Virginia advocate. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1827-1860, 1829-09-11

but simply over the legislatures of those
states. Now, an adherence to this princi.
pie IS clearly incompatible with due re.
gard ior effective government, and the
Americans acted with temperance and
true wisdom, in abandoning an unprofita
Ole independence for the real and tangible
advantages of national Union.
The old confederation, under which
the United States had achieved their indie.
pendence ceased, naturally, with the con.
luncturers of the revolution, which had
hrst called it into existence. 1t was not
Is true. annulled by any formal act-bu,
us insufflciency to answer any good end
IN the time of peace, had become so mani.
lest, that no alternative remained but a
dissolution OF the confederacy or the one
hand or union constructed upon entirely
new principles, on the other. 1t was for
tunate Tor America that the sound views
and enlightend patriotism Of the friends OF
union prevailed over the selfish ambition
OF men who would fain have reared the ed.
lhce OF their own power upon the ruins OF
the confederacy.
he Constitution, then, of l7ST. com
menced ITS career under the happiest aus
pIces. The circumstances of the country
and the people were all favorable to re-
publican form of government, and the con.
so'ldation OF civil and religious liberty
But the extreme difficulty of providing for
an ever varying and increasing country a
permanent and settled government could
moi escape the statesmen of America.
lhey were well aware that the peculiar
advantage at the time enjoyed by their re-
pubic, IN the absence of an impoverished
and idle population, could not i'm the ma.
ture OF things continue for any very length
ened period, the same and unimpaiTed
And although the faculties for obtaining
subsistence and many of the comforts Of
lie, have as yet prevented no very serious
evil from the rapid increase of the popu-
iation, coupled with the extended princi-
pie OF the elective franchize, it is impossi-
BILE not to foresee that, sooner or later, the
tIme must Come when the antidote will
cease TO operate, and the poison begin to
work, when the republican constitution,
tounGed upon the basis of equal represent
tatsSm, VIII degenerate into the turbulent
and ungovernable insentcusms for wild
democracy. twill then remain to De seen
how lar popular election of the chief Ma.
g'e:rate is compatible with the internal
quiet and stability of the union. Even at
the present day, these elections give occa-
sion Tor display of faction and party hos.
hilty. which in any country of Europe.
possessing more condensed populations
and standing army would inevitably ter
inmate ia civil war. In America. the
spirit evaPorates and dies away, owing TO
the absence OF these motives to excitement.
:" England may justly be proud of her
ch'll-.dmerica may regard her parent
'o'th affection and respect; both man con-
CIR IN displaying to tile ,corM tile po,cer of
enterprise and 0ctiUe industry; tie inessi-
mable benefits Of popular representation in
Gocc'mmcnf, Of equal and impartial iams
both may di9ase Orer either hemisphere,
and, If united. Uith tentoM Dower. the
light of cieilisation anil tic blessings of
freedom.