Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1841-03-11

ny tnter1eveNef ss1 ~ eseeruo3 pesstyS sfonw
"o.e o.smca - ssAiek - 4, ~ sAs t;ms As;nS,
ea'ren. He may indeed ofsef 10 Ne cid
zens OF other States his advice q = their
management, and the form in which 4 n 49,
dered Is left to his own discretion and sense
of proprie,y.
1t may be observed, however, that orranlx.
ed associations OF citizens, requiring compli.
ance with their wishes, too much resemble
the recommendations Of Athens to her allies
supported by I'm armed and powerful fleet.
1t was, indeed, to the ambition Of the leadinS
States OF Greece TO control the domestic con.
Germs OF the others. that the destruction Of THAT
celebrated confederacy, and subsequently, of
all its members, is mainly to be attributed.
And II Is owing to the absence of that spirit
that that the Hclvetc confederacy has tor 90
many years been preserved. Never has there
been seen In the institutions of the separate
members of any confederacy moro elements
OF discord. In the principles and forms Of
government and religion, as we'll No in the
circumstances OF the several cantons, so mar
ked discrepancy was observable, as to prom.
Use any thing but harmony in their intercourse
or pernanency in their alliance. And vet.
for ages, neither has been interrupted. Con-
tent with the positive benefits which their
union produced, with the independence and
safety from foreign aggression which it sccur-
Ne
situations of each other, however repuenant
to their own principles and prejudices.
Our Confederacy, fellow-citizens, can only
be preserved by the same forbearance. Our
citizens must be content with the exercise Of
the powers with which the Constitution
clothes them. The attempt Of those of enc
State TO control the domestic institutions of a.
mother, can only result in feelings Of distrust
and Jealousy, the certain harbingers Of disun-
Ion, violence, civil war, and the ultimate de-
struction of our free institutions. Our Con-
federacy is perfectly illustrated by the term.
and principles governing common copar,-
nership. There fund OF power is to be ok
erclsed under the direction Of the joint coun-
CHS OF the allied members, but that which has
been reserved by the individual members -
intangible by the common government or tho
individual members composing it. To-at-
tempt 1t finds no support in the principles Of
our Constitution. Ii should be our constant
and earnest endeavor mutually TO cultivate a
spirit OF concord and harmony emong the va
rious parts of our Confederacy. Experience
has abundantly taught us that the agitation
by citizens of one part of the Union Of sub
jet not conhded to The General Government,
but exclusively under tho guardianship Of the
local authorities, is productive of no other
consequences than bitterness, alienation, dis
cord, and injury to the very cause which is in
tended to be advanced. OF ali the great into
rests which appertain to our country, that Of
union, cordial, conhding, iraternal union, 10
by Tar the most important, since it is the only
true and sure guaranty Of all others.
In consequence of the embarrassed state Of
business and the currency, some of the States
may meet with difficulty in their financial
concerns. However deeply we may regret
any thing imprudent or excessive in the en-
gagemcnts into which States have entered for
purposes OF their own, it does not become us to
oisParage the State Governments, nor to dis.
courage them from making proper efforts for
their own relief; on the contrary, i, is our duo
ty TO encourage them, TO the extent ofour con-
stltutional authority TO apply their best means.
and cheeriully to make all necessary eacrif-
ces and submit to all necessary burdens 10
fulfil their engagements and maintain their
credit; for the character and credit Of the sew
eral States form part of the character and cred
1t OF the whole country. The resources of
the country are abundant, the enterprise and
activity OF our people proyerbial; and we may
well hope that wise legislation and prudent
administration, by the respective Govern
ments, each acting within its own sphere,
will restore former prosperity.
Unpleasant and even dangerous as eoli-
sions may sometimes be, between the consti-
tuted authorities or the citizens Of our coun-
their respective Jurisdictions, the results can
be OF no vital injury to our institutions, il that
ardent patriotism, that devoted attachment to
liberty, that spirit Of moderation aud foTbeay-
ance for which our countrymen were once die
unguIshed, continue 10 be cherished. lfthis
continues to be the ruling passion of our souls,
the weaker feelings of the mistaken enthusi-
asst Will be corrected, the Ethiopian dreams Of
tho scheming politician dissipaied, and tho
n mil ras tad tpkr, czf. Al
dered harmless. The spirit Of liberty is the
sovereign balm for every injury which our in
situations may receive. On the contrary, no
care that can be used in the construction or our
Government; no division Of powers, no distri-
button of checks in its several departments,
Will prove efectually to keep us free People,
II this spirit is suffered to decay; and decay
II will without constant nurturs. TO the ne
elect OF this duty, the best historians agreein
attributing the ruin of all the Republics with
whose existence and fall their writngs HAYS
made us acquainted. The same cause will
ever produce the same effects; and as long as
the love Of power is a dominant passion ofths
human bosom, and as long as the understen-
dings OF men can be warped and their afrec-
lions changed by operations upon their pas
sions and prejudices, SO long will the liberty
of people depend On their own constant at
tention to its preservation. The danger TO all
well-established free governments arises from
the unwilliagness of the People to believe in
Its existence, or from the influence Of design
Ing men, diverting their attention from the
quarter whence itapproaehes, TO source from
which 1t can never come. This is the old
trick of those who would usurp the govern
ment of their country. In the name of Democ-
racy they speak, warning the People against
the influence Of wealth and the danger Of aris-
toeracy. History, ancient and modern, IL full