Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-10-21
PRINTED AND PUBLISHED,
DAILY,
From the Richmond Enquirer
TOTHE PEOPLE OF VIRGINIA.

srnocite Jdcksonis infractionibus re.puoRca Rgum'
nisi ca parvi pennebatis. -, 80.
ssS Neherce peccato locus esset face, paterer voS
insa re corrigl Sed non undque circumvenu sumus,
hes autem in net cavere alb ills mags Guam quld IN
ilos statuamus consultare.
Spch would be the language Of my virtuous
and patriotic but uncompromlslng, nominal an
s.s,ar were he now alive, and citizen Of Vir-
c;n;a If the objections of Cicero,to the Stole
doctrines can be considered universally, or even
generally true, in their application to human
eonduct. they certainly lead to dangerous conse-
onences in one important concern-politiCs.-
He objected 10, and even ridiculed, the stern
morality and unbending spirit OF rectilude which
characterised the Roman Stole. " we must be
gouersed by circumstances and shape our course
according to them,' suited the timid character
of this Roman Orator, as we'll as the tlme-serv-
mo nolicy of mankind: Men never needed, and
never will, advice TO swerye from recutude 10
pur.ue expedients, and to relax IN their moral
or political virtue. They are too prone to 1t.
The danger lies on the other side. They make
circumstances, call them inevitable, and then
in their folly yield to them. But there are con-
ditions and circumstances, 10 which men must
and ought 10 yield, because they are the results
of will and power, superior to The. Will and
power ofmen.. Humble and patient submission
10 these. is the highest wisdom. Had Cicero's
obser, atoms been confined to these, they would
have been philosophic
Are political conditions and circumstances, OF
this kind? We do not admit them 10 be ]ure
divine in their origin, or in the obligation i'm
posed by them. They are the work OF men, and
cannot, from their nature, impose any other OBJ
LEGATION, than that which man imposes on him.
self or permits other men to impose. In yield
inp obedience to them, there can be no expedl-
encv or advantage distinct from wisdom, mo-
rality and sound policy. If they are not wise,
moral and polite, it is most expedieht, nay, 1t
is our highest duty and interest to undo them,
70 govern them, instead of rivetting them upon
ms and submitting to them as inevitable laws
of q superior power Ii has ever been, and still
is. the false philosophy Of confounding things
distinct in their nature, which has led, and still
leads us astray from truth, nom our dearest IN
tere SITS and safest course OF action. The present
poli,ical situation of the people OF the United
States. in regard to the election OF their next
Chief Magistrate, presents a striking ilusua-
ton of these remarks.
The will Of God has not made Mr.. Adams
the President of these United States. The VIII
of God has not brought forward General An
drew Jackson as a candidate for the next Presi-
dencv. The will Of men has done both And
II cannot be proved-it is not susceptible OF
prooi. that in either case God has had any thing
TO do in the matter. Were II proved to be So.
submission would be wisdom. Yet we are told
that there is no way Of getting Mr.. Adams out
but ofputtrg General Jackson in-that zoe must
have one or the other for the next President
Whence arises this necessity? If it exists, the
peopIe themselves have produced IT. 1t Is not
natural necessity, and TO be submitted to as
such. Those who made it, ought TO have the
mower 10 unmake il. Are We obliged to re-elect
Mr. Adams9 No. Are we obliged TO elect
General Lcksonl No. God has not, by an
;mmu1able law, made either of these an inevita-
HE event. nor do see why we should. Vox
nonuii ought to be in conformity to vox del, and
as there is no audible or cognizabe vox del In
regard TO governments, exceptln relation TO the
shirt in whica they should be administered,
the yox populi becomes the vox del OF govern
,nent. Men create it, and men can control 1t it
thew will To say that volunias popull IS vo-
luntas del, is an impious and horrible false
hood Yet God sometimes grants the foolish
wishes of men, at the same time warning them
of the consequences Of their folly. SO did he,
when Israel asked of Samuel King. "And
the Lord said unto Samuel, hear&en unto the
voice Of the people, yet protest solemnly unto
them. and show them the manner OF the
King that shall5reign over them. He will take
YOUR sons and ldppoint them tor himself. He eciH
aopoi,f cap.ains Deer thousands s over hfties, and
will set Them TO ear his ground and 10 reap
his harvest and 10 make has instruments Of toar.-
He will take your daughters to be coniectiena-
ries. and to be cooks, and to be bakers. And
he will take Your fields, and your whey ards, and
your olive yards, even the best of them, and
give them 40 his servants. And he will take
the tenth Of your seed and of your vineyards
and gree them to his o6icers and to his servants
And We shall cry Out on that day because Of
your King, which ye shall haze chosen you, aud
the Lord will not hear you in that day. Necer-
fhslsss the people refused to obey the voice oil Sa
muel, and they said, Nay, but we Will have
King over us, that zoe also may be axe me ma
lions. and tina, our King mayJudge Us, and go ou
before as and fight our battles"
Such is the language of the present day, al
easily read in its meaning and issue, by the eye
Of reason, as that Of the Israehtes Of old. w
Dsusthavs one or the other of these men to reign