THE

OR,

FAULTS ON BOTH SIDES,

FEDERAL AND DEMOCRATIC.

A SERIOUS APPEAL ON THE NECESSITY

OF

MUTUAL FORGIVENESS AND HARMONY.

BY M. CAREY.

SEVENTH EDITION, ENLARGED.

"Faction is the madness of the many for the benefit of the few.”·
"Frenzied be the head....palsied be the hand....that attempts to destroy
the union." Gen. Eaton.

"Truths would you teach... or save a sinking land:
"All fear....none aid you....and few understand." Pope.
"Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to DESOLATION."
Matt. xii. 25.

"In dissensione nulla salus conspicitur." Cæsar.

"If we pay a proper regard to truth, we shall find it necessary not
only to condemn our friends upon some occasions, and commend our en-
emies, but also to commend and condemn the same persons, as different
circumstances may require for as it is not to be imagined, that those
who are engaged in great affairs, should always be pursuing false or mis-
taken measures, so neither is it probable that their conduct can at all
times be exempt from error." Polybius.

"Neither the law of Christianity nor of Reason requires us to pros-
trate our national independence, freedom, property and honor at the feet of
proud, tyrannical oppressors." Address of Rev. Dr. David Osgood,
May, 1798,

"Watch those ungrateful souls who murmur about taxation and op-
pression—the burdens of government and religion. They have fellowship
with our enemies. They are traitors to God and Christianity." Address
by the Rev. Dr. Elijah Parish, July 4, 1799.

"As citizens, we ought with one heart to cleave to and support our own
government. It is a government of our own forming, and administered by
men of our own choice." Sermon by Rev. Jedidiah Morse, May 9, 1798.

Extract from gov. Strong's speech, 17th Jan. 1806.

Changes in the constitution of government are more injurious than in the system of laws: even a small innovation may destroy its principles. The framers of the constitution had before them not only the forms which had been preferred by the several states, but those also which before that time had been devised in other ages and nations. And though the repeated experiments which have since taken place in Europe, may suggest matter for warning, they afford nothing for imitation. If, notwithstanding, it is found by experience, that the constitution operates very unequally, or the construction of any part is doubtful, amendments may be necessary to alter or explain it. But it is in vain to expect that all will be satisfied. Free governments admit of an endless variety of modifications; and the opinions entertained of the respective merits are equally various. When the constitution was established, perhaps no man that became subject to it was perfectly pleased with every part. It was the result of mutual concession-and such indeed must always be the case when a form of government is voluntarily accepted by a community

In the minds of some men there seems to be a restlessness which renders them dissatisfied with any uniform course of things, and makes them eager in the pursuit of novelty. They abound in projects, and are ever meditating some fan. ciful change in the plan of government, which their imaginations represent as useful. But men of great ambition are still more dangerous; they commonly make the fairest pretences to principles, though they are actuated only by self-interest.— If the constitution or laws of their country present obstacles to the accomplishment of their wishes, they employ every artifice to alter or abolish them; and if individuals oppose their attempts, they are equally artful and solicitous to destroy their influence and render them odious to their fellow citizens.

Few men, even in a prosperous community, are fully satisfied with their condition. A great part are easily induced to believe, that there is something wrong in the government or laws, which might be rectified to their advantage.~ They therefore readily embrace any specious proposal to effect an alteration. The crafty and ambitious know how to avail themselves of this disposition to change, and encourage their followers to expect that the amendments they propose will perfectly suit their case, and produce the very blessings they wish in this way they not only effect their immediate object, but acquire an influence which enables them afterwards to accomplish the most disastrous innovations. Such persons encourage hopes that can never be realised, and excite complaints which the most wise and benevolent adininistration is unable to remove.

:

"Our forms of government are doubtless like all other human institutions, imperfect; but they will insure the blessings of freedom to the citizens, and preserve their tranquility as long as they are virtuous; and no constitution that has been or can be formed will secure those blessings to a depraved and vicious people."

Extract from the answer of the Massachusetts senate to the governor's speech of 17th Jan. 1806.

We shall look with a still more cautious eye upon every innovation attempted to be made upon our national constitution. The integrity, experience, and extensive information discovered by the illustrious characters who framed that valuable instrument and the series of public prosperity enjoyed under it, intitle it to our highest veneration, its excellence appears with still greater lustre, when compared with the ephemeral constitutions of many nations which have fitted across the the eye in rapid succession, and then sunk into total oblivion.We are not insensible that our form of government must be imperfect, as was the nature of its authors: but we recollect, at the same time, that any proposed alteration under the name of amendment is liable to the same imperfection

"Believing therefore that the principles of the constitution are as well adjusted as human infirmity will permit, and that a small innovation may essentially pervert its original tendency, we shall exert ourselves, to preserve it in its present form except in cases where its operation shall be found extremely unequal and oppressive."

COLLECTION