826 
vernments, more or lefs ftifled, controul- 
ed, or oppreffed: but in thofe of the po- 
pular form, it is often in its greateft rank- 
nefs, and is truly their work enemy. 
‘The alternate domination of one faGtion 
over another, fharpened by the fpirit of re- 
venge natural to party diff-ntion, which 
in different ages and countries has perpe- 
trated the moft horrid cruelties, is irfelf a 
moft horrid defpotifm. The diforders and 
miferies which refult, gradually incline 
the minds of men to feek fecurity and re- 
pofe in the abfolute power of an indivi- 
dual ; and, fooner or later, the chief of fome 
prevailing faétion, more able or more for- 
tunate than his competitors, turns this dif- 
pofition to the purpofes of his own eleva- 
tion, on the ruins of public liberty. 
Without looking forward to an extre- 
mity of this kind (which, neverthelefs, 
ought not to be entirely cut of fight) the 
common. and continued. mifchiefs of the 
{pirit of party are fufficient to make it the 
intereft and duty of a wife people to dif- 
courage and refirain it. 
influence and corruption, which find a fa- 
eilitated acceis to the Government -itfelf 
through the channels of party. paffions. 
Thus the policy and the will of one coun- 
ere fubieéted ¢ qo (Snes = (heats 
try are tubjeCcted to the policy and will of 
another. 
There is 
an opinion that 
_eountries are ufefu S 
nifiration of the. Government 
keep alive the {piritof liberty. Thi 
in certain limits is probably true 
Governments of a monarchi 
otifm may look with indu 
with favour, upon the {pirit 
Lo) 
a 
a 
mp 
ws 
3) 
= 
hy 
i 
a 
ence, 1f not 
f party. But 
in thofe of rhe popular charaéter, | in Go- 
vernments partly ele€iive,. it is a {pirit not 
to be encouraged. From their natural ten- 
dency, it 1s 
Per 
certain; there will always be 
enough of that fpirit for every falutary 
ASS pat SS es i ea hk ci 
purpofe. And there being conftant dah- 
ger of excels, the fect ought. to be 
by force.of public opinion to mitigate and 
afuage it... A fire not td be quenched; it 
demands an unijorm vigilance to prevent its 
burfting into'afiame, lef, inftead of wacm- 
ing, it inould confume. 
itis important, likewife, that the habits 
ef thinking, ia a free country, fhouldinipire ° 
“Addrefs of Prefident Wa/bington. 
with caution thofe entrufted with its ad- 
miniftration, to confine themfelyes within 
their refpective conftitutional fpheres, a- 
voiding, in the exercife of the powers of 
one department, to encrcach upon another. 
The {pirit of encroachment tends to con- 
folidate the powers of all the departments 
in one, and thus to create, whatever the 
form of Government, a real defpotifm. A 
ju& eftimate of that love of power, and 
pronenefs to abufe it, which predominates 
in the human heart, is fufficient to fatisfy 
us of the truth of this pofitton. The ne- 
ceflity of reciprocal checks in the exercife 
of political powers, by dividing and diftri- 
buting it into different repofitories, and 
conftituting each the guardian of the pub- 
lic weal againft invafions by thé others, 
has been evinced by experiments ancient 
and modern: fome of them in our coun- 
try, and under our own eyes. To preferve 
them muft be as neceffary as to inftitute 
them. If, inthe opinion of the people, 
the diftribution and modification of the 
Conftitutional Powers be in any particular 
wrong, let it be correéted by an amend- 
ment in the way which the Conftitution 
defignates. But let there be no change by 
ufurpation; for though this, in one in- 
ftance, may be the infirument of good, it 
is the cuftomary weapon by which free 
Governments are deftroyed. The prece- 
dent muft alpvays greatly overbalance in 
permanent evil any partial or tranfient be- 
nefit which the ufe can at any time yield. 
Of ail the difpofitions and habits which 
lead to political profperity, Religion and 
Morality are indifpenfible fupports. In 
vain would that »man claim the tribute of 
patriotifm, who fhould labour to fubvert 
thefe great pillars of human happinefs, thefe 
firmefi props of men and citizens. The 
mere politician, equally with the- pious 
man, ought to refpect and to cherifh them. 
A volume could not trace all their con- 
nections with private and public felicity. 
Let it be fimply afked, where is the fecu- 
rity for property, for reputation, for life, 
if the fenfe of religious obligation de/ert 
the oaths, which are the inftruments of in- 
veftigation in Courts of Juftice> And let 
us with caution indulge the fuppofition, 
that morality can be maintained without 
religion.— Whatever may be conceded to 
the influence of refined education on minds 
of peculiar ftru€ture; reafon and experi- 
ence both forbid us to expe that national 
morality can prevail in exclufion of religi- 
ous principle. 
"Fis fubitantially true, that virtue or 
_ morality 
[Nowe 
—— Ss 
