4 RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE OLIVE BRANCH, rangement are clear, simple, and masterly; and the comments which accompany them are elegant, pungent, and convincing. "The unparalleled popularity of the Olive Branch affords its best recommendation. From one end of the continent to the other, it has been sought after and read with avidity. No man who ever perused it once, would lay it down with the idea of not reading it again. As a book of reference, it is an invaluable treasure. In short, it can be said with truth, that it should be found on every book-shelf, in every public and private library in the nation." Columbian Patriot. "The Olive Branch will be read with great interest many years hence, by those who are desirous of developing the workings and madness of faction among us in those perilous times that had nearly prostrated the constitution of the union, which binds us together as a people." Boston Yankee. Extract of a letter from Jonathan Roberts, Esq. member of the Senate of the United States. "Your labours have contributed more than those of any other person, to remove the mists of prejudice and misrepresentation. You have not only laboured successfully to present a clear view of the conduct of both sides-but you have promulgated your writings with such diligence and success as to double your merits." Letter from Mahlon Dickerson, Esq. late Governor of the state of New Jersey. 66 Trenton, Dec. 5, 1816. "I will thank you to set me down as a subscriber to your eighth edition of the Olive Branch. I have but two editions of that work-but should have had all, could I have procured them immediately on their first coming out. "Be assured no man thinks more highly of this work than I do. It is so completely and peculiarly yours, that I should have discovered the author on reading four pages. Indeed, while reading it, I think I hear your voice, and see your manner." "No publication has appeared since the establishment of our government, which contains such copious information, and in which so many subjects are examined and yet so deeply interesting to the people of this country. The first edition was published while we were engaged in war, and while the leading demagogues of New England were sowing the seeds of rebellion, and the destruction of the union. The information contained in it, as to the relative importance of the different sections of the union, unquestionably operated as a damper upon their proceedings-we would recommend this book to the perusal of every man in the community, as containing facts, incontrovertible facts, important to be known by all.” Hartford Mercury. "It has afforded us pleasure to observe that the work called the Olive Branch, written by Mr. Carey, of Philadelphia, has had so wide a circulation. No work could more richly have deserved it. Its merit is very peculiar-and of a very high order. It is written with an energetic, enlightened, and patriotic pen, and animated by a spirit altogether candid and national. For real utility, we scarcely think it possible that any work of similar compass could go beyond it: and fortunately its compass is extensive, comprehending the largest and most interesting portions of our civil history since the adoption of the federal constitution. "The author has aimed to instruct, rather than to please. He compels conviction through every page of his discussion. It is not upon his own genius merely, prompt and prolific as it appears to be, that he relies. He has fortified himself, step by step, as he goes along, upon the immoveable basis of public documents, legislative statutes, and state papers of every description, and always of the most pertinent and forcible application. Hence the potency of his work. Hence its unanswerable, overwhelming character. We speak in the general, for we cannot as to all his points, (and where he has so many this is not at all remarka ble) concede him our judgment; yet we think the book characterised by an almost entire aspect of good sense, undeniable fact, and irresistible argument. He has prostrated in the dust the faction of Boston federalism; shown beyond all power of contradiction its folly, its wickedness, its inconsistencies, its blunders, its stupidity. The work is so richly loaded with interesting and luminous matter from the solemn laws of the land, from General Washington's time downwards, from the files of congress, from the diplomatic correspon dence, from all the ranges of the public offices, from the debates of the legislative hall, and in short from every accessible fountain of the best information, that no citizen of the United States who really seeks for political instruction should remain without a copy of it. It will be found an admirable compendium, supplying, especially, to those who are without many books, the place of volumes, and serving to all as a most convenient and satisfactory epitome of knowledge not to be attained but by laborious and often vexatious investigations. With singular propriety and zeal of selection, and persevering and successful industry, the author has gone through those investigations which few other men would have been at the pains to do: and the result of his labours is well, very well, worth a place in every library." National Intelligencer. OF the various topics embraced in the Olive Branch, there is none on It commences with the second war between France and England, after "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 "Truths would you teach-or save a sinking land: "In dissensione nulla salus conspicitur." Cæsar. Matt. xii. 25. "If we pay a proper regard to truth, we shall find it necessary not only to PHILADELPHIA: PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY M. CAREY AND SON, No. 126 Chesnut Street. ......... July 4, 1817. Checked 66 161386 ASTOR, LENOX AND Extract from Governor Strong's Speech, 17th January, 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; 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 fanciful 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 realized, and excite complaints which the most wise and benevolent administration 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 tranquillity, 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 January, 1806. "We shall look with a still more cautious eye upon every innovation at. tempted 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, entitle it to our highest veneration; its excellence appears with still greater lustre, when compared with the ephemeral constitutions of many nations which have flitted across 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." 66 |