Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-11-16

,r;b., to Weld to institutions Of commerce
which can enable him 10 aggrega'e the Proiu-
s;ons If eyerv sail The manner in which ne
who thu, act. bee ONES public benefaetar, Is
by aupmenting, to an 'Xten as great as MS
ability will allow, the sum Of national happi-
ness and na,iooaI property. Bu,, important
as such works Of public spirit are, what are
ttey when compared with the institution ana
anendmen, of Laws, withou, which they never
could have existed! Etrorsin government are
insupprable bars 10 all national wralth ana po-
litical aggrandizement These errors are
greater or less in proportion as the laws which
regulate hose governments are more or itss
pe rfect He VIII" perfecrs these laws, there
fore, takes the FIST step towards removing
those bars to opulence ard power; and hr VINO
reforms a political grievance, may. ny snch
reform alton, become the father Of all those
pr. f able undertakings which were before pal
sled by the exis lence Of such grievance
Justly was :he name OF Lato GiUcr considered
sanefunu non,en by the anoirni Clerks and 10
mans. Who an estimate the valuable "ferlhg
which LycuReus made his unry men! his
laws were |. W, and, as best suited 10 the SIM
ple greatness Of him who gave and them 10
whom they were given, plain aud laconi'; yet
what host of angry passions and destructive
feelings did this li,le band Of precepts prevent
and command! Ciroling, like wall, the hap
2iness uf he Republic, 1t prevented equally Inc
evils OF intrrnal commoiion and Foreign attack
Mkt In meri, 10 he enactment OF q good
law, is the reformation or abolition OF bad
one Though reform should be conducted with
prudence, yet it ,huuld not always be avoided
with fear. Blind admit alton is mol patriotism,
or if such il be, then it can as easily be isign-
I'd by the wicked as by the good. Admiration
which is b: open to lhe conviction of faults as
the admission OF virtues, is such as may be
Justly desired and honestly given. The only
cheek TN the Pa,rio, wi b regard to reforma-
ton, where il is nect ssa y, is The. high imports
snce OF the expe, i'm Ut which he is about TO
make, and the haz fdous chance which he is
abou, o run. When, however, things come -
such al e4iT, me as 10 render hr chance OF
future evil more desirable than thu ac'ul sup.
Dor, OF present misery, then u becomes aques-
lion of virtue whr her it is not better to inrow
off he whole ENHANCEMENT OF usage, and re-
duce society To its pristine STATE OF contention,
man with man, that order may arise from this
temper arv disorganizaIon. Yet, in moderation
Of this sen ims nj, as an admonshm. n 10 hot
blooded reformers and H. addition 10 the OK ell
lent sen irnent Of Monresquieu, let us oo"ciu;e
this essay wi the powerful remark OF Bulk:
8 The speculative line of demarca'ion where
obedience ought to end andI Nistance rnn be
gin, is faint, AID not easily deinabie. 1t is not
singie at or single event which determines
i. governments mus, be abused indeed, and
drrsngrd, before i, Can be ihougnr 81 The
wise viii determine Fl ON he gravity OF The
cas-, he irritable from their sensiblli,y 10 Up.
pre- ,sion, the brave and bold f. ON love Of ho-
n.rabl- anger in eenrrou, cause; but with or
wi hou, rrg't, rev pluri will be the very last
resource of the thinking add The good"
PHLocLKs HATcHgM