Tht RIGHT CONSTITUTION *f a COMMON
WEALTH EXAMINED.
[Continued from our
It oui author meant another affair of 4 f>, it is
still less to his purpole, or rather still more' con
duit vely againlt him. It was so far from bein*
true in the year 454 , the molt fjmple and frugal pe
riod or Roman history, " that none but honest,
41 generous, and public (pirits desired to be in au
thority, and that only for the common good,"
and that there " was no camaffing for voices,"
that the molt illustrious Romans offered them
selves as candidates for the consulship ; and it was
only the diftreis and imminent danger of the city
trom the Etrurians and Samnites, and an univer
lal alarm, that induced the citizens to call their
eyes 011 Fabius, who did not Hand. When he saw
the fufFrages run frqm him, he arose and spoke •
" Why should he be solicited, an old man, ex
" haufted with labours and satiated with rewards,
" to take the command? That neither the strength
" of his body or mind were the fame. Hedread
" ed the caprice of fortune. Some divinity might
think his success too great, too constant, too
" much for any mortal. He had succeeded to the
" glory of his ancestors, and he saw himfelf with
" joy succeeded by others. That great honors
" were not wanting at Rome to valour, nor va
" lour to honors It was extreme age, not the
" slender advantages of honors," that occalioned
Fabius's dilinclination, as it did that of Cincin
nati on another occasion. This refufal, how
ever, only augmented the desire of having him.
Fabius then required the law to be read, which
forbad the re-eledion of a Consul before ten years
The Tribunes proposed that it should be dispensed
■with, as all iuch laws in favour of rotations ever
are when the people wiJh it. Fabius asked why
laws were made, if they were to be broken or dis
pensed with by those who made them ; and de
claied that the laws governed no longer but
were governed by men f. The Centuries, how
ever, persevered, and Fabius was chosen. " May
" the gods make your choice fucce<sful !" fa/s
the old hero; " diipofe of me as you will but
" grant me one favour, Decius for my colleague
" a person worthy of his father, and of yon, and'
" one who 'will live in perfect harmony with me. "
There is no such stinginess of honors on the part of
the people, nor any I'uchrelutftance to the service
for want of them, as our author pretends ; it was
old age,and refped to the law only: And one would
think the sentiments and language of Fabius fuf
ficiently ariftocratical; his glory, and the glory
of his ancestors and posterity, seem to be upper
most in his thoughts : And tliat disinterestedness
was not lo prevalent in general, appears this very
year ; for a great number of citizens were cited
by the itdiles, to take their trials, for pofleffine
more land than the law permitted. All this ri
gour was neceiiiry to check the avidity of the
citizens. But do you fuppole Americans would
make or submit to a law to limit to a final 1 num
ber, or to any number, the acres 01" land which a
man might poilt is > Fabius fought, conquered
and returned to Rome, to preside in the election
of the new Conluls, and there appear circum
stances which iliow, that the great zeal for him
was chiefly ariftocratical. The firlt Centuries
all ariftocratics, continued him. Appius Claudius'
of consular dignity, andfurely not one of our au
thor's " lionelt, generous, and public spirits "
nor one of his "single and plain-hearted men'"
but a warm, interelied, and ambitious man, of
fered himfelf a candidate, and employed all his
credit, and that of all the nobility, to be chosen
Consul with Fabius, lels, as he said, for his private
interest, than for the honor of the whole body of
the patiicians, whom he was determined to re
eltablifh in the poffeflion of both confulfliips.-—
Fabius declined, as the year before ; but all the
nobility surrounded his feat, and intreatedhim to
be sure; but to do what ? Why, to rescue the
consulship from the dregs and filth of the people
to restore the dignity of consul, and the order of
patricians, to their ancient ariftocratical splendor
Fabius appears, indeed, to have been urged into
the office of Consul; but by whom > By the pa
tricians, and to keep out a plebeian. The Senate
and people were checking each other; ftrugo]i nt r
together for a point, which the patricians ?ould
cany in no way but by violating the laws, and
forcing old Fabius into power. The Tribunes
had once given way, from the danger of the
rimes ; but this year they were not so disposed
The patricians were still eager to repeat the ir
regularity; but Fabius, although he declared he
should be glad to aflift them in obtaining two pa
trician Consuls, yet he would not violate the law
so far as to nominate himfelf; and no other pa
trician had interest enough to keep out L. Vo
* Ouid fc jam fenern, ac perfunftum laboribus, laborumque
p-smns, folhcitarent ? Ncc coipofis, nee animi v.gorem rcma
ncrc eundum, et fortunam ipfam vcrcri, ne cui dcorum niinia
j®m inle fortuna, rt cdnitSiuior, ijuarfi velint humanae res vidca
lur. Et f ; - gloria: feniorura fuccrcvi®, ct ad jloriam l'uam cou
lurgentes alios latum ad fpiccif. Kcc honors mag, ws viiis lortif
fimis, Rome, ncc honoribus decfle fortes vires. Liv.
+ J' 1 " "gi leges, non legcre.
lumnious, the plebeian, who was chosen with Ap
pius Claudius. Thus farts and events, which
were evidently created by a struggle between two
orders in a balanced government, are adduced as
proofs in favour of a government with only one
order, and without a balance.
Such severe frugality, fucli perfetft difintereft
ednels in public characters, appear only, or at
leait molt frequently, in ariitocratical govern
ments. Whenever the constitution becomes de
mocratical, such austerities disappear entirely, or
at least lose their inliuence, and the I'ufFrages of
, the people; and if an unmixed and unchecked
people ever choose such men, it is only in times
I °f diltrefs anddanger, when they think no others
can save them : As soon as the danger is over,
they negle<ft these, and choose others more plau
sible and indulgent.
1 here is so much pleasure in the contempla
tion of these characters, that we ought by no
means to forget Camillus. This great character
was never a popular one : To the Senate and the
patricians he owed his great employments, and
seems to have been feleCited for the purpose of
opposing the people.
I he popular leaders had no aversion, forthem
felves or their families, to public honors and of
fices, with all their burthens. In 358, P. Lici
liius Calvus, the firft of the plebeian order who
had ever been elected military Tribune, was about
to be re-elected, when he arose and said, " Ro
" mans, you behold only the lhadow of Licinius ;
" my ltrength, hearing, memory, are all gone,
" and the energy of my mind is no more: Suffer
" me to present my son to you (and he held him
" by the hand) the living image of him whom
you honored firft of all the plebeians with the
" office of military Tribune. I devote him, edu
" cared in my principles, to the commonwealth,
' aud (hall be much obliged to you, if you will
" grant him the honor in my stead." Accord
ingly the son was elected. The military Tri
bunes conducted with great ardor and bravery
but were defeated, and Rome was in a panic ve
ry artfully augmented by the patricians, to give
a pretext lor taking the command out of plebeian
bunds. Camillus was created Dictator by the Se
nate, and carried on the war with such prudence
ability, and success, that he saw the richest city
ot Italy, tnat of Veii, was upon the point of falling
into his hands, withimmenfe spoils. He now felt
himfelf embarralled : If he divided the spoils
with a sparing hand among the soldiery, he would
draw upon hnnfelf their indignation, and that of
the plebeians in general; if he distributed them
too generously, he should offend the Senate • for
with all the boasted love of poverty of those times!
the Senate and people, the patricians and pie!
beians as bodies, were perpetually wrangling
about spoils, booty, and conquered lands ; which
further ffiews, that the real moderation was con
fined to very few individuals or families.
(To be continued.)
c/VAdßisrfOri #/"M< Methodist Epi/copa/Churc/i,
S I T R THI ?Kl ' IDtNT o{ the United STATES.
WE, the Bishops of the Method,ft Episcopal Church, humbly
St« ' » r Ulme ° L OUI Soclct y collectively in these United
Sutes, to express to you the warm f.elings of our hearts, and our
ot't he fe'fi t w!" 1 °" yo r r appo ' ntm 1" the Prel,dentfh,p
oj these States.—We are conscious, from the signal proofs you
" C i ITZ S J VC "' yOU are a lr,cnd ol mankind ; and under
this established iaea, place as full a confidence in your w.fdom
berti'« h- V h I°' K prefcrVa r t,on of thofc clvll religious li
p' V" . i been transmitted to us by the Providence of
God and the glorious Revolution, as we believer, ought to be re
poled in man. ° UCK "
,HC mofl L grateful ra,lsfaa; ™ from the humble
and entire dependence on the great Governor of the Univerfc
which you hav* repeatedly expressed, acknowledging him the
source of every ble ftng, and particularly of ,he most excellent
Constitution of these States, which ,s a, present the admiration of
tatmT a' Th may its great exemplar for imi
ation . And hence wc enjoy a holy expectation, that you will
always prove a faithful and impartial patron of genuine, vital re
l.gion-the grand end of our creation and present probationary
exiffence. And we promise you our fervent prayers to the throne
a L S "?. r ' ' h " Almighty may endue you with all the graces
nd gifts of his holyfpirit that may enable vou to fill up your
important station, to his glory, the good of his church, thehao
pinefsandprofpentyof the Unite! States, and the wcltetf
Signed in behalf of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
THOMAS COKE^
»t V FRANCIS ASBURY
New-York, May 29, 1789.
To which The President was pleafcd to give the following
t t ti anlwer: 6
one Bishops oj(he Method,st Episcopal Church in the Vihtcd
gentlemen, ° J "
pic. 111 pM suing this line of conduct ho je b v fh" affiftTnc^°"f
fennmlr ,^d ft p^ f t S t^n' , ; i rt r o n / ~ « »
knowfedgflneinj of the eratGpvet
and in proieffions of support to a mft civ'.l Invr ' '' eUlm ' cr, -->
mentioning that, I trijft the Deouil nfn • i ernmenf . After
demean themselves as good citi '~ir will v' who
vinced, ,h« 1 shall Sfe W b'"COn
pati on of genuine, vital ,ci . i uft a!^re ' ? nJ ,m P«ual
1 iu P- «he pJi&TTS
ing your prayers at the throne of grace for me ,u ~
wife implore the divine benediflions on yourlclves,„J llkt "
giou. community. G. WASHWgTo^''"
[The following Ast, being the firft: which has ..(M .u,, •
branches of the National Legislature, received Yh. Sf *''
dent's aflent on Mondaylaft.] «tsi-
An ACT to regulate the T,me ard Manner of Uminijlermg certiia
BE it traded ty the Senate and Rem* e*(nt*ti If*
On,ted States of America, in Congress ajfenbled, That thecal
affir inaiion required by the iixth article of the Constitution nf.l"'
L uited States, shall be administered in thefoim followln.
wit: "'i A. B. do folemnlv swear, or affirm fjj tht c r
that I will fupportthe Conft.tution of the United Suu™ Y $
laid oath, or affirmation, (hall be administered within ihrf, /
after the palling of this a£t, by any one member ot il > S ""
the PieliJent ot the Senate, and by lum to all the membtlT'
to the Secretary; and by the Speaker of the Houleofß f «U
tatives to all the mcmuers who have not taken a similar ™1, t
£l if .°i 4 P artlc " lar ."fulution of thefaid House. and to',fee
Clerk. And in cafe of the absence of any member from the r
v,ce of either House, at the time preferred tor ukCthe r'i
oath or affiimation, the fameffiall be administered to such t
ber, when he shall appear to take hi, feat m ™-
And be "fu,there,.ailed, That at the -firft session of Conrref,
afier every general election of rrprefenta.ives, the oath or aft™
ation aforefaid ffial.be admin,ffercd by any'one mX o l£
House of Reprefentattves to the Speaker, and by him to all *
members preient, and to the Clerk, previous to entering on a£
other bufmefs; and to themembers who ffiall afterwards apW
previous to tak.ng their feats. The Pref.de,n of the Sena" fc
the time being (hall also adm.nifter the fa,d oath or affirmation,
each Senator, who (hall hereafter be elefled, previou, to histak
tng his (eat. And many future cafe of a President of th- Senate
be a°H 7' T. Ct l '"u hf h ' d oalb or affimation, the fame shall
A 2Tw-'t b y any one of the membe.sof the Senate
uffl , /Ui I r' J ),at,he members of the several State
legislatures, at the next feffior.s of the (aid legislatures refpeSi"'
ly, and all executive and judicial officers of the several State- who
have b.en heretofore chosen or appointed, or who (hall be chofea
then be'in offi fh n' i Y°f next ' 3nJ wh °
' 'r C thin onemonth thereafter, takcthefarrt
oath or affirmation, except where tl.ey (hall have taken it before
of .h ST/ . J any person aul horifed by the law
the Stateinwhich (uch office (hall beholden, to admin,Oer
oaths And the member of the feveaal State legislatures, and all
exec,itive and judicial officers ot the several States, who (hall be
eholen or appmnted after the said firft day of August, (hall, before
they proceed to execute the duties of their refpe&ixe offices, take
the foregoing oath or affirmation, which frail be administered by
h™r'l°, n °J P er^ ns ', who by the law of the State shall be ac
thorifed to .dm.mfte r the oath of office, and the person or perfom
a oath hertb y quired to be taken, (hall cause
hv .Z'f ° r Tl' lC r ,h L CrCot to bc madc f-me manner a,
And be "further enadid, That all officers appointed or hereafter
hrtvf aP , P ° mt i Und L Cr the au thority of the United States, Ih.II,
affirm I 7 , , rcf P eaiv( ' «he lame oath or
IhofhTk L 'I' 4 , administered by the p. rton or perlon.
refnrA " b y law to admmifter to such officers their
■ m°a r ° ,° Ilc1 lc , e : aßd such (hall incur the fame
faiW I " ft " llbe * m P°fcd by law in c>(e of
failure n taking their oaths of office
AndU "further tnadei, That the.Secretary of the Senate, and
, of ' he " < " lfe , of Repi efentatives, for the time being, (hall,
»Vk ff" 8 E oath or affir mation aforefaid, eaehtake
-n oath or affirmatlou, ,n the words following, tow,t. " lA.B.
Secjetary of the Senate 01 Clerk of the House of Reprefenta
,, (l ? r " may bc ) of thc Uni,cd States of America, do
(i lolemnly swear or affirm, that I willtruly and faithfully dif
■' and S abiHi-- U " CS fa ' d ° ff ' Ce ' t0 the beflofm l knowW 6 5
Jredsrick Augustus Muhlenuerg,
Speaker oj the House of Jieprefentativts.
John Adaks, V tcc-Frtfidert of the United States,
~. , „ And President of the Saatt.
Approved—Jnne-ift, j 7 Bg. J J
GEORGE WASHINGTON,
President of the United States.
NATIONAL MONITOR No. VII.~
1 o think, and to judge araifs, even concerning
tie ways of Providence, is the lot of our iniper
feo: nature."
A people that enjoys for a /tries of years, the lltf
>'"S i °J pence, and good government, will cotifidtr
e ~ L "- r J •■vent that threatens their tranquility, as the
at ir, tger of misfortune : without conftderiug wit
er t eir prtfent situation is the mofl eligible in which
>ey can oe placed ; -without etiquiriug -whether their
future profpefts do not warrant, and call for public
ex irtion and interprife, lulled into a jlatt of fupinenef,
an torpidity, by the charms oj indolence, they -will, if
not titer informed than the generality of mankind
as eenin all past ages, rather fuffer the encroach
ments oj arbitrary power, and loss of freedom, than
the novelty of experiment, to extend their
Iphers oj adion and open a boundless prcfpeCl of felici
ty, to present and future generations .—The late
American war, may be considered in this point of light;
eK J°y tn & 'OjnejUc east and happinefs 9 we engaged in it
with relufiance; unparellelled injuries /lowly rcufed
USiO a L f o,l > an d while clouds and thick darkness re jit A
'" 1 ' 'IF ue > " Me thought that all was againf} us: hit,
Itnce the designs of Providence artfully disclosed, by
' P Lac ?, liberty, and independence of America:
w - r e especially when those designs are contemplated
n ' ne J cene > tlat await our country, under the admi
"J > c...0n of the new constitution. —JVe may -well ex
c aim in the language oj inspiration, " our enemies
igned us evil: but God meant all these things
ror our good". c.
« S Z* hs t UT ' l > m pid Stream, tuhen foul uith Pains,
Upufhing torrents and defending rains,
Z o '}? "M clear, and as it runs' refines,
~nn I dc S r '" the floating mirtorfhines—
«JJ eac/l f 1 ""-'" 'baton its bolder grows,
" d " neuj Heaven in its fan bosom fihows!"
neu, rIAI S * B j SCJiIP Jl ONS S or " :e "COURIER DE BOSTON" 4
ceived n A'/ u"j at Lofton Ir. the French Language, are re
ur iverf ,I' 9 ' Unt ■ [The utility of a paperin atoo!f
auirr T? n^u^ e not be hinted to those. who wish to ac
quire the French tongue.]
FENNO, No. 9, MaJden*
i-ANE, neat the Oswico-Market, New-York.