Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-08-06

commanding wi
on memorable occasion, demonstrated their dan
gerous object aud cha racter RI,
SO easy Is thc transition from patriotism to self in
'eres'' tnat views originating in the first, ex-
tend readily INTO the second, and political move
ment actuated by public virtue, NAV often ,crm;n,,
IN private ambition. The original motive is losr
III resulting designs, and union of men for nobI.
purposes, becomes transformed into a combination
Tor pernicious ends. The moment, therefore thar
pntucs on've just opcraon OF the causes thai pro-
ouce mem, they are converted into factions and
are to be considered not so much the ,,o,.c,s,,c.
OIL freedom, as the causes of Tyranny Selfish aud
unprincpled men, daring from ambition subtle from,
prohigacy, or desperate from want to whom, the
i'n co'npe.it'on oil capacity aud virtue would be
sentence OF perpetual obscurity, endeavor to widen
ana embittcr these distinctions, and to confer nm
names and professions value and populari ,v
than on deeds and merit. Hence, it sometimes han
pens mat an occasional difference of opinion, or a
temporary diversity of judgment, made q pret.>t
los perpetual disqualifcations and iuye,e,ate oro
scfipuoh; liberal opinions enouncct even pene
fo"s ana patriotic men tempted TO sacrifice love of
country to fidelity to party, cauor and independence
a'scouiaged,a calculating acquiesence aud anu,y
opposition issigated; and the eNigencies
viii, TIE abuses of faction the fundamental ,awS
OF the state are disregaded, tho cardinal ma xims of
justice defed and spirit of tliscurd Gingerbread i'm
comparison WIN the cruelty and violence of which,
the tempest is gentle, and hurricane calm
fy process somewhat similar TO this the pre.
sent distinctions in the United States have been
preserved with al inveteracy which the success of
the causes THAT created them seems NO longer to-
Justify. In regard to those causes the cspac;-- OF
'hc nation for the formation of parties was freely
eXered, the political evolutions ON the Republicans
side were completely successful and the pelicv of tho
government was faithfully adjusted to the constip.
tional principles which then prevailed
In the success of these principles the natural
causes OF distinction ceased, and at the close of q
fortunate war, the nation acknowledged great and
pefvadiig sense of Immunity. The administration
iclt and obeycd the grateful impulse and assumed
direction coinciding atonce with public sentiment
and constitutional primciplcs--popuar and liberal
effective aud JUST and the community WINS left ire.
4" resolve itself INTO new parties soon as due re-
gard to the course of the governments and the inte-
rests oil liberty should require But there are poli-
ticians who from interest taste prefer dissenton
10 cohcofd' and these forsake the republican cause
at the moment gifts triumph. When natural causes
cease To produce distinctions, they endeayor to Gre
ate them by artificial ones; become apostates that
thcy may be ntolerant, and pretend that the free
dom OF the country depends upon the domination of
pepe,uai iaetion In order TO maintain this false
position in society, which illustrates the triu,ons H
reason and TRUTH di,nhishes the public supply of ma
trotsm and talents, and gains asccna ncy for ;nfe
fiof qualihcatiols, system of cabaliing has been
adopted, the most odious, the most obstinate AMI
the most dangerous, that abused the confidence
provoked me iofbearance, or tempted the power of
great people.
Although the press has done much to produce
ana little to prevent, this state of things, yet If our
attempt to explain the operation of party spirit has
oee successful, Its power to it need not be
despaircd of. Its chief property, that OF reac,na
on ITSELF is necessarily the latest that ACQUIRES o1
and activity: and until this is Inatured bv exneri-
mental adaptation the demands nd condition of
Tue society upon which it is to operate, the effect
and salutary nature of its Influence will not he oh
tanned. IT would seem therefore thar the APPEAR
ince OF n new journaliu the metropolis of the United
states is calculated to bespeak the favorable notice
OF the people, and likely to be most kindly regarded
by those who are most warmly devoted to their
country.
The editors of the American G Gazette i'm soliciting
the confidence and patronage of their fellow ct;o
Zens-a patronage they hope not to disappoint, and
confidence they intend never to betray-hive no
uhhculty III declaring their opposition to that mar
row aud exclusive system of political mana cement
which originating III honorable views leads its W.
tares into iactiOus exccsses into central cauc,,ses
and provincial juntos and nculcaies dsta ste for
the true and sublime political naxiln-Mat he frsf
magistrate Of the onion should be lie chief OF IN.
nation not the head Of a party.
However the limits of a prospectus might counte
nance reservation of opinion, gard To the an
struction of the constitutions, the editors ave en- cen
Sioie oil The Importance of the subject, that conscious
oi The integrity OF their sentiments they neither
AFFECT ambisutyn nor practice concea neut. Although
III may net be easy to be explicit subject which
requires detail and excmplifcation, it is not difficult
to be candid.
wiii DC ther endeavor to support fair and ma
tufhi interpretation OF that sacred instruments 10 be
guided by the intention of its authors, and the im-
port OIL MS language and not by views of local or of
personal advantage o its express grants they are
inclined to apply liberal constructions to its imoli-
ed powers strict one-by which mean they should
hope to reconcile justice with policy TO combine
pedience with safety, and denonstfate:,nat The
strength of The Union is neither to exhaust the sove
reIsnty ct the states, to be sacrificed TO their in
dependence.
upon these principles, they conceive Mr. Mad;-
son proceeded IN his celebrated report to the Assem-
Dry OF Nirginia-wh ic as far it goes, thcy con-
sider model of just and profound constitutional
reasoning, as well as paper of unrivacd contro-
versial elegance and power.
The Gazette will be open to the ESSAYS or those
VINO may wish to Investigate and define the princi-
pies OF our gnvernment--discussions upon which,
the editors feel disposed to promote and eucouraoe
being persuaded that the better the federal cons,,
ton is understood, the 1t will be reyered and
valued ~
n'erses prcfaoado, pulchrior ere,a.
Besides containing a faithful accom-, If tho
proceedings oil the great branches of the admins
raton and literal and report of the debates
OF Congress, with the customary selectons cf do
nestle news, the Gazette is intended TO furnish sue
cinct and candid reviews of the growing Iterature
OF the United States. Earnest and unusual atten-
ton VIII be pad to this subject, from CONVECTION
that liberty, which is fortified from diffusion of
knowledge, Is at the same time emincntv favorable
to tie cultivation of science, the announcement of
learing the creations of genius, nd the en,bellis
ments OF TASTE 1t Is time that the literature of the
country should emerge from its colonial state.