Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-07-04

Ert,oet from, General w,suIxeToS's Fuerta dccress
to the People Of the United Mates.
"Towards the preservation Of your govern
menr. and the permsneucy Of your pfesen' hap
nv sia,e, it is requisite, no only that you sea
div discountenance irregular oPposrions 10 lis
acknowledged authority, but also tina you re-
sisl with care the spirit OF innovation upon us
principles. howev er specious the preie1'. One
method of assault ma, be TO effect IN The forms
of he constitution, alterations which VIII impair
the energy Of the sys' EN-, snd thss 10 htioerm'he
V hat Cannot be directly overihrown In all TIE
changes to whir you may me invited, rehien'
Der tina, time and habi, are az leas as NECESSARY
to fix The true character OF government S, as OF
other human institutions that experience Is ne
suresl standard by which TO test the real ZEN
dency Of the existing constitution OF country;
thar f.ciry in changes upon the crfci: OF 'nere
hypothesis and opinion, and remember, esPe>
cislIy tina, for the efficient nanag' merit "l your
common interest, IN country so extensive -
ours, a government Of as much vlgour as Is con-
s>,ent with the beriect security oil liberty, IS
indispenss Die. Liberty itself vii find in such
a government, with powers properly d!,ir!oat
ed and adiu,ted ITS suIest guardian. Ii is IN
deed IL tie else ,han name, where tie govern
men. is TOO feeble % wi his and ne enterprises
~ vi hin the limits prescribed by The laws, and
so maintain all in The secure and tranquil en-
ioymen, OF The rights Of person and property.
al have already ntima,ed 10 you the danger
OF parties in the State, with parlle uar refer
ence 10 the iounling Of them on aphicsi
determinations, LIT me row take more conn
prehensi,e view, and warn you, IN The most
solemn manner, against the oaueful effects o!
The spirit Of parry grprrsliy.
This spirit unfortunately, is inseperab!e
from our nature, na,ing lis roo in he strong
ct passions Of the human mind. Ii exists un>
der different SHAPES in all governments, more
or IS silled, controlled, or rtpressed; but III
hose Of the popular FORM :, Is IN It's great
est rsnkness. and Is truly their worst enemy.
81 he atetna e dominion Of one faction over
,he,, sharpened by The spirit OF revenge,
natural to parry 1issen,lop, which, in different
ages and countries, has p rpetrat.d The most
horr I'd enormities, is Itself f. igh full despo'ism
But his leads al length TO more formal and
perm ament dc spo'ism. The disorders and mis-
cries which generally result, gradually incline
The minds of men 10 seek security and reposr
in he absolute power Of an Individual: and
sooner or laterahe chief Of some prev ailing lac
| ZION more able or more fortunate than his com
petl,ors, rurns this disposition 10 the purpose
of his own elevation, on The ruins vi pnbilc lb-
erty.
"Without locking forward 10 an extremity OF
thi kind, (Which nevertheless ought not 10 he
entire ely our IF Ugh, The common and eon'''u-
al mischief OF the spirit Of parry are sufficient
to make it the interest and du'y OF wise PEG
| pie 20 discoui age and RS rain it.
| at serves Away 10 distract the public ooun'
ellis and enfeeble the public administration. l.
agltatrs the community with ill-tognd' d Jea-
| lousies and false alarms; kindles the animosiy
ally riot and Instruction. 1t opens the door
to foreign influence and corruption, which find
facilitated access 10 the government Itself.
through the channels of party passions. Thus
the policy and the will OF one country are SUBJ
icored 10 the policy and will Of another.
"There is an opinion, that parties in free
countries useful checks upon the admins
rralion of he government, and serve 10 keep
livt he spirit OF liberty. This, within certain
limits, is probably true; and in governments OF
u monarchica al cast, patriotism may look with
indulgence if not with favour, upon the spiri,
of parry But in those OF the popular charae-
Ter, in governments purely elective, il is spir
it not to be encouraged. From their natural
tendency, il is certain here viii always be e.
nough e lha' spirit for every s-lutary purpose.
And there being cons,an, danger Of excess, The
effor, ougn' to be, by force of public opinion,
to mitigate anc ossuage it. A f'e not 10 be
queno he'd; il demands an Uniform vigilance 10
prevent its bursting into flame, lest instead Of
warming it should consume.
:" 1t is important likewise, that the habits Of
thinking in free country should inspire eau
ton, in hose entrusted wirhits administration,
10 Confinr themselves within their respective
cons ,ilulional spheres, avoiding in the exercise
Of their powers Of one department, TO encroaoh
upon other. The spirit Of encroachment tends
10 consolidate the powers Of all the departments
in one, and thus to create whatever the form e
government, real despo,ism. A justrsrimale
Of ,ha, love Of power, and pronen SIS 20 abuse it,
which predominaies in the human hear, is suf
6cien' TO satisfy US Of The truth Of this position.
he ne essity of reciprocal checks in the ex-
ercise of political power, by dividing & dis,r.
bu'ing it into different Repositories, and consti-
Oh ,Ia .rn,,li,n of No