Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-06-07

paritively, will say nothing. My
reasons are; first, that the age is toe
nice and difficult for it, there being
nothing the wits Of man are more busy
and divided upon. 1t is true they seem
to agree to the end, to wit, happiness
but in the means they differ, as to di.
vine, so to their human felicity; and
the cause is much the same, not always
want of light and knowledge, but want
of using them rightly.
Men side with their passions against
their reason, and their sinister inter
ests have so strong bias upon their
minds, that they have to strive against
the good Of the things they know.
Secondly. l do not find a model in
the world, that time, place, and some
singular emergencies have not neces-
.sarily uttered; nor is it easy to frame a
civil government, that shall serve all
places alike.
Thirdly. know what is said by
several admirers of Monarchy, Aristo-
crazy, Democracy, which are the rule
of one, afew, or many, and are the three
common ideas Of government, when
men discourse on the subject. But ]
chuse to solve the controversy with this
small distinction, and it belongs to all
three: any government is free to the
people under it whatever be the frame
where the laws rule, and the people are
a party to those laws, and more than
this is Tyranny, Oligarchy or confu-
sion.
But, lastly, when all is said, there is
hardly one frame of government in the
world SC i'll designed by its first found
ers, that in good hands would not do
well enough. and story tells us, the
best in ill ones can do nothing that is
great or good; witness the Jewish and
Roman states.
Governments, like blocks, go from
ernments are made and moved by man,
so by them they are turned too. Where
fore governments rather depend upon
men, than men upon governments. Let
men be good and the government can
not be bad, fit be ill they will curse
it.
But if men be bad, let the govern
ment be never SO good, they will en-
deavour to warp and spoil it TO their
turn.
| have known some say let us have
good laws, and no matter for the men
that execute them; but let them con-
slider, that though good laws do we'll
good men do better: for good laws may
want good men andbe abolished or e.
vaded by i'll men; but good men will
never want good laws nor suffer i'll ones.
1t is true good laws have some awe up
on i'll ministers, but that is when they
have not power to escape or abolish
them, and the people are wise and good
but loose and depraved people (Which
is to the question: love laws and an
administration like themselves.
That therefore which makes good
constitution must keep it, viz. men OF
wisdom and virtuous qualities that be-
cause they descend not with worldly
inheritances, must be carefully propa-
gated by avirtuous education of youth,
for which after ages will owe more to
the care and prudence of the founders
of the successive magistracy than their
parents for their private patrimony.
These considerations of the weight Of
the government, and the nice and va
rious opinions about it made it uneasy
| to me to think of publishing the en-
suing frame and conditional laws, fore
seeing both the censure they will meet
with from men Of different humours
and engagements, and the occasion
they will give of discourse beyond IN y
design.
But next to the power Of necessity
(Which is solicitor that will take no
denial) this induced me to compli-
auce that we have with reverence to
God and good conscience to men) to
the best Of our skill, contrived and
composed the frame and laws of this
government to the great end OF all go
vernment, viz. to support power in rev.
erence with the people and to secure
the people from the abuse OF power;
that they may be free by their just obe-
dience, and the magistrates honoura-
BILE for their Just administration, for Ii
berty without obedience is confusion
and obedience without liberty is slave
ry. :. III,
To carry this evenness is partly
owing to the constitution and partly to
| the magistracy, where either OF them
fail, government will be subject to
commissions; but where both are want
ing it must be subverted: then where
both meet, the government is like te
endure"
A CITIZEN.