Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-06-16
T For The Phenir Gazette.

GENTLRMEN-A country, possessing gov
eminent like ours, will flourish as long as the
administration Of its affairs, retains the conf
dence Of the people; for i, is this confidence
which gives il strength, energy and activity
1t will be respected abroad, as long as it contl-
nues firmly united in itself; and not only res
pected, but, its power being felt, and its re-
sources and enterprise being known, 1t viii de-
rive all the benefits arising from them in its in
tercourse with foreign nations, that they can
bestow. Its integral strength and its moral in
fuence will be extended in proportion to the es-
t;ma,ion in which il is held abroad, and the ex-
tent Of civil blessings it inhabitants enjoy. At
home, within its own bounds, the ilourishing
must be proportional TO the confidence Of the
People in It's government, and the regard had
for them by remoter nations. Its stability, the
excellence of its institutions, the purity OF its
laws and government are themselves depend
ent upon this; and the happiness of the people,
their free and cheerful submission TO the neces-
sary restraints imposed upon their natural
rights, by their relative situation, are all, neces
sarily, affected by the degree Off they have
in their rulers do not mean to advance the
abused, and preposterous proposition to free
and intelligent nation, Of blind submission and
unresisting obedience to, or unsuspecting con-
idence in, the government This can never
be the case whilst they remain intelligent-pos-
sess freedom ofspeech and action-and the Ii
berty Of the press is preserved.
We are naturally rejoiced, in reading Of the
blessings spread abroad over our land by the
en,crprising zeal Of its inhabitants, stimulated
by the freedom which they enjoy, and protect
ed in their rights by the happy system of gov
ernmen, under which they live. We see them
successfully combating the difficulties which
viate their progress, and retard their labo-
borious industry in. accumulating individual
wealth, and through this means strengthening
and supporting our national concerns. We see
them warmly attached TO their country, ardent
ly promoting her interests, looking up to her
administration with cheerful confidence in its
yigor, intelligence, hrmnesss and justice. They
see nothing in its measures 10 detaoh them from
Its support. They feel no alarm for the future
They associate in idea, the representation from
their own state-with all the high officers OF
government.
We cannot but be alarmed, and shocked that
such confidence should BE disturbed,- that their
zeal should be distracted, their fears excited
whilst all around US is prosperous and happy.
We cannot restrain our indignation at the base
attempts which are made TO convert Prosperi-
ty into confusion and distrust-happiness into
dismayd and misery. The experience Of the
past year-perhaps, either of the last two
years--warns US that we are approaching to-
wards these consequences, by almost imper-
ceptible gradations; that there are men, strug-
Cling for power, whose designs are barely hid
by the cloak whichthey assume, and whose ei-
forts are limited to no means that can weaken
the veneration we should entertain for the con-
stitution, and the respect we owe, and cheer
fully pay, 10 those who are zealously engaged
in advancing our national interests, and extend
ing our individual importance.
Ills necessary 10 advert, casually, 10 the ORR
gin of the parties which divided this country in
the early days Of its freedom, and which at last
settled down into the broad distinction Of De-
mocratic, and Federal, and continue nominal
ly in some parts of it, even to the present day.
They were various, almost all however proceed
ing upon the broad principles Of Republican
ism, differing only in the practical application
of them to the condition of society, and, the
state of the world. The heightened Federal
lists, and the heightened Democrats were each
"ultras" in their turn. a medium was 10 be
adopted, better suited to the temper of the
People, their rights, privileges, and interests;
their social relations, and their collective obi
cations. Each of the predominant parties
yielded alilte of the extent OF their pretentions,
and the measures Of either were early adopted
and pursued, by the General Government, as
they were worthy of attention. But there was
still enough left of acrimony and hostility, to
array them against each ether till, losing sight