Delaware patriot & American watchman. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1828-1828, 1828-03-04
Communications.
ron THE DELAWARE PATRIOT.

a
vailed. The men who have been born or grow"
nm within that period. are little acquainted with
the circumstances Of that memorable epocha tney
hear indeed OF the reign OF terror, and me seutioh
law but they know scarcely any thing inofe' io'
there is no history of that period; ahd those "ho
triumphed over the incpent despotlsm. ana gave
force and practical efficacy to the principles OF 'he
government. at that period, appear to have peeh
satisfied with the practical good they achieved.
more than to seek that applause to when 'ney
wee iustly entitled. 1t the history OF that Perl"n
should ever be honestly written. they cannon iah
70 obtain Justice but in the meanwhile, the exist
ing generation is deprived OF the dement's OF 'na'
experience, which their predecessors obtained I'M
der circumstances the most appalling, aud justly
alarming to the liberties OF America ANA to the
world. which has looked with 80 much aaSrty ~
the issue Of our grand experiment ON sell govern
meut
It NAV not be amiss to offer a few passing Hoii.
ces of the ign of terror, for It could hot be pre-
tended 10 do more 10 less than an ample volume
The in,ucrnent at the present moment Tor noticins
it is the remarkable, though mo- a, formidable o.
alarming coincidence between tile principles and
TRANSACTIONS of the men n power. IRON l791 y
1901. aud those Of the men power at The present
time
The difference which is to be found on the com
t,arison. il is happily true. does not CONSIST u
ans regard fur the principles Of the cnGsiiiG9h, 81
ior TIE rights Of the people. but IL Tie mode ami
means. b, winch both are sought tohe subNeitrd.
The President Of thar day came INTO power by
-'taa.em; Il wa, ~ The operation ni y Ste'natc
nttleue. .hc suppression Of a suilicen uGinber d
votes ia $50 ~ at states, and ), stem OF pio,cip
ton against al who dared to exercise the n-ht d
private judgment and ire suFlagc
II would be curious history to trace up all the
incident, progressively, from the formation OF the
federal constitution, the iulamons proceedings BY
wlich the old constitution OF PennsJ l'ana was
superseded, and the present established. The facts
heiungine to the history in detail but tbs is not,
and Cannot be history; and the great scheme which
grew Up and burst upon the country in the four
wears above referred to- necessarily parts, and
c0nduced to the great explosion OF vickedness
which vas made, aud named the REIGN Of terror
" hat is the motive for referring to II at this
time: There are two motive. FirSt--Those
who have become men since the year 1901, are
not awate that all which was made sacred By
the resolution Of l776. and that was declared 10
be unalienabe and eternally the right Of man III
society. was then attempted TO be subvered the
declaration of l77G was made subject OF scorn,
aud the constitution founded upon that ,ecara
ton. was solated and it is fit that these evils Of
past times should not be forgotten. in the prosper
itv peace, safety, concord, and national glory.
which followed the overthrow of those who con
spi ell to undermine the national freedom.
The second motive. is to awaken attention to the
resemblance between the designs which were then
openly ayowed and carried into practice and those
that are now practiced without being disavowed
or av0wed.
In the reign of terror the principal features OF
the scheme Of policy was to make proselytcs Of
men OF influence, by patronage and by terror.
4t,
sued - official appointments are made with view
to influence on the suffrage, OF the people, -and
those who are 80 disobedent as to maintain their
private rights OF opinion and suffrage pro
scrlbed
In the reign Of terror. law was introduced en-
titled the Spdiiton LaW. which vas violation d.
tile constitution wherein il i, declared that no aw
/" shall be enacted alrid.iug the freedom of the
press;H and under TIL, law the press was. in al
mos. every state Of the Union. muxxlcd; printers
and public writers were seized and ncarce,ated.
10 the ruin OF their health. family, comfort and
fortunes.
In these times, we have not indeed. scditnn
law. because the experience acquired in the lrian
Ut terror has rendered those il power more eau
tlous ~ this reign ut disSimu}nti1n aud fraud
In the reign OF terror another law was enacted.
usual, called the .ittet in'c. The Young men OF
the present seneraon consist, in an immense nea.
sure. oi the sons OF those vho we're then nended|
to BE- prescribed, or transported out Of the Cuitcd
"'ates. The revolution IN Fiante had produced
an excitement IN all the countries oi Europe, where
the woke ct despotism was calling, and those who
acquired the know ledge Of freedom, or who sought
IT, took refuge ii the united States, as they had
been repeatedly and special, invited 10 do, by
our tevo utionary congress Those people brought
WIN them Know ledge and enthu.ia sm ana that
knowledge and that enthusiasm offended the now
g which was IN active opel atm 10 annul the free
aomshp those strangers sought in the only coun
try where it was then to be found.
Under the colonial regime the laws of England
encouraged their reception and colonization, and
even uaturaxatiOn n was , ,,,;so ,l; ~