The Virginia Gazette

Of all the Actions or Sayings of Philip of Macedon, there is none perhaps more worthy of the Attention of a Free People than the following one.—That Prince seeing his Son went about by Presents, or Bribes, to gain the Affection of the Macedonians, thus reprimanded him in a Letter ; What ! Hast thou a Mind that thy Subjects should look upon thee as their Cash Keeper, and not as their King ? Wilt thou tamper with them to win their Affections ? Do it then by Benefits flowing from thy Virtues, and not by opening thy Chest to them.

However, this good Advice does not preclude the rewarding of dutiful and brave Subjects for any laudable or necessary Act done without previously stipulating a Recompence; for if Virtue were always to be left to be its own Reward, we should probably soon see it totally extinguished in the World, except among those who have nothing else in View but a heavenly Recompence : But all that we are to insist upon is, that Princes should never make it a common Practice to win Hearts by Presents, nor offer Bribes or the Performance of any Duties where the Laws and the Constitution intend that the Subject should be left entirely free to act according to his Judgment and Conscience; because such Methods blind the Eyes and pervert the Heart, and open a Door for an universal Corruption of Manners; than which nothing can be more pernicious to a State, if it be true, as Solomon says, that the Throne is established in Righteousness.