Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-10-08

hin guard of so armed men. This number he
gradually increased to or 500, and syth this ptul
force, gaining possession of the citadel (which the
arsenal of the commonwealth, he able to usurp
and maintain absolute power, most warke,
but swordess population, exceeding 10000 efficient
fighting men, With how much truth has Fieldings
sage, (Patndge) argued, a thousand naked men are /
nothing to pistol, for though it is it will kill
but one ut single discharge, yet who cantel but
that one may be himself" .-
The citizens ofsAtbens, seem not to have been III
sensible of the cause OF this Welding spirit of the peo
pie. For when Hannodus and Aristogiton resolved
on liberaig their country, by asSassinatng Hppar-
chus, son OF Fsstfats IN the arrangement OF their
scheme they delayed their purpose to the feast of
the Panatanca, which ceremony required that aiihe
citi-enS should attend IN aynnni,,s
great majority ofthe people, after deposing
those tyrants, enjoyed but small share of authority
in the commonwealth. The arms and the treasure
were in the keeping of the aristocracy. 1t after
the Persian invasion, which mighty struggle compell
ed the necessity of urnlin tire whole populaion that
the lower classes with effect claimed their national
rights, and the arstocracy, who perceived mpossi-
bic to resist the progress Of democracy, seasonaby
yielded to men who had arms in their ha,ds, and firm
ness III their hearts,; and AriStdes procured law to
be passed. by which magistrates should thenceorth be
chosen from the ou: classes of citizens
FMS Is the catastrophe much depored by Eng
Is continent aors GrcCian hisory this is the shock
they hold forth to have been so fatal tn the balance of
their constitutions and from thence they would have
us date the decline of the Athenian Commonwealth
But let us beware OF tue poisoned pens of mcrce-
nary writer's, well of the OF nercenary SOL
ders; and examine with caution, the facts on which
they ground their opinions, before adopt their spc
/ cous, apd iusiiions dcductioUs.
Facts in this instruct us, tht il was after this
change IN the Constitution Of Athens that she attained
her greatest sSaation. II after the adoption of
those liberal principles aud TO every appearance in
consequence of tGem that this celebrated common
! wealth, attained the triumphout prominence in
Greece which enshrned Der in that resplendcnt halo
ofgloFy, which SO bewildeis contemplation on
comparing the events, with the weak population and
tive
ing to such achievements.
! ready to admit, that elective privileges under
the decree of Aristidcs n admitting ndiscrimnately
the pfoaea and the wprthless) were extended too
FIR. In the great eifort which cave rise to the de-
cree, slaves were freed and armed for the common
defence, and al sorts and characters, of the mhnb
tants were enrolled; and oil who bore arms that
great occasion, were afterwards admitted to ell tho
privileges OF the best citizens. Tine indifference Of
Gs worst orders Of people, to the pubic welfare and
tnclr reckless ardouf tVr selfiudulgenee was quite
probably the caose of their ultimate fall for AFTER
wards, IN the greatest need Of the State, the people
long withheld from purpage. of public defence 20
] tO1 OF the p2olie rcvenIe, Which IN time of poaco
! had been appropriated to the entertainment Of the
poor. With theatrical aInusg!neTts.*
But detective as it it was better than the ar
istocracy from which it arose. But when Athens
did tall, TO what state did that mighty catastrophe so
much vailed and dcpored by mona chical writer's
reduce hep? Did she tumble to the ABYSS of rnonar
chy that form OF government they so much nlorify
Not quite so bad. no; she did but descend to much
state OF that whence
| ged alter the Persian invasion; under which, she
afterwards continued several Centuries and remained
without much varlaJlon of condition. u trucklinr in
conslderabe State. The grand achievement of eype
ig Tue fcfssans was not the deed of Athens; but Of
conulned Greece. 1t was subsequent measures and
| expeditions to Peleponeais, to Sicily to Asia &c
that probably entitled Athens to pre-en,iuent Glory
| Inc proceedings at Athens, (tfe soul of Greece)
guFe erection as has been related nearly all the
other States of the Peninsula; for which reason We
have bu little more to say with reeardto the Greeks
In continuation of remark, that the Greeks had rru
orally In their hands, and to afford ono rnora
ample, of the disposition Of the, people To rca ar
iii support OF freedom, will cite from Plutarrh The
manner in which Aratus raised armed norn with
WHOM ne h9erated Slcyon from tyranny. at was
easy says he "to provide arms without exctjno
alarm: Tor almost every body went armed on account
OF the frequent fobberes and inctusons Of one PEG
pie INTO the territories of another"
= IL does appear to mo- and think it viii also he an
parent to those Who will attentivelv CONSIDER the ,b
ljcct with ne, that In all the material chances in tn
government or the GTecian States, whether the bal
1lee OF power inclned to the many OF to the few,
that 1t vas the weight CT arms that controlled tho
counterpoisc. When arrns were in the hands nf
shc many free principles we're advanced. When
In possession OF the Few or their mcrcenaries arsfn
faeY, ohSarcly, OF despotisIn prevailed
! The discussions and disturbances nj Ro,,o ,,u :,
discovered by the attentive reader of their history N
nave arisen from the tyranny of the Patrcians tout Of
Tiici ordeI, all their Senator'S and for long time
al other officers were chosen) over the P7eb;ans
winch latter, whenever fit opportunity offered made
point of encroaching towards that equality to which
they justly conceived their numerical superioritv
entitled them, and often did the necessity occ,ir
lor arinng the people against incursons from neigh
boring States, that they not long in attaininu
their wishes.
Happy would it have been for the Commonwealth.
ad contests OF parties ceased here; but the gross at
teapts and unprnciped measures resorted to b,, H.
Patricians to regain their lost ascendancy. apcrava
ted the Plcblans to measures retaliation and naII
the mlitaryf was called in 10 settle lie differences
lHaich was the immediate cause of the Common
ws8lth's downfall.
80 enter more particularly into the afairs of Rome
or to proceed with special detail Of the irsttntio
ana revolutions Of modern Commouwcalths, would
extend TINS essay beyond the limits of q newspaner
publication shall therefore limit myself with re-
gard to those things, to general remarks.
Hhen the Northern Nations of Europe had over
run ana re-conquered from the Romans tho more tenn