Alexandria Daily Gazette, Commercial & Political

From the Virginia Patriot.

POLITICAL REFLECTIONS.

(continued.)

VIII.

Government is founded in human necessity: The existence of the necessity involves the existence of restraint. A people possesses all the vices, all the iniquitous propensities, incident to mortals. Yet defects in restrictive regulations, or in the vehicles of restrictive regulations, endanger the security of that people. The subject is critical; but sit mihi fas loquor.

IX.

Nothing can be more inimical to a nation's happiness, nothing more pernicious to a nation's prosperity, than an opinion which is prevalent in our country. We believe that the color of a man's private character, and individual actions, will not be communicated to his political measures. To believe in the correctness of that opinion we must believe man perfect. He who tyrannizes over his household, would rule absolutely a whole people. He, who violates a private trust, would violate the trust of a nation. He, who would betray his friend, would betray his country.

X.

There is in the rise of every nation, from obscurity to eminence, a period, which the moralist delights to contemplate, on which the patriot dwells with rapture. 'Tis the concentration of individual cares to one point, 'tis the absorption of individual interest in one object. 'Tis when an oppressed people labors to be free, &, in that thought, awakes in their breasts, bravery, without vanity, and glory, without ambition. 'Tis when a people feels the absence of liberty, and, in that thought, seeks for its real presence, not its bloody phantom. Such a period was in our career as a nation, but in our career there will not be another.

XI.

There is in the progress of every nation from simplicity to opulence, a period which the moralist contemplates with a tear, which the patriot dwells on with a sigh. 'Tis the retraction of individual cares from the general good; 'tis the absorption of the general good in individual interest. 'Tis when a people is secure in the possession of its liberties, and in that thought speaks consistently with aristocracy. 'Tis when a people feels the presence of liberty, and in that thought is lulled into pernicious security. We have arrived at this period;—'tis our declension as a nation:

XII.

Yet let us not complain; for every thing human must be defective, and must decay. Let us find consolation in the assurance, that society will support itself; that we are as politically happy as we are capable of being; for every disposition of affairs is the consequence of necessity, and necessity must be obeyed.

VINDEX.