Delaware patriot & American watchman. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1828-1828, 1828-03-25
Communications.
FOR THE DELAWARE PATRIoT.-No. a.
HISTORICAL COMPARISONS.

The necessity of perpetual recurrence to first
principles in order to assure the liberties of free
people againts the inroads of human ambition and
the lust ct power, is maxim so familiar, that in
citing it thare is little hope Of obtaining the no.
tice or the delberaton that it absolutely requires.
like the Lords prayer, which requires US to for
give those who trespass against US, we repeat it
like daily ablution Of our hands. aud seem 10 pass
it by as duty fulfilled, and to be forgotten the
moment it is repeated.
In a former communication | referred 20 the
ebb and flood OF human affairs and the similitude
OF inconsistency and change in human tempers -
But on more deliberate reflection, there appears
to be less culpablity in human nature, than those
homely mayims and smiltudes would lead us to
believe. These notifications Of opinions founded
on tried axioms, are think supportablc, by the
experience Of our own history, since the peace Of
1888.
The revolution had scarcely closed, when new
circumstances and new men produced state of
affairs, different IN every aspect from that which
had preceded during the period between l7-j and
the peace. 1t would be ungracous to enter into
the transactions which characterised the measures
OF the leading authorities in the days of peril and
desolation. The old congress with foresight
and fllnness that can never be too much applaud
ell or admired, kept their proceedings from pub
lie observation there were too manv false breth.
rem in that epocha Of vcissitudes, who put ON the
garb OF patriotism as convenient disguise, but
who we're very distinctly marked by their temper
and conduct, when the cause Of freedom experi
creed any reverses in the field. As it was in the
subsequent French revolution, true patriotism was
with comparatively few exception TO be found in
the camps.
The frequency of changes in Congress had re.
cessary tendency to rcpress the passions which nat
orally agtate public bodies in time Of danger and
sacrifice; and the same cause operated to produce
continuity OF great measures, such as the prose.
cution OF the war, upon which every thing dcpend.
ed, and to deter from perldy those whose want Of
courage, and of principle might under different
circumstances have led to the advance oldoctrines
and propositions that might have proved fatal ia
the cause This shortness Of delegation to the
representative is much more precious dian is pene
rally supposed-a has had precious nHaence
on national safety.
As soon as the triumph was achieved the mos,
important men became the least, in relation to the
purposes of society. During the war ali thinos
were merged in national independence, the form d
administering the functions Of delegated power de
yolved not on those who had fought but those. oen
orally speaking, who had never appeared ON field
of battle
New men with new feelings and many with idea
by no means well dlgested, congeniaI with III,
, promuiged principles of the revolution, came upor
! the tapis ); toe many who looked to independence,
only as the medium of their own ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
: and who already anticipated to become the Medicl