PUBLISHED WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS BY JOHN FENNO, No. 69, HIGH-STREET, BETWEEN SECOND AND THIRD STREETS, PHILADELPHIA
[No. 80, of Vol. ll.] Wednesday, February 2, 1791.
The Tablet No. 155.
(general subject continued and concluded)
" The people of this country are employed in such
a -way cis forrnt a charafler jjtojl compatible vj:tn tn:
enjoyment of civil liberty."
THAT a person fliould think favorably ofhim
felf and his lunation, conduces very much
to his acting with propriety and spirit. lhe
fame remark may be applied to his political, no
less than to liis personal tranfac'tions. It is of
importance that a man, in order to be a Iteadj
patriot, and a valuable citizen, fiiouM view the
government under which he lives, with as much
confidence and refpedl as it deserves. It his
sentiments be strongly tinged with prejudices
and suspicions, for which there is 110 real foun
dation, all his e(Forts to pi eferve the government
will be cold or petulant ; and he can never de
rive pleasure by anticipating the prosperity of
his country, so long as he does not believe it is in
a jair way to pro/per. To have opinions well ef
tabliihed, and feelings well disposed with regard
to public affairs, one should not listen too much
to the insinuations of men who are prone to pre-
dict evil, and itnpofe censure, whenever they
make public measures the theme ot their con
verfition. There is ahappinefs as well as a util
ity in having our opinions and feelings so justly
accommodated to the state of things, that we may
cherish no filly or ncedlefs anxieties about future
contingencies. With this idea in view, I have
employed the fix preceding eflays in a series of
remarks upon the causes that operate te (ecure
the freedom, and promote the prosperity of our
happy country. It has been my intention to il
lustrate, that these desirable objeifts retted on
fucli a basis, as could not be deltroyed or shaken
by casualties similar to those, which had over
thrown the ancient republics. As the remarks
and reasonings have not been reduced to any re
"■ular fvflern, but have been communicated in a
desultory manner, there is a propriety in my
bringing them into a summary view, before 1
close the fubjetft.
First of all, however, ft is incumbent on me to
remark, that when 1 am speaking of the govern
ment of this country, I have no fpecific reference
either to the national or Stale authorities I
view them altogether as forming one complete
Government, ihe duty as vvell as the heft m
terefts of the citizens are concerned, in having
each legislature confining its attention to the
objevS, for which they are now severally inftitu-
But to proceed.—lt has been a leading idea in .
thf difcullion of the present fnbjedt ; that, as ,
the character and ci.rcumftances of the people ot
the United States do not relemble those ot any
othe- nation, either ancient or modern, we can
not fiirly make their cafe a precedent for our
own. The occupations of men have such a pow
erful .influence upon their moral character, that
we havt only to know how the people ot any
country ire employed, to ascertain the probabi
lity, whether they will be molt inclined to a so
ber and virtuous, or to a vicious and difordeily
conduift. We must always look to the character
of individuals, as anefleniial point to be regard
ed in eftimatiag the chances that may afFetfi the
welfare of the community. It cannot, indeed,
too often be repeated, that the state of society,
more than the form of government, fliould be
contemplated, in ?.ll our hopes and fears, with
refpeA to that propitious combination of law
and liberty which qualifies the excefles of both.
And, as theinliabitants ofthe United States have
those employments and consequently those cha
raifteriltics which form a good ftatij of society,
may we not fafely infer, that we may escape those
dilafters, to which the antient republics were |
exposed, only because they had those employ
ments and consequently those charadleriltics
which form a bad itate of society ?
Other remarks also have been made, to ex
plain away the fears (ome people may entertain,
left our encreafing wealth and luxury should
prove <reftrucftive to our morals and freedom.
The dillblute manners of antient times, though
prefetrted to our imagination under their worfl
afpecl, should not inspire us with terror, or check
our avarice and industry. We gain
our property, as a people, by flow and imper
ceptible degrees, and form such habits in the
course of the acquifitioii, as will guard us against
a desire for those abftird and barbarous recrea
tions, and that capricious extravagance, into
which those nations unavoidably plunged, who
ama lied wealth with rapidity and rapine. The
ancient, warlike lepublics gained excenfive con
quells, and pollelled immense stores of riches,
before they had learned toeftimate their value,
or control their application. It could not but
be expedtec: therefore, that degeneracy and ru
in would be their fate. That kind of luxury
which attends the gradual prosperity of an in
dustrious people operat.es as a forcible spring to
industry, and creates that elasticity in society,
which gives motion to the inoft ufeful, and vir
tuous operations. Refinement does not neceflari
ly imply vice, nor deflroy liberty. Upon the
whole, as we do not acquire property in such
modes as the antients did ; and as their wealth
became pernicious only by the modes in which
it was acquired, our apprehensions may be at reft
on this point.
But I have further suggested, that probably
few individuals in this country, can ever ac- |
cumulate enormous riches. The reason affigti
ed for this conjeiflure is, that the bufinel's of this
country is distributed among so many hands,
that immense gains will not fall to the share of
any great portion ot adventurers.
The talk of legislation mull: lose much of its
irkfomenefs when it is employed (upon citizens
who are so occupied, that they may be fafely left
to their own difcretjon in the management of
their own affairs. There is nothing to be feared
on the part of the government, from the prof
perity of individuals, thus situated. The peo
ple of this country can discern too well what
promotes the public inte.reft, and are too willing
to embrace wife measures, to reft long fatisfied
with frivolous, defective initiations, or to (hew
a temper of refinance to those that are judicious,
liberal and efficient. The flight Iketches that
have been offered in this and some preceding es
says, upon the character and situation of this
country, may lead the speculative mind into a
train of reflections, and draw from him new and
important light upon a fubjecl which cannot be
too much contemplated.
FOR THE GAZETTE Of THE UNITED STATES.
Extract oj a letter to a Mtmier of Congrejs, datei
January 14, I 79 1 -
" E of the effects of our preterit govern
v_/ merit is the forming connections and im
proving social intercourse amougthofe who wer«
before ltrangers to each other. Had it not beer
"or our political union, I might never have had
iny other relation to you, than what came b)
he way of Adaip ; but now I have the honor tc
■all Mr. my repfefentative, and truly so
jecalife the man of my choice. Viewing me it
his relation, you will not deem it impertinent il
drop a few words on a fubjetft which has much
my thoughts ; though perhaps what
nay fay cannot suggest to you one new idea.
" I perceive that ihe£)uakers are again coming
'orward with th-ir. petitions and memorials.
They profefs to be a peaceful, gentle, iiioftenfivs
;ind of people, enemies to all ltrifeand conten
ion ; but whoever is acquainted with their trw,
uftory, or has been intimately conversant among
hem for 20 jtears, of which 7 were years of w;u
md revolution in government, mult know thai
hey have no tetter claims to the character which
hey aflame, than any other equal number o!
nankind, taken at large ; their peculiaritie;
>ften render them troublesome to government
ind they have more complaints to make aboul
heir fufferingr than any other denomination ol
leople. The reason of this cannot perhaps be
riven in better words than tliofe of an honell
Zhief Justice of the Delaware counties, and i
jentleman of their own religions persuasion :
< To admit the ufefulnefs of civil government
o mankind, and yet to advance the polition that
ill manner of force and felf defence is unlawful,
sa fyftein full of inconfiltency and big with ab
"urdity and - nonsense."*
" A specimen r.f 1 think we
iave in a memorial to Congress juil now pub
irtied, by the yearly meeting at Philadelphia.
In one part they tell you, that they are " more
olicitous to promote the dominion of the prince
* See the addresso f SAMUEL Chew, Chief Justice of Delaware,
'o a grand jurr, in the year 1741, reprinted 111 Aitken's Penn
fyNania Magazine, for Auguil, i 775» P a g e 346, wherein the ar
guments of Robert Barc lay aga.nft war, are examined and
• efutcd.
725
HHso
[Whole No. i 84.]
of peace than to escape fufferings, Isecaufe ftrife
ind contention are forbidden." In another, that
they are conscientiously bound to refule pay
ment of every sum required in lieu of personal
service however laudable the purpose to which
the money is applied." Now if they are bound
to refufe paymeftt, is not this the fame as to fay
that they are bound in conscience to escape fuf
ferings, and to live in continual ftrife and con
tention with government ?
" That they should be indulged\n their notion
which they fay they confcientioiilly hold, of the
unlawfulnefs of war, aiul consequently exenip cd
from personal service, is a dic'iate both of mo
rality and of policy ; but that they should be ex
cused from a cempenfation for personal service
is not warranted by either ; not by morality be
canfe it takes away from them the power of giv
ing the only substantial proof of the sincerity of
their religious fern pies ; nor by policy, becatife
it (rives them an advantage over all other reli
gious denominations, none of which are known
in the constitution. Should they obtain the ex
emption which they a: e feeking,the natural con
sequence will be an increase of their party, for
every cowardly or difafie<sted citizen, every one
who from any principle whatever has an aver
sion to serving in the militia, and contributing to
the fuppoft of government, may plead, " 1 am
a Ouaker," and if you admit of a certificate from
their monthly meetings as an evidence of the
validity of his plea, you will put it into their
power to diminish your forces and y our refoui ces
at theit plealure. Besides, will not this amount
to a legal ellablifhinent quo ad hoc of the Q_uaker
form of religion, when no other form is even ac-
I knowledged by law to exist in the United States !"
PROVIDENCE, January 20.
F.xtrad 0} a letter from Philadelphia.. \
The militia system is befoi£!Lhj2_Houfe of Re
presentatives—they have been employed ufpSß-ic
fometiine. A New-England legiflatufe would
have probably finifhed it in lef's time than has al
ready been taken up—but let it be considered';
the people of New England have been accultom
ed to militia regulations from the earljeft ieftlc
rijent of the country —this has not been the-cafe
in so extetifive a degree in the Southern slates.
No object of legislation is of greater importance,
or attended with greater difficulties. The
ideas of rtie people in the Northern and Southern
parts of the union differ 011 many matters.—but
they are every dqy more and more assimilating in
their manners, in their dispositions, and are con
tinually flrengtbeuingin their attachment tb the
common good of our country. —OurSNort'ficrn
friends mud not therefore be too impatient, or
think that we are spending our time and their
money fruitlefsly.—Let them consider what great
things have been done—what.a profperousfj.tua
tion our country is in—how our credit is rising
at home and abroad, and let them hope for still
better things when the new government has its
full operation in the execution of those great na
tional Arrangements which cannot at once be e
stablished, but which-Congrefs are induflrioufly
employed in promoting. Senate are now
employed in framing a bill for the eflablifhment
of a National Bank.—lt' is probable that it will
in general be conformed to the plan recommend
ed by the Secretary of the Treasury, who has
been very affiduousin this business, and who most
deservedly has the confidence and efleem of the
nation.—His indefatigablenefsin building up the
national government is unparalleled in our coun
try. From the time that he signed the constitu
tion in 1 787 to this day he has not ceased on all oc
casions to labourinceflantly in its support. The
two volumes of the federalift written by liim,
and the plan of Finance and national arrange
ments which he has proposed, fliew liim to pos
sess a great and comprehensive mind, capable of
forefeeing consequences.
" The eftabliflimetit of a national mint, and
coinage feenis to be wiflied for by the legislature
and the nation at large, and I cannot but hope
that we (hall, before many months are elapsed,
have an American coinage, of gold, silver and
copper. A plan is now preparing for that pur
j pose, and is in considerable forwardnefs."
MASSACHUSETTS SLM-AXNUAL LOTTERY
£ f Thf Managers of the STATE LOTTERY ;:ffurc tl •
public, that the firft Class of the S?mi-anuual Lottery will pofnive-
Iv commence drawing on the day appointed, viz. the :7 ; h ot
March next. Arthe Managers have in their fevera! Monthly Lot
'e-rtes commenced drawing at the hour aligned, so they arc dct:r
---1 mined to be equally as puuftual io t : :