. Thcs.
dlrciul lorcbodings have been apprrhcnded
from the excitement of private ambition.
the inequality of fortune, and the last OF
conquest. But the restricted disposition
OF power, accurately dc,iucated by our
constitution, may reasonably be expected
to dlspel these gloomy illusions of vl,uua-
ry Jun,pruderts. rhe peculiar circum
stances, moreove, in which the u. States,
are placed, VII! not admit its comparison
with any former republic, without distor
ton OF Treason. and an outrage upon com
mon sense. The scenes of tnmult aud
COmulolItn " Inch cnnX t,i,p1 anil lYstr,,v
ed Athens and Rome can never he dreaded
IA hong a. we remain All agricultural nation,
Dispersed over an immense territory, as
nothing - moJf Inconsistent with the inter
ests and habits ofsurh a pursuit than fire.