Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-01-21
From the National Journal.
LETTER ON REFORMING. II.

Mn old ard dear Friend -Li,,le did you and
think 10 live I" see SO great reform in our day.
II ha. been brought about, like all great re,s-
lulions, BY the mind Of one great man, acting
on the age in which he lives.
Sir, Prescription had been rendered odi'us
in France, and SO had the name of Liberty
General Prescription was supposed to oe Mil
itary ChieftaiD If The Revolution, acting under
the orders Of Robes pierre in the Reign OF Ter
Ior, who, unlike other heroes OF that stamp
that neither spare age nor sex nor condition,
struck Oh by the puresi patriots and the best
blood Of he country.
Reform in England, If it could DE radical,
would relieve the country OF its debt, the gov
eminent Of its abuses, and The people OF their
rulers Revolution would do The work OF re-
generation. Refor m would pass over the eoun.
try with his scyrhe, dwelling rank, talent, and
wealth. All titles, and honors, and distinctions,
would sink into The common mass, and pro-
perty into the commor stock-and society re-
solves itself into the original elements OF pure
democ, acy. But reform, having no Limits
pairing neither ms i;utions consecrated by time
nor principles rendered sacred by sge-bee ann
al length unpopular. Even in hrs country we
have many scruplrs and prejudiees TO encoun-
ter: but the Influence Of a grea, Fame, uniting
the spiri, Of party with the force Of the press
acting together on public opinion, has effected
what we have always hoped for, but never ex
pseted TO witness
Gen. Washington came into the administra-
ton, and nut himself at the head OF he nation,
instead Of relving upon party He had The
imprudenee (and thereby s:t the IA, al example)
to employ many OF those men who had served
in the r, volution, who had no qualihc aiion but
treir experience, and no merit but their length
r -
office young, active, jealous politicians, pa,,i-
sans and editors, deepening too much on his
popularity, he took many nf those who had
served long enough in various civil and mill
iary trusts to becom. entirely negligen, Of The
public interest and unworthy Of public eo"h-
dence. Sir, the consequence was that an at
tempt was made 10 refuse him vo'e Of thanks
at the close Of his Career. He was carried
through his administration merely by he force
nf his popussri,v-,hr people had strange In
fa,uation with regard to him-and we were no,
then o. ganiIsd- or we should have broken him
down.
Mr. Jefferson came into power a, the head
Of party, and we expected something from
him hu, he had no, the nerve. He was only
6, for civil trusts and quie, 'imes He b. came
very ,qu-ami>h No sooner was he elected,
han hr bryan TO look 10 his own fame, and 10
conciliate public opinion --anG in spite Of all
We could do. he would put in hi. address -
" rhs' We were all Republicans,al Federslis's,"
and wen so far as TO say hat"ha. ing banished
L from our land 'ha, religious InIoleI apce un-
der which mankind SO !ong bed and suffered,
: we have gained little, il We coun,enancr aIo
litic al intolerance, a. despo'ic, as wicked, and
capable of as hi er and bloody prosecutions"
Tat you rememhtr, 2u' us all ia. We said
We must keep him from pei and ink, or he
would ruin u all He did lI'lr be, er af,er.
wards He made some removals; hut then he
wrote long .et'er disavo~ing prs rip ion,
disc aiming III political tess; and said in II,
"The right Of opinion shall s"f;.r no invasion
from me. Those who h We &C ed well have no
thing TO fear, however they may have diff. cd
from me in opinion" He ,urnAd out Collec
TOT, but then he wrote long letter Of expisna
ZION, and we made very little GU Of him MIR
Madison was wor-e-a mere qu,eiist full Of
sentiment and Dhilosophv-hr lad committed
himself on the question OF the power Of remo>
val; he had gone so far az to declare tina, he
President would be improbable for the wan
ton exercise Of sucn power. What could we
expected Of him? ,imid politician. scrLpu-
lou, to the Cons,itution--afraid Of res ponsibil.
i,v-no, man of sciion-a mere writer OF es-
SAYS, or at most deba,er--with talent enough
10 found q government, but waning energy TO
reform or overurn one. lie suffered the old
revolutionary officers TO remain in their places;
he supposed that no others could do the duty
better. But, sir, their places are now filled by
a SCI Of men who can be relied on 10 support
the Administration as long as j, lasts, and who,
in their turn, IS the political wheel revolves,
will he ready TO give place to Other aspira ants,
who NAV meri the reward
Thea came Mr.. Monroe. He was thought to
be . great democratic leader, and something
Of milf airy man too. But NO sooner was he
safely seated by party, IN The Executive Chair,
than he turned round upon ths m, and said he
meant to administer the GoS-rnm.u, upon great
principles, and for the good Of tie country. We
were shocked Forgetting the friends and the
party who placed him there, he declared tina,
party names were mere bubbles, blown up by
demagogues for the amusemen, Of the people
and parry spiri, q monster that ought to be
strsngled. He proclaimed the era of good
feeiirg--and sir, our parry WAS nearly lost by
hts fee ed sentimentaliiy and hypocritics 81
can't. b., now greater man has restored US.
To be sure III, Feder ais 5 have got back pretty