Delaware journal., 1828-03-21
COMMUNItArIoNs.
For THE DELAWARE JOURNAL.

Government. happiness of every man may
be summed up in the relations OF his desires to his
circumstances. The happiness and we'll being OF
Society must result from the accordance between
the regulation of those desires, and proper govern
ment of the circumstances influencing their pro-
duct:on For their mutual benefit, and that no.
thing might transpre particularly to the prejudice
of each other. men have formed social compact,
either expressed or implied. by which they have
agreed to sacrifice certain natural rights and render
Individual services for the well being OF the whole
from hence has arisen politics. or the art OF govern
ing the passions and desires of men, and pointing
them to the proper channel for puplic good-wiicl
to be beneficial, should conform to the true spirit
and grand objects of socety--should afford greater
facility in our reciprocal wants and our mutual
succors-should assure measure OF security IN
the enjoyment of the products OF nature and lndns-
trv-should guarantee the safety aud protection OK
our persons and property-and respect, always, The
rights ofopinon and the dictates Of conscience.
But since widely extended and numerous socie-
y is incapable Of forming great assemblage with
out much difficulty ; and even if formed, would be
attended with umult and disorder in their debates
it has been found necessary to select from it many
individuals, such as presumed to have the con"
dence of the whole, that they may become the III
strunents of the government. the Interpreters Of
its w-to whom is delegated the poacer necessary
to carry into execution the different parts of the ma
u
ment, are the legislators and the head OF these,
the Chief Magistrate, in whom vested, for the
time being, all the rights Of sovereignty. They
become ministers of the people, and are bound for
| the maintainanee IF good order and the well being
of society for upon these conditions are they dis
tinctly understood to hold the high powers deegat-
ed to them and no society in existence could, know
ingly and willingly, confer that power upon any
| set of men who would use it with RIGHTEOUSNESS
or in any way that would not insure the contem,-
plated advantages to the greatest number Of citizens.
FROM these we have our laws, or those rules Of
conduct prescribed to individual government and
the general interests of society. The business of
these depends upon the degree of security afforded
to each member, in the enjoyment otpersonal Eber
ty, of property, and the rights of conscience,
long as he shall observe, with fidelity, his engage
ments with society. By means of these en-
abed, not only to command the whole, but subject
every individual TO state Of strict equality, and
check those natural artificial exuberances spring
ing from the bosom of ambition and the lap ofweath,
or borne upon the athletic shoulders political ex=
citement, founded upon msconstrued merit.
Without justice and without equity, therefore. so-
ciety is no longer social compact but is made up
q of Of enemies. 1t is longer the home OF
freemen, but the land of tyrants and the country OF
slaves. Chief Magistrate who is regardless OF
r either and is ready to trample upon all law tha,
stands opposed to his career, is wholly unfit for the
h government Of free people.
v Danish virtue from councils, and where shall
G we seek for Liberty? Open the doors TO vice and
bid adieu to justice aud equity-ntroduce licen'
. cousneas, and search for security amidst the ruins
of wasted cities and depopulated villages--place q,
r the head of our councils, the man who has treated
j. virtue with ccntempt-who has scoied at justice
+ and disowned equity-who has whispered the
breath Of discord in the of the ambitious and
the dlsafected, with the tongue offalsehood and the
heart of envy against the to whom he gave his
hand IN cordial congratulations, as successful rival
If the man who has tramped upon the sacred rights
It of his fellow citizens, even to the exclusion OF life
n liberty, property and the social cnjoyments-the
d man who has, in bis -directed ambition and in the