The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1826-11-09

p,,,s.--ft is a subject Of serious regrettha
i, a free Commonwealth, whether formed
Indicate ana establish certain principles, or
:, n. more ign,ble object Of promoting the
...,,,,-, of certain indi' iduals, shonld deem it
.,,,v necessary but fair, 10 degiate from no.
..o,abe measures, AMI TO adopt any course, how
:, .inster and base, To accomplish their end.
H., tins is the avowrd creed BY which many in
F,idnaIs are, at this day, actuatedi there Is not
,..h,dow ofa doubt So far from lis beiag doubt
II MANY boldly avow that ats far iRp0lt
-, - that there are no means So base whcht they
have not right to employ; no measures so dis
s,,nr,blc which they have not right 10 adopt;
nth so dirty which they have not right to
,.,,s,e to eHcctuate their purpose. Our creed
:. a,H.,ent If we cannot build up the cause We
..nou.e but ly sllnderins the highest officers Of
.,,ornnent and the most gifted men ofthe coun-
t,, then let the cause perish. Principles or mon
.ha owe their triumph TO such means, must lack
,,,rinsic merit, and are unworthy of support.
II officers of government, or gifted individuals,
h0RpyCr,
., indecoron, conduct then 1t Is the right and the
solemn duty Of the press to express its decided
Asspprobation. Ii such has not been our course
;, has been because we had not power to discri-
inmate between right and wrong, or because VIC
have been bcsct b. the most uhconqucrablc pre-.
;alces. If we were singular in the former res
oec We are not in the last and it is well that We
are not; for Prejuiicc, if not the mother, is the
nurse of Improvement. and fosters If il does not
suggest the nobest achievements of the head and
heart "lG" (says Mrs. Barbauld, as quoted by
the last No. of the n 4. Rerieic, "lf 1t we're
possible that ono whole generation could BE- bro't
up without prejudices, the world must return to
the infancy of knowledge, and all the beautiful
fabric which has been built up by successive gen
erations must be begun again from the very
foundation" Itbcing undcniablc, therefore, that
all men possess prciudces and that they are use
ill in the abstsact, We have only to regret that
they frequently become pcrnicious by exercising
,unimited sway over the passions. In political
contests, particularly, do thay have this in
FURIOUS tendency leading astray men of the best
hearts aud soundest minds, in common with the
nnfaeing denagogue aud the superficial cgotst.
And, after all, what is accomplished by these
,natcs,s, that we should De 50 ambitious to plunge
INTO them, and 50 eager 10 triumph In nine ca
out OF ten, if the heart vas laid ba-e, and If
motives We're scanned, would it not appear that
they pnrtlkc more Of personal than po'i'ical
taaracter Would it not appear that the com
bitdnts were fighting for Cesar and Pompey ra-
tier tina Rome and cirH hber}u2 OF all the DO
M,esl contests which the short history of this
country records, how many have been productive
OF the subvcrsion OF one ohno vious, or the esta-
hLshment of one beneficial principle The re-
Of 90, and It's consequences. Bat 7ohere are its
consequences nov They are known only in
the tnenoryo Of The past. That revolution was the
effect OF a struggle between two parties nearly
balanced in strength, commenced with the view
Of dete mining BY what rule the constitution
shodidho constru'dl Whether it meant any thing
Or nothing Whether in inc, it should be con.
Ftrned literally, leaving To the States the right 20
eMfcse at powers not expressly granted to
hetrderel government Orwhethcr, according
10 The views Of thl then existing administration,
miga; b. moulded to suit the convenience or
necessity OF thu tlmes-giylng to the general 90
Nefanen' tue night of doing any thing which Il
mgh'decm necessary and proper. or condu-
'He'o the general welfare The republican par
ulumphed. Jefferson and literal construc-
aon-r'trerchlnrnt and economv-were the or
P'f o' the day, But, though these dulcct notes
2hS sounded IN the nations ears, how little time
were melr practical effects felt Scarcely hal
'eftins ospowcr changed hands, when Mr. JEFF
isf'on F1'c his sanction TO the Cumberland Road
VII mus lending the way to the vast powers now
anhed and eNcrcisedhy the federal government. ,
"e aware that it is r0W said on the faith of
~ reported declaration, Just before his la
'.'''' death, that he did not intend to recognize
~ general po1o,r" when ne signed that bill;
." 'nat II was signed because good filth tn Ohio
st1''1 lt--thit the Necessity arose from the
's'i'hs Mt lnd2a1! What rieh had the gene.
5o'frnlncnt 70 enter into compact with Ohio
''!''nent Of which required violation of the
SInHon' Surely it is as censur4 hle to make
''2i'Fd't m thc execution Of which a wrong is
's'aa'ily involved, as il is To do that wrong
e'''' Inv compulson of such a contract. And
''"'e' the general power was, in rFrc',
TED by Mr. whltcyer we're his intentions
,N motives. But, we would ask en- peasant,
! ,'''f the power to repair this road, was also
,'''i from the Ohio compact We fancy not.
'''"@'e: all tbs may be we have seem at a la
psa2d, another republican administration,
:, s'''>' over, zoo, 10y the author of the famous
7''i ~ RESOLUTIONS, exercising apoVcrwhosc
Hsep embraced more extensive aud more
r9''aat Operations than all the Innovations of
administrations that have succeeded We
j. z'en Mr. Madison place his name to theU. s. .
Jaw with capital OF S30,ooo. oon. when.
,"' ''a Bank (the capital of which was only