Alexandria Advertiser And Commercial Intelligencer

From the Gazette of the United States

TOM PAINE

Invited to this country by his Right Worshipful and affectionate Friend T. JEFFERSON.

No. IV

WE proceed next to point out in what particulars their affectionate friends have harmonized in their enmity to the constitution of the United States, in its present form.

This, considering the official station of one of the parties, is a very important branch of our subject, before we quit it, we flatter ourselves that we shall prove to the satisfaction of the most sceptical, that the man, who has unfortunately been called to the administration of this government, originally professed himself hostile to the fundamental principles of our constitution; that he advised his native state against the adoption of it; and that his hostility has continued without abatement to the present day. We propose, moreover, to show that Paine has also professed his hostility to the very same principles of the constitution, and has promised in the event of his return to this country, to use his influence in effecting a change. Should all be undeniably proved,-it will go far in accounting for the official and affectionate invitation of Mr. Jefferson, and will also compel us to place his late professions of attachment to this constitution to the same account as his ostentatious farce of mourning over the hallowed tomb of Washington.

We begin then, with Paine's letter to Washington.

"It was only to the absolute necessity of establishing some federal authority, extending equally over all the states, that an instrument so inconsistent as the present federal constitution is, obtained a suffrage.

I declare myself opposed to several matters in the constitution, particularly to the manner in which what is called the executive, is formed and to the long duration of the senate; and if I live to return to America, I will use all my endeavors to have them altered."

[Page 4.]

Live to return! exclaims our good president: God forbid that any fatality should prevent so desirable an event and disappoint me of those patriotic endeavors, of which you speak, the bare promise of which has rendered me so affectionately attached to you!" Mr. Dawson, who brings over the treaty and who will present you this letter; is charged with orders to the captain of the Maryland to accommodate you back, if you can be ready to depart at so short a warning-' That you may live long to continue your useful labors, and reap the reward in the thankfulness of nations, is my sincere prayer

Paine again

". I have always been opposed to the mode of raising government up to an individual, or what is called a single executive. Such a man will always be the chief of a party. A plurality is far better: and besides this, it is necessary to the manly mind of a republic, and it loses the debasing idea of obeying an individual all."

[Note Page 6.]

Very pretty stuff to tickle the gimcrack fancy of a presidential philosopher!

This was written when it was fashionable to call five headed directories republicans.

It is true that they, like Paine's labors, have not been found remarkably useful upon experiment, but they are no less philosophical on that account. Who knows but they might have answered very well in France if that meddling republican Bonaparte, had let them alone? and as we have no man of that name in this country, it might be well enough, and it would certainly be very philosophical to let Paine and his affectionate friend give them a trial.

Paine goes on.

As the Federal constitution is a copy, not quite so base as the original, of the form of the British government, an imitation of its vices was naturally to be expected."

[Page 7]

Here Jefferson's admiration, undoubtedly, welled into rapture. Almost the very expressions of the letter to Mazzei!

How naturally the minds of great philosophers fall into the same trains of reflection, and sometimes into almost the same expressions!--" A copy, not quite so base as the original, of the form of the British government." Mr. Jefferson in his letter to Mazzei, has hardily expressed it more prettily. Compare them. "Their avowed object is to impose on us the substance as they have already given us the form of the British government. We have against us the bank and the public funds, establishments invented with views of corruption, and to assimilate us to the British Model in its corrupt parts."

This letter of Mazzei, though-of itself sufficient to establish Mr. Jefferson's dislike, or more properly, his malignant and rancorous hatred to our constitution in its present form, is by no means the only proof in our possession of this important fact, and of his perfect concurrence in the views and wishes of his affectionate friend, the blasphemer.

These other proofs shall furnish the subject of another number.