Gazette Of The United States, & Daily Advertiser

Extract from Essays on Political Society-
now printing by Mr. William Young.
The American Congress, under their
existing constitution, affords a conspicuous
illustration of general principles of moral
policy.
None of the ancient or modern leagues,
none of the ancient or modern governments,
in the Old World, exhibits so perfect a na-
tional model for municipal legilation upon
the elective system. French vanity, indeed.
has eulogized their policy as the sublimest
monument of human reason. But the de-
fects of this first edition of government
which they call a constitution, were proved
by its being overthrown almost as soon as
it commenced operations: It became obso-
lete in its infancy. The next project, to
which was given the name of constitution,
was conceived under the ascendant of Ro-
bespierre. This thing, even its parents,
had not the confidence to exhibit to the
French, for their opinion. The third French
edition of government, called the constitu-
tion of year three, appeared to have more
firmness of texture, and to be more capable
of duration. Its exterior form, indeed, has
been continued, while the brain and the
heart, as far as it had any, were anatomized
by order of such as directed the armed
force.
Can the French Council of Ancients claim
the honor of competing with the American
Senate ? Is it equally formed for dignity,
for wisdom and stability?
Shall the French Council of Five Hun-
dred pretend to rival the American House
of Representatives as a popular chamber of
legislation? The triennial election of the
members of that Council, the interposal of
an electoral assembly between them and the
people, the annual rotation of one third of
the members, the forced election of two
thirds, were these the best expedients which
the boasted French skill could devise for se-
curing popular liberty?
The French legislature, if their two Coun-
cils merit the name since the Fructidorian
subjugation, is a duplicated revolutionary
aristocracy ; mutilated by pentarchal usur-
pation; nominally regulated by forms,
which, at the bidding of the pentarchs, va-
nish before a decree of urgency
Whether the framers of the American
constitution were controlled by an happy ne-
cessity of political situation ; whether their
profound acquaintance with the most cor-
rect theories of government determined the
frame of the system ; or whether a manly
force of mind, combined with scientific
skill, aided by much personal experience, and
influenced by a respectful attention to pre-
conceived opinions, led to a system so origi-
al in its general structure, so intervolved
in its parts, so compacted by the association
of the whole ; whether and how far any or
all of these causes operated to produce . the
American constitution, one thing is cer-
tain--.--.-The citizens of the New World
have abundant cause to felicitate themselves
on their political destiny. The American
nation has now a municipal legislature con-
stituted to " provide for the common defence
"and general welfare."