Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-12-22

the BODY politic is thus swepIof, and
besides they prevent the, deady effects
of apathy and supineness; andthere IS
no doubt that in constitutional socie-
ty similar to that Of Chill, Political e
quality and even civil Liberty make
more progress in short season Of po-
pular excitement, than in loag period
of calm inertness. The people acquire
a knowledge Of their inherent rights,
and also Of their capacity 70 assert
them; and although they may occasion
ally, from ignorance, or over excite
ment, caused perhaps by the instru'
mentality Of some demagogae, trans
gress the limits Of wholesome restraint;
vet this contains a self-ob'ialing prln-
ciple; and even its extreme tendencies,
when every moral barrier is not bro
ken down, are favorable to popularll-
berry, and the development ofthe true
characteristics Of free government.
+ confess. therefore, that | do not see
in the frequent changes and revolutions
Of this country, any cause for alarm,
or reason for believing that Chill will
not eventually succeed in obtaining a
permanent and free government upon
republican principles. On the contra
~, am persuaded that this result is
rendered the more certain by this very
circumstance, and that the constitution
which shall be finally adopted, will be
the more free, healthy aud durable by
reason of these previous changes and
political fermenls. There is still less
reason for surprise at their SO frequent
recurrence; they are the inevitable re-
sultof conflict of public opinion with
defective ins,itutions,-which, contain
ing no self-corrective principle, or in.
nate plastic power Of accommodation
andimprovement, are continually found
either in opposition or inadequate to
the relatively advanced condition OF
society, and Of recently excited strug-
gle for power between the aris,ocracy,
habituated to govern with, hitherto
undisputed sway, and the people, or
rather, those who have taken upon
them the task Of asserting and defend
ing the popular rights and principles
which are Of such recent date, and so
ill-de6ned and understood as to be yet
little more than theoretically admitted
by their political antagonists. One
who should here attentively watch the
gradual development of the principles
Of popular government, inits progress
from despotism, through all the inter-
vening stages of anarchy, simple de-
mocracy, and Misunderstood, and of
course, abor,ive attempts at the repre-
sentative plan; must be convinced not
only of their necessity, but also of their
use. Still, those who perhaps have
not reflected maturely upon these cir
cums,ances, or who are unacquainted
with their secret springs and remote
causes, are surprised that such disor-
ders should at this day be witnessed in
Chilli; and tina, this country after Is
years of revolution and comparative
freedom, should not yet have been able
TO adopt permanent constltntion.--
That of 1928 was undoubtedly the best
and most approximated to the actual
wants Of the people; but ! would ask
any upprejudiced and liberal mind,
whether it was to be expected, or even
desired, that a code which established
a legislature consisting of only nine in
dividuals, which declared the Catholic
to be the exclusive religion of the
State, and the public exercise Of any
other TO be prohibited, and which re-
ouired as qualification for admission
10 the active rights Of citizenship, the
profession Of that religion; | would ask
whether, in this age Of popular liberty
and freedom of opinion, it was TO be
nationally expected OF phianthropical-
" desired that constitution with such
absurd, Liberal and anti-republican
features, should become the permanent
law Of the nation?
These popular excitements and tri-
umphs Of the people are peculiarly ne
cessary and beneficial in a constitution
Of society like that of Chill, with such
strong aristocratical tendencies. In ev-
cry one OF them the people gain some
thing-some portion of their natural
rights is recovered and although they
may in some Instances carry their tri-
uaphs to excess, TO the borders Of an
archy and popular tyranny, yetthe con-
tinually operating, SC powerful, though
silent influence ofthe aristoera,ick prin-
ciple, soon, not only corrects this ex-
cess, but would, were it nol for fresh
popular efforts, restore society to its
original condition Of inequality. The sc
conflicts, must therefore Continue, un'
til the sosia! body has acquired, through
their agency, and the simultaneous OPP.
Grafton of wholesome laws Of inheri.
lance, distribution Of property and ma
tionai education a more democralicaI
temper ment, until the voice Of the ma
nv shall be heard, and the power of the
few become neutralized, or reduced &c
its proper limits.
The foregoing remarks, from whal