The RIGHT CONSTITUTION of a COMMON
WEALTH EXAMINED.
[Continued Jrom our lajl. J
The fourth reason is, " because afucceflion of
" supreme powers deltroys faction Which is
defined to be an adherence to an interest diltinvft
from the true interest of the state.
In this particular, one may venture to differ al
together from our author, and deny the
fact, that a i'ucceliion of sovereign authority in
one aliembly, by popular elections, deltroys fac
tion. We may atKrmtlie contrary, that a Hand
ing authority in an absolute monarch, or an he
j eciitary aristocracy, are less friendly to the mon
ster than a simple popular go\ eminent; and that
it is only in a mixed government of three inde
pendent orders, of the one, the few, and the ma
ny, and three separate powers, the legifiative,
executive, and judicial, that all forts of factions,
thole of poor and the rich, those of the gentle
men and common people, thole of the one, the
few, and the many, can, at all times, be quelled.
The reason given by our author is enough to
prove this : " 1 hose who are factions mull have
" timet .° ""prove their Heights and projects, in
" dif'guifing their designs, drawing in inltru
" ments, and worming out their oppofites." In
order to judge of this Tet us put two I'uppofitions :
1. Either the fuccellion mult be by periodical e
letftions, limply ; or, 2. by periodical elections
in rotation : and, in cither cafe, the means and
opportunities oi improving addrels and fyltems,
concealing or feigning deligns, making friends
and escaping enemies, are greater in a fuccellion
of popular elections than in a standing aristo
cracy or simple monarchy, and infinitely greater
than in a mixed government. When the mon
lter I action is watched and guarded by Cerberus
with his three heads, and a fop is thrown to him
to corrupt or appease him, one mouth alone will
devour it, and the other two will give the alarm.
—But to return to our firlt cafe, a fuccellion in
one alfembly, by simple annual elections. Elec
tions are the belt poilible fcliools of political art
and addrels. One may appeal to any man who
has equal experience in elections and in courts,
whether addrels and art, and even real political
knowledge, is not to be acquired more ealily, and
in a shorter time, in the former than in the latter.
A King of France once asked his molt able and
j 1011 eft ambaflador d'OflLt, where he had learned
that wonderful dexterity, with which he pene
trated into the bosoms of men of all nations and
characters, unravelled every plait in the human
foul, and every intricacy of affairs and events ?
The cardinal answered, " Sire, I learned it all,
111 my youth, at the election of a parish officer."
It is a common observation in England, that their
greatelt statesmen, and their favorite Chatham
among the reft, were formed by attendance on
elections. The human heart is no where so open
and so dole by turns. Every argument is there
exhaulted; every paifion, prejudice,imagination,
• uperltition and caprice, is easily and surely
learned among tliefe scenes. One would suspect
that Shakelpeare had been an electioneering a
gent. W ienthsfe elections are in a fmgle city,
like Rome, there will be always toofets of candi
dates : If one set lucceeds one year, the other
will endeavor to succeed the next. This will
make the whole year a scene of fa<ftion and in
trigue, and eyery citizen, except perhaps a very
few who will not meddle on either lide, a parti
san or factious man. If the elections are in a large
country like England, for example, or one of the
United States of America, where various cities,
towns,boroughs,and corporations, are to be repre
lented,each scene of election will have twoorinore
candidates, and two or 111 ore parties, each of which
will study its Heights and projects, difguifeits de
signs, draw in tools, and worm out enemies. We
mult remember thatevery party, and every indivi
dual, is now struggling for a share in the executive
and judicial power as well as legifiative, for a
share in the distribution of all honors, offices, re
gards, and profits. Every paflion and prejudice
of every voter will be applied to,- every flattery
and menace, every trick and bribe that can be
bellowed, and will be accepted, will be used ;
and, what is horrible to think of, that candi
date or that agent who has fewelt scruples ; who
will propagate lies and flanderswith molt confi
dence and lecrecy ; who will wheedle, flatter,
and cajole ; who will debauch the people by
treats, fealts and diversions, with the least liefi
tation, and bribe with the most impudent front,
which can consist with hypocritical concealment,
vill draw in tools and worm out enemies the faft
eft : Unsullied honor, sterling integrity', real
N li tae, will Hand a very unequal chance. When
vice, folly, impudence, and knavery have car
ried an election one year, ihey will acquire, in
the rourfe of it, frefli influence "and power to suc
ceed the next. In the courle of the year, the de
legate in an aflembly that disposes of all com
millions, contracts, and pensions has many oppor
t unites to reward his friends among his ov\n con
stituents, and to punifhliis enemies. The son or
other relation of one friend has a commillion
given liini in the army, another in the navy, a
uiiru a benefice in the church, a fourth in the
customs, a fifth in theexcife ; ihares in loans and
contracts are diltributed among his frinds, by
which they are enabled to encreafe their own
and his dependents and partilans, or, in other
words, to draw in more inftruinents and parties,
and worm out their oppofices. All this is lo eaf'y
to comprehend, so obvious to fight, and so cer
tainly known in iniiverlal experience, that it is
astonishing that our author should have ventured
to aflert, that such a government kills the canker
worm Faction.
(To be continued.)
A en-York, July 13.
On Saturday I a]l the fellow tug ADDRESS was pre
sented to the PRESIDENT of the United States, by
the Rev. William Smith, D. D. tht Hon. John
Henry, Efq± of the Senate, and the Hon. Joihua
Seney, EJq; oj the House of Representatives ; being
a committee oj the Vtfitors and Governors of \Valli
ington College, in the Jlate of Maryland, appoint
ed for that purpose. viz.
To TIIE PRESIDENT of the United States.
SIR,
WE, the Corporation of Visitors and Governors,
and the Principal and Faculty of Profc{fors of Wash -
ington College in the state of Maryland, ac
tuated by the fmcereft personal affe<ftion, as well
£ls the purelt public considerations, beg leave to
embrace the present occasion of our Anniversary
Meeting and Commencement, to felicitate ourfclves
and our coufitry, upon your unanimous appoint
ment to the Chief Magistracy in the general go
vernment of the United States.
Revolving upon the viciflitudes and eventful
liiltory of the late war, every page of which bears
ample and honorable testimony to the services
which you have rendered to your country, and
the exertion of tliofe Virtues and Talent's which
have exalted your name to the firft rank among
the Heroes and Benefattors of mankind, we cannot
but recall to mind the occasion of our former ad
dress to you, and your benevolent answer to the
fame.
The General Ajfembly of Maryland, upon the es
tablishment of this Seminary, having dignified the
fame with the auspicious name of" Washing
ton Collece, in honorable and perpetual
memory of the services of the illustrious and
virtuous Commander in Chief ol'the armies of the
United States ; " we exprefl'ed our confidence—
" thai, amidst all the public monuments which
your country fought to eredt to you even while
living, none would be more acceptable than a
Seminary of univtrfal Learning,exprefsly dedicated
to your name, with a view toinftrudland animate
the youth of many future generations, to admire
and to imitate thofePußLic Virtues and Patri
ot Labors which had created for you a Monu
ment in the heart of every good citizen ; that we
hoped you would permit your name to be placed
at the head of the Viptors attd Governors of thecol
lege, trusting that the time was then not very
remote, when, by the termination of IVar, the
JnJant institution might be enabled to salute you in
person, and, like a dutiful child, as one of its firft
works, present the Olive Wreath and other
emblems of Peace, to its Father, Guardian
and Friend."
Highly encouraging to us was your answer ;
" That, with pleasure, you would consent to
have your name enrolled among the Fi/itors and
Governors of the college, if it were not to the ex
clusion of some other whose proximity and other
circumstances might enable him to be a more ufe
ful member ; and that as the ACI of tlie General
Ajfembly, which has given your name to the col
lege, would remain a monument of their esteem,
it made an impression on your mind which could
only be exceeded by the flattering aflurance of
rhe lasting and extensive ufefulnefs of the semi
nary ; and when that period should arrive when
we could hail the blest return of Peace, it would
add to your pleasure to fee the Infant Seat of Learn
ing rising into consistency and proficiency in the
sciences, under the nurturing hands of its foun
ders."
The happy period is now arrived when, through
the blefling of God, upon the return of Peace, this
Scat of Learning hath attained to finch proficiency in
the Sciences, as to wait upon you with the promised
f WgEATHof literary Honour which we triift you
will not reject, although from an institution of
">ferior {landing, yet not of inferior gratitude
and afFetftion,to the chief of those which have al-
NOTE.
f rhe wreath ot literary honor referred to in tin
above address and in the answer to the fame, is the academical
degree of Doctor ot Laws ; and as we have been favored with
a copy of the preamble to the d i ploma, we are happy to lay it
before our readers, as the firft specimen we have seen of the pre
lent title and past services of our illustrious and beloved Pkes,
dent, attempted in truly claflicall.atin.
(.uln turn in finem Gradus Academici a Majoribus nof.
ris prudenter mft.tut., luerint, ut Viris qui dc Religiohe, R S pub.
icaet Litem optirne fint .neriti publici honores decernereutur ■
WnSrifVii 1,1 US P'®^ c ' arel '°®P""l"ni fit, GEORCIUM
WASHING lON IOKOi.RATAkiM America Civitaum
I non folum de Religione, Literis, Republica, et
totoetiam humano gencie bene l-mper et rnultum meruiffe; f,d
Hello, ;i (jiie ac Pace, rommunif omnium falutis appetentiflinmm
per graviffima Return Uifcrimina, fefc Civcm pneftantiflimum'
Libert atis ultorem feliciffimum, Patt i/bVE Pitrlv (Tj
amiftimuni, oflemli.Te; , os igitui ftc." "
ready dignified thcmfelv es lit prcfentin&Vo,, ,»•,,
the like honors. * '
Bearing an ardent and unfeigned part in th
admiration and applause of thole virtuous and
magnanimous sentiments, illicit in obedience to
the voice of your country, have led you forth
once more from the enjoyment ofdomeftic ] lap
pinefsto alaborious and confpicuousparticipation
of the cares of public life, a: a molt ilitereftin»
crilis of our affairs; we fervently —Tlwt the
glory and felicity of our country—the trnecon
i'umuiation of the Patriot's Labors— may be
your crown in this world, and ajfurt v OB ail
everlaiting crown in the world to come !
Signed by order.
WILLIAM SMITH, D. D.
Preft dent of the Corporation, and Prtnaptl
of the Faculty,
"June 24, 1 789.
THE PRESIDENT'S Answer.
To the Corporation of Viiitors ti>:d Governors and
the Principal and Faculty oj Profellors o/Wash
ing ton College, in the Jt ate of Maryland.
Gentlemen,
YOUR very affectionate /Udrtfs, and the hemr.
ary Tejtbnony of your regard which accompanied
it, call forth my grateful acknowledgments.
A recollection of part events, and the happy
termination of our glorious Itruggle for the el
tablilhment of the Rights of Man, cannot fail to
inspire every feeling heart with veneration and
gratitude towards the Great Ruler of events,
who has so manifeffly interposed in our behalf!
Among the numerous blcllings which are atten
dant upon Peace, and as one whose consequences
are of the moll important and extenlive kind,
may be reckoned the prosperity of College: and
Seminaries of Learning.
As in civilized lbcieties, the welfare of the
Hate and liappinefs of the people are advanced
or retarded, in proportion as the morals and edu
cation of the youth are attended to ; I cannot
forbear, 011 this occasion, to express the fatisfac
tion which I feel on feeing the encreafe of our
leminaries of learning through this extensive
country, and the general wilh which fcems to
prevail tor eltablifliing and maintaining these va
luable inlfitutions.
It affords me peculiar pleasure to know that the
; Seat of Learning under your direction hath at
tained to such proficiency in the Sciences fmce the
PtAct ; and I sincerely pray that the great Au
thor or the Universe may finile upon the
lnjlitution, and make it an extensive blefiing to
this country.
GEORGE WASHINGTON.
New-York, July 11, 1789.
MISCELLANY.
FROM THE ESSEX JOURNAL.
M*. HOY T,
BY giving the following extra# of a Ic-ftcr (which lately fell
into my hands) from a gentleman who refidcd ftveral years with
our illustrious Presidekt of the United States, a place in your
ufeful paper, you will oblige one of the many thousand of his ad
mirers, who, although he has not a personal acquaintance, isne
veithelefs unde very partnuldr as well as general obligations to
him, and willies that all the good people of these States may be
sensible of his unbounded diftritereftednefs, formerly in rcl.n
quilhingthe pleafurts and enjoyments of affluence and domestic
quiet, at the risque of life, to rescue his country from slavery and
opprtflion ; and now, at the repeated call of his 4 fellow citizens, r
in devoting himfelfto their service in devising measures to pre
serve and secure that liberty, which, 4 by the divine munificence,'
he had by his wisdom and valour procured : And all this with
out any other compensation than the fatisfaftion of doing good!
In addition to all this, from unequivocal authority I am able to
airert, that his whole influence is exerted to patronize and be
friend the liberal arts and science.
extract.
General Washington pofTcfTes 10,000 acres of land in
one body, where he lives—constantly employs 250 hands—keeps
24 ploughs going all the year, when the weather will permit
lowed in I*B7, 600 bufKcls of oats, 700 acres of wheat, and pre
pared as much for corn, barley, potatoes, beans, peas, See. —ha*
near 500 acres in grass—and sowed 150 with turnips—Stock, 140
hor/es, 112 cows, 235 "working oxen, heiiers and ftears, and 500
iheep. Ihe lands about his feat are all laid down in grafs —the
farms arc feathered round at the distance of 2, 3, 4, or 5 miles,
which the General visits every day, unless the weather is abfo
lutelyftormy.-—He is constantly making various and extensive ex
periments for the improvement of agriculture: He is stimulated
with that desire which always actuates him, to do good to his
count?y and benefit mankind. In 1786 he killed 150 hojjs,
weighing 18,5601b. for his family nfe (exclufiveof provisions for
hisnegroes) which was made into bacon."
GREATNESS OF SOUL.
AN anecdote, in « A tour in Corjicawill illuflrate the posi
tion, that true greatness of foul may be found as well in the low
er as in the highest grades of life.— 4 ' The leader of a gang of ban
ditti, who had long been famous for his exploits, was at length
taken and committed to the care of a soldier, from whom he con
trived to escape. Ihe soldier was tried, and condemned to death.
At thephce of execution, a man, coming up to the commanding
officer, fays, 44 Sir, lama flranger to you, but you Ihall soon
know who I am. I have heard one of your soldiers is to die for
having fuffered a prisoner to escape : He was not at all to blame;
befidcs, the prisoner shall be restored to you. Behold him here.
'a™ man - 1 cannot bear that innocent man should be pu
nished for rae, and I come to die myfelf."—-" No, cried the
trench officer, who felt the fublimitv of the a£lion asheough f »
thou (halt not die, and the soldier shall be set at liberty. Endea
vouring to reap the fruits of thy generofny ; Thou defcrveft to be
henceforth an honefl mart."
Complete ftts from the legi/ining, of tin GAZETTE OF Tl£
UNITED STAI ES, may at any time l*e obtained b\ tkofe who chufi to
[dbfcribe for that publication, at the Editor's Office, Ht. 9, Maiden-Lane-
I'ublifhcd by JOHN FENNO, No. 9, Mai^"
I. an E, IK dt lilt '• :;-t.Vor r\ -tif!. jr a J