exposes to perpetual change, from the endless variety of hypothesis and
opinion; and remember, especially, that for the efficient management of your
common interests, in a country so extensive as ours, a government of as much
vigour as is consistent with the perfect security of liberty, is indispensable.  Liberty
itself will find in such a government, with powers properly distributed and
adjusted, its surest guardian.  It is, indeed, little else than a name, where the
government is too feeble to withstand the enterprises of faction, to confine each
member of the society within the limits prescribed by the laws, and to maintain
all in the secure and tranquil enjoyment of the rights of person and property.

    I have already intimated to you, the danger of parties in the state, with particular
reference to the founding of them on geographical discriminations.  Let
me now take a more comprehensive view, and warn you in the most solemn
manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of party, generally.

    This spirit, unfortunately, is inseparable from our nature, having its root in
the strongest passions of the human mind.--It exists under different shapes in all
governments, more or less stifled, controled, or repressed; but in those of the
popular form, it is seen in its greatest rankness and is truly their worst enemy.

    The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit
of revenge, natural party dissention, which in different ages and countries has
perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism.--But this
leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism.--The disorders and 
miseries, which result, gradually incline the minds of men of men to seek security and
repose in the absolute power of an individual; and sooner or later the chief of
some prevailing faction more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns
this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of public liberty.

    Without looking forward to an extremity of this kind (which nevertheless
ought not to be entirely out of sight) the common and continual mischiefs of
the spirit of party are sufficient to make it the interest and duty of a wise people
to discourage and restrain it.

    It serves always to distract the public councils and enfeeble to public administration.
It agitates the community with ill founded jealousies and false
alarms; kindles the animosity of one part against another, foments occasionally
riot and insurrection.  It opens the door to foreign influence and corruption,
which find a facilitated access to the government itself through the channels of
party passions.  Thus the policy and and the will of one country are subjected to the
policy and will of another.

    There is an opinion that parties in free countries are useful checks upon the
administration of the government, and serve to keep alive the spirit of liberty.
This within certain limits is probably true; and in governments of a monarchical 
cast, patriotism may look with indulgence, if not with favour upon
the spirit of party.  But in those of the popular character, in governments purely
elective, it is a spirit not to be encouraged.  From their natural tendency, it is
certain there will always be enough of that spirit for every salutary purpose.
And there being constant danger of excess, the effort ought to be, by force of
public opinion, to mitigate and assuage it.  A fire not to be quenched; it demands
a uniform vigilance to prevent its bursting into a frame, lest, instead of
warming it should consume.

    It is important likewise, that the habits of thinking in a free country, should
inspire caution, in those intrusted with its administration, to confine themselves
within their respective constitutional spheres, avoiding in the exercise of the powers
of one department to encroach upon another.  The spirit of encroachment tends
to consolidate the powers of all the departments in one, and thus to create, whatever
the form of government, a real despotism.  A just estimate of that love of