300] 
Of all the dispositions and ha- 
bits which lead to political prospe. 
rity, religion and morality are in- 
dispensable supports. In vain would 
that man claim the tribute of pa- 
triotism who should labour to 
subvert these great pillars of hu- 
man happiness, these firmgst props 
of the duties of men and citizens. 
The mere politician, equally with 
the pious man, ought to respect 
and to cherism them. A volume 
could not trace all their connec. 
tion with privat e and public feli- 
city. Let it simply be asked, where 
is the security foe property, ibe re. 
putation, for life, if the sense of 
feligious obligation d-sert the oaths, 
which are the instruments of in- 
vestigation in Courts of justice? 
And let us with caution indulge 
the supposition that moral ‘ity can 
be maintained without religion, 
Whatever may be conceded to 
the influence of refined education 
on minds of- peculiar structure, 
reason and experience both forbid 
us to expect that national morality 
can prey vail in exclusion of religious 
ery ple. 
It is substantially true, that vir- 
tue or morality is a necessary spring 
of popular governments ‘Lhe rule 
indeed extends with more or less 
force to every species of free go- 
vernment. Who that is a sincere 
friend to it can look with indiffe- 
yence upon attempts to shake the 
foundation of the fabric? “ 
Promote, then, as an object of 
primary importance, institutions for 
the general diffusion of knowledge, 
In proportion as the structure oh 
government gives force to public 
opinion, it is essential that public 
opinion should be enlightened. 
As a very important source of 
strength and security, cherish pub- 
lic credit. One method of preser- 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 
17096. 
ving it is to use as. sparingly as pos. 
sible ; aia occasions of ex. 
pence by cultivating. peace, but 
remembering also that timely dis- 
bursements to prepare for danger, 
frequently prevent muth greater 
disbursements to repel it; avoiding 
likewise the accumulation of debr, 
not only by shunning occasions of 
expence, but by vigorous exertions 
in time of peace to discharge the 
debits which unavoidable wars may 
have occasioned, not ungenerously 
throwing upon posterity the bur. | 
then which we curselves ought to. 
bear. The execution of these 
maxims beiong to your represen- 
tatives, but it is necessary that 
public opinion should co-operate. 
To facilitate to them the perform. 
ance of their duty, it is essential that 
you should practically bear in mind, 
that towards the payment of debts 
there mest be a revenue y that to 
have revenve there must be taxes ; 
that no taxes can be devised which 
are not more or less inconvenient 
and unpieasant; that the intrinsic 
embarrassmeng inseparable from the 
selection of the proper objects 
(which is always a choice of diff 
culties) ought: to be a de -cistve mo. 
tive fora candid construétioy of the 
conduét of the government in mak. 
ing it, and fora spirit of acquiescence 
in the measures for obtaining req 
venuc, which the public exigencies 
may at any time dictate. 
Observe good faith and justice 
towards all nations, cultivate peace 
and harmony with all; religion 
and morality enjoin this conduét'; 
and can it be that good policy does 
not equally enjoin "in? It will be 
worthy of a free, enlightened, and 
at no great distant period, a great 
nation, to give to mankind’ the 
magnanimous and too novel ex, 
ample of a people always guided by 
an 
