Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-12-03

| MIR Jefferson It is too long for Insertion here,
| but may be found in Niles Register, May 10th,
EIsi7. and at,achel-to the biography of Mr..
Adams in the iiyessof the signers Of the Decla-
ration Of independence. Although we cannot
copy the whole we will present lew extracts:
IS Fear is the foundation OF most governments,
| Gut 1t is a.sordid and brutal passion, and rem
dens men in whose breasts il pre6ominates, SO
4 stupid and miserable, that Americans will not
be likely to approyc Of any political constitu'
ton which is founded on it.
i !" Honor is truly sacred, but holds lower
frank in the scale oismoral excellence than VIZ
Etue Indeed the former is but part oil the lat
i ter, and consequenlly has no, equal pre;ensions
to supporta frame Of government productive
Eofhumsn happiness"
"The foundation of every government IS
some principle or passion in the minds OF the
/ people. The .noblesl principles and most &C.
nerous affections in our nature then, have the
fairest chance 10 support the noblest and most
Agenerou ssmodels of government"
They will convince every Candid mind, that
tlser. is no good government, but what is re
publican" serhe very definition of republic
is amen pi re Of laws and not of men "Ihence
Ssrepublc is the best Of governments, 30 that
| partcuarsarrangement Of The powers Of socie-
tv, or in other words that form Of govcrnmeni,
which is sbsst.con,rivtd to secure an impartial
! and exact execution Of The laws, is the best OF
republics."s
"The p@incipal difficulty lies and the great
est care should be employed in constituting the
representative assembly. 1t should be in mini.
allure, an exact portra, Of the people at large.
| I, should think, feel, reason and act like them.
That il may be the inrcres, of this assembly 10
do strict Justice at all tines, il should be an
equal repre sentatiou, or in other words, equal
inleresis among the people should have equal
interests init. Great care should be taken 10
effect lhissand TO prevent unfair, partial, and
corrupt SELECTIONS.
"ff he THE governor) is annually elective, as
he onghft6be."-
These and all other elections, especially OF
representatives aud counsellors, should be an
J, nuals here not being in the whole circle OF the
SCIENCES, maxim more infaIible than his
''wheie sannual elections end there slavery be-
gins"
CLAWS for the liberal education Of youth
fcspcciallyeof the lower class Of people, are so
extremely wise and useful, that 10 humane
and generous mind, expense for this nur-
pose would be though, extravagant." Cru
gaii,y is great revenue, besides curing US oil
vanilies, levities and fopperies, which are real
antidotes TO all great, manly and warlike vir-
tues
"a constitution framed on these principles,
introduces knowledge among the people, and
inspires Them with conscious dignity bee om-
ing freemen A general emulation takes place
which causes good humor, sociabili,y, good
manners and good morals TO be general. The
elevation Of sen,imen, inspired by sound gov>
eminent makes the common people brave and
cntcrprising. That ambition which is inspired
BY ii makes them sober, industrious and frugal.
You will find among them some elegance per-
haps, but more solidity; lille pleasure but a
great deal Of business; some politeness but
more civiE,y. II you compare such country
with the regions OF domination, whether mos
narchical or aris,ocralical, you will find your
! selves in rcatlia or Elysium " eff q continent
tai constitution should BE- formed, its authority
should sacrcdly be confined 20 the cases, viz.
war, trade, disputes between colony and colony,
Tie post office, and unappropria,ed lands.
I"These colonies under such forms Of govern
ment, would be unconquerable by all the mo-
marches Of Europe" Thus you see, sir, that
at the period when you charge John Adams
with laboring with zral and ability to inculcate
monarchical principles, he was drafting the
models on which all our constitutions are form
ed and was consulted for tina, purpose by the
| w ylnes ana Lees, tnc sages ana palrlolS oi tot
revolution. But from theories we proceed TO
practical facts. In 1879 John Adams was called
upon and select 10 draft a constitution for his
native state.
The cons trution Of Massachusetts is his
draft, and more republican constitution is not
extant. 1t has served in its leading features as
model 10 many of the other states and 20 the
United States. This fact is sufficient 10 NEE,
more columns Of sophistry Than you can array
in twelve months. But you will answer that
subsequent TO this Mr.. Adams changed his OPT
Mons, and that his grea, work contains the evil
dence of the change. That work was intended
to defend that constitution, and others like it,
against the attacks which they then sustained;
and most miserably must MIR Adams have been
deceived Il he was demolishing The work of his
own hands,and overturning what he intended 10
support. We will now examine the book from
which you have extracted SO Copiously, and tell
the occasion on which it was written, and this
will fully confute the impression you make by
these quotations The state OF Pennsylvania,