Gazette Of The United States

FOR THE GAZETTE OF THE UNITED STATES

MR. FENNO,

BY examples we are constantly taught that our attention, there are few on which we can reason with so little certainty as on the contingent events involved in every political system; or in the whole train of human affairs, any, in which we are found to deduce such wrong conclusions, or where we meet with greater disappointments in the expectations we may have formed. In the common occurrences of life, our judgment assisted by experience is generally a competent guide in conducting us to the objects we have in view; but the politician finds himself in a great measure without this advantage, and is often obliged to confide in measures warranted only by presumption, while he is frequently mortified in perceiving the result of such plans as he thought were conceived in wisdom and executed with prudence, prove the reverse of all he had proposed to himself. I was led to these reflections by a view of the present state of public affairs in this country, which appear so essentially to contradict the pleasing reveries of the Philosopher, and the sanguine hopes of the well-meaning politician. I will not attempt to delineate the dark picture which we a short time since presented to the view of the world—the painful traces of that situation are not yet effaced from the reflecting mind—I will only revert to the dawn of that day when America appeared ushering with majestic splendor thro the dark clouds which had so long enveloped her political hemisphere—I will just recal to memory that era so honorable in the annals of mankind which gave to her a form of government, not the offspring of violence, but the result of calm and mature deliberation, directed by a view to the general good—and to that still more glorious epoch when the hand which had so ably guided us thro a long and perilous war, was called forth to distribute the blessings of Peace, Liberty, and Independence—Enchanted Prospect! The irradiating beams of pleasure broke on us with a lustre almost too dazzling—the Western wilds of America resounded in echoing her future glory—and the peaceful waters of the lakes arose into billows swelled by the general joy.

The happy unanimity and liberal policy which marked the proceedings of the first session of Congress were calculated to confirm the most flattering anticipation. The second was opened by a speech from the head of the nation, pure as the fountain from which it issued, and urging in the most expressive language an early and earnest attention to such measures as would tend to establish public credit on an immovable basis, and restore to this country that respectability she had lost in her former weak and confused councils—To this end and in conformity to a prior vote of government, the Secretary of the Treasury reported a funding system, stamped with the capacity of its author, and constructed on those great national principles which will alone lead us to national honor—but alas, every feature of this fair portrait, has been wantonly distorted, or lays in broken pieces at the several shrines of ambition, avarice, and vanity—and the pride of gaining a party at home, or of leading one here, is found paramount to a generous passion for advancing the public good, which is only seen to arise in the smoke of the incense, burnt at the altars of State policies.—Sad defalcations indeed in the aspiring hopes entertained from the late political revolution in this country! The failure of public measures is not only to be attributed to the incapacity of rulers, but to the passions of ambition and resentment, which are seldom under control in men vested with power, and where the degree of responsibility cannot by any human contrivance be made adequate to the confidence reposed.

It is from the misapplication and perversion of great talents we have every thing to fear—those splendid abilities which are founded and intended by providence to exalt national fame and promote public happiness, operate in a contrary direction when abused; and instead of procuring honor, wealth and security to society, they involve in disgrace and entail misery and disorder on future generations. It is to be hoped that the great NECKAR, of America, with all that superiority which belongs to a cool and determined mind, will be found proof against the barbed shafts of envy and interested ambition, and eventually triumph over both, in his noble pursuit of the public welfare.

The free use of the press is the birth-right of an American, which he will not consent to dispose of for a mess of pottage; it is the fan which kindled that spark of liberty in this country, which is fast spreading over all Europe, and bids fair to illuminate the whole world.

AMERICANUS.