Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-07-10
ALEXANDRIA. ID. c.
SlrvaDfY, u0RsfyG. yULF 10, 1880.

S3TyyRDgY. MORNING, JULF 10, 1880.
The course of Par'y.-All Governments have
their phasss. and without actual revolutions ex-
bbit. at different times. different appearances ana
different attitudes. They often stray from a
RIGHT line. and can be brought back only ov Tue
virtue and intelligence of the people. ne great
dancer lies in the iamentable fact. that the dou'i
,rorH course Is increased IN It's velocity oy ume;
and that a recurrence 10 frst principles Is so'"e
times not thought of until it is too late, or until
the denrayitv of the public mind has rendered
Their annIication Ynayailiug. In Republics. es-
neciaIly. experience has shown. that the longer
Government is permitted 10 transcend IFS lnst
mowers. TO act contrary to Justice and good idlth'
and "a NEGLECT the axioms of sound sense, piain
honesty and fair dealing, the more difficult does
II becone TO reform abuses and bring the admit
nisrration Of public affairs 10 wholesome and
healthy STATE. With these views we hold IT to
he fhe dutv of every citizen 70 examine the pre-
sent .itra'ipn of MS country. ard Candldiy to ask
himself the question. if he does not think that
the fines require change in the administration
Of our affiirs.
II = useless TO disguise the fact--for, disguise
= a. we NAV. the hateful truth Will stare us In
he face. that the great foundation of civil liberty
has been undermined. and that our people are no
IoDuer secure in the enjoyment Of that right so
dear 10 every freeman. the right of opinion
Are We asked for proofs # ;nis startling position:
Are we called upon to adduce evidence o. the
truth Of this assertion: We refer To the hundred
and thousand Of instances Of prescription which
have marked this reign of terror: the prescription
of Revolutionary Patrints-honorable high mind
ed Den-fathers of families--men against whom
the vince of censure had never been raised. and
tteir
nersouol worth and standing. The miserable ex-
cnse for this prescription is Of piece with the
tyranny which enforces it. What Administration
h,s h,en clear Of defaulters? Are honest men
IN snffar because there are some rogues IN oihce!
If the purity of an Administration is To be Jnde-
ed of bv acts Of some of its subnrdinates, what
mat we think If the present. which has placed
in Office, the robbers of the grave-robbcrs OF the
Po.t-oTice-robbers of the 1reasury--gambiers
-f,rgers. and assasins? What will those who
hold up their hands at the mention ct TOBIAS
Watkins saw. when thew read of Ira Woodman,
Chris ian Werlich and Silas Dean? No. No.
The true the ONLY cause for the Prescription. Is
10 be found in the fact. that the prescribe ddared
to exercise the right Of opinion, and were opp0s-
ed TO the election of Andrew Jackson. Indeed
the system pursued is of character suflclent 10
alarm every rejecting man. Not content WIN
furnishing as many as their own fears. or their own
interests. permitted them, they hold the roo OF
despotism over those Who remain. We speak
facts No man now holding office under Govern
ment, and dependent upon that Office for support,
if opposed in principle to its practice, darss to
EXPRESS his opinions As a freeman ought to do
He must. if he ventures 10 discourse upon public
aairs. retire into some secret corner. where spies
and informers cannot intrude: he must. IN the
face of the world. speak of his masters with bat
ed breath. and whispering humbleness;' he must
cowerunder the hand which is raised to smlte him.
Such Is the degradation which the Government
forces upon freeman. In Washington. what
i the condition Of the retained, vet suspected
Clerks:. We can hardly imagine situation more
grating to man of feeling-eXlstence Is dear, but
.Asan illustration of the fact here mentioned
we copy the following from the Georgetown Co.
lumbian:-
.sNo circumstance can more forCibly illustrate
the cha acter of the present Administration than
the fact which we m0urnfully record that at the
dinner given in Washington, on Monday, by the
Mechanics and other citizens favorable TO the
American system and Henry Clay. not single
Clerk or anu person uffcler the control o. The
General Government Ods present.
VIII it be said that the Administration have
removed all their opponents. or have mad the art
to convert them from the error Of their ways unto
the true faith? No one will believe that the
friends Of the system and Of Mr.. Clay have de-
serted their principles, but trath it was as much
as their bread was worth to be found In such
company as had there assembled; we know
that some complained of the hardship OF their
fate that they could not join their friends. and
follow the bent of their inclination even or the
anniversary of AMERICAN ISDEPNDENcE! Is
this free country? We'll may we ask the qGes-
ton. Have ffty-four years made US 50 degene-
rated, that a man in the employment OF the Gov
Facts are Stubborn things, and let facts speak
| Comment is useless