Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-07-03

Fourth of July.-The preparations for celc-
brating our national anniversary assume much
more of party division than is commendable.
The assumption of this position is alike attri-
butable to both parties in many places. This is
much to be regretted. All ought to know and
to feel that the whole people OF the United states
constitute one great political family, united IN
the pursuit of one common object-the asser-
ton and maintenance Of political liberty and the
rule of equal laws. The individuals, however
numerous, that seek their private advantages,
in securing the control of public Offices and the
use of the public treasure, in comparison with
the whole body of the community, are few
Whilst it is deplored that party divisions
contribute almost the entire means with
which some office hunters elaborate their OBJ
jects, still it is social duty to admit tnat no
nesty of purpose is the object of all other de,
scriptons of citizens, This admitted, all should
feel that all may be in error, and, that being
conceded, all should feel that little OF charlta-
BILE and good feeling toward each other might,
by softening asperities conciliate mutual sentl-
ments of respect and forbearance. This were
better than to aggravate exasper atoms that
serve only to embitter the mass OF citizens
against each other, for the benefit OF the least
deserving amongst them-the few who are up
on the look out for Offices The 4th of July,
the birthday of our national independence and
existence, would seem proper occasion Tor
cultivating those better feelings Of our nature.
1t augurs nothing creditable to our liberalty, or
our patriotism that il is devoted to party car
nivals for the mutual denuncation OF one ano-
ther.-Cfncin. Gaz.
In addition to the above remarks from the
Cincinnati Gazette, we subjoin the following
excellent observations on the same subject from
the New York American:
GA moments reflection will suggest that our
present party divisions, however broad, do not
have the least bearing upon the triumphant ad-
iuStment of that question which was raised by
the Declaration of independence. 1t was TO-
reign, not domestic usurpaton that our ances-
tors raised their arms against and the tie OF
Transatlantic tyranny once broken, the unborn
nations of all ages upon this continent, under
whatever form of government they may live,
NAV still Justly celebrate the blessed day toge-
ther Let us suppose for moment that the
form of government adopted by our noble fore
fathers at the close of the Revolution had been
one widely different from that under which our
country has so happily f1ourished! Would there
not still have been sufficient cause of gratitude
that that government was our own? That whe-
Their we became Monarchists, or Republicans,
we were still free from strangers power over
our political acts, and could regulate them
among ourselves as we chose. The Declara-
ton Of independence is not the Constitution OF
the country. 1t is Only the charter by which
we own the soil and the free air above it; and
no question thai all be raised upon the former,
in any way touches or affects the latter. The
one is the grand charter of rights between us
and foreign nations; the other lays down those
principles by which We choose to be regulated
among ourselves. Every honest man will OF
course be Jealous to maintain each; but while
there may be many opinions about the mode OF
interpreting and maintaining the Constitution,
there can be but one about that OF maintaining
the Declaration of Independence. 1t is erer to
present an unbroken front to foreign nations.
No matter what changes may threaten-what
evils may canker our present political exist
ence, let the feelings and the passions-the re-
gret for what is lost, and the anxiety for what
we may be loosing-let party bitterness and all
politca asperity, be merged in no5ler feelings
when we celebrate the birthday, not of par
ticular form of government, but of PEOPLE
Travellers in Mahometan lands love to ex-
patiate upon the deep moral effect produced by
the cessation OF every movement in crowded
CITY. when at the call of the MueZzn from his
minaret, each Mussulman pauses in whatever
act he may be engaged, and kneels in worship
beside the person nearest to hlm-unmlndful
what may be his condition, and whether
he be friend or an enemy. And truly, there is
something singularly impressive in the idea ofthe
approach of such an hour, and of the solemn
ty that daily accompanies its annunciaton.-
But how much more imposing is the spectacle,
when the actors, instead of being the devotees
Of barbarous superstition, are engaged in ce.
lebrating the rites ofenlightened Freemen-and
when, after having consumed the year in secta-
ran quarrels over the revelation of liberty that
has been made to them, they unite, on one day,
in a heartfelt offering to the memories of those
from whose hands it came.