Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-03-05

picture has its shades, is but to say
that it is still the condition of men up
on earth. From evil, physical, moral,
and political, tits not our claim to be
exempt. We have suffered, some
times by the visitation of Heaven,
through disease; often by the wrongs
and injustice of other nations, even to
the extremities Of war; and lastly, by
dissentions among ourselves--dissen-
tons perhaps inseparable' from the
enjoyment of freedom, but which have
more than once appeared to threaten
the dissolution of the union, and, with
it, the overthrow of all the enjoyments
of our present lot, and all our earthly
hopes of the future. The causes Of
these dissentions have been various,
founded upon differences Depreciation
in the theory of Republican govern
ment; upon conAic ting views of poll
cy, in our relations with foreign ma
tons upon jealousies of partial and
sectional interests, aggravated by pre-
JUDGES and prepossessions, which
strangers to each other, are ever apt to
entertain.
1t is a source of qualification and of
encouragement to me, to observe, that
the great resul, of this experiment, up
ON the theory of human rights, has, at
the close of that generation, by which
it was formed, been crowned with sue
cess, equal TO the most sanguine expec-
tations of its founders. Union, JUS
tice, tranquility, the common defence,
the general welfare, and the blessings
of liberty-all have been promoted by
the government under which we have
lived. Standing at this point of time ;
looking back to that generation which
has gone by, and forward to that which
is advancing, we may, at once, indulge
in grateful exultation, and in cheering
hope. From the experience of the past,
we derive instructive lessons for the
future. Of the two great political par
ties which have divided the opinions
and feelings of our country, the candid
and the just will now admit, that both
have contributed splendid talents, spot
less integrity, ardent patriotism, and
disinterested sacrifices, to the forma-
ton and administration Of this govern
ment; and that both have required a
liberal indulgence for portion Of hu-
man infirmity and error. The Revolu-
tionary Wars of Europe, commencing
precisely at the moment when the go
vermennt of the United States first
went into operation, under thisConsti-
tuition, excited a collision of sentiments
and of sympathies, which kindled all
the passions, and embittered the con-
flict of parties, till the Nation was in
volved in War, and the Union was sha-
ken to its centre. This time Of trial
embraced period of fve-and-twenty
years, during which, the policy of the
Union, in its relations with Europe,
constituted the principal basis of our
political divisions, and the most ardu-
GUS part of the action Of our Federal
Government.
With the catastrophe, in which the
wars of the French Revolution ter
minated; and our own subsequent
peace with Great Britain, this baneful
weed of party strife was uprooted.
From that time, no difference of prin-
ciple, connected either with the theory
of Government, or with our inter-
course with Foreign Nations, has ex-
listed, or been called forth, in force suf-
fcient to sustain continued combina-
ton of parties, or to give more than
wholesome animation to public senti-
ment, or legislative debate. Our po-
litical creed is, without a dissenting
voice, that can be heard, that the will
of the people is the source.and the hap
piness of the People, the end of all
legitimate Government upon Earth
That the best security for the benifi-
cence, and the best guaranty agains'
the abuse of power, consists in the free
dom, the purity, and the frequency OF
popular elections-That the General
IL Il shn