The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-11-21
ENQUIRER.
R,cHlfoND:
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 81, 1904.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 81, 1904.
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| Seldom is it the good fortune of the Editor o
this paper, when he atiumes to himfelf the pri
vilege OF giving his opinion on political fub
je9s, to be fatisfed with the fncccfs of his own
exertions. 1t is from no vifonary hope of ex-
prefIing as perfect an opinion, rs truth herfel
! might dictate, or as the wifea Of men would be
| able to develope, that he is prompted To make
thsfe exertions. He is iimply encouraged by
the reflection, that more competent minds will
not undertake the trouble of unfolding more u-
minous views, or that fome minds LET'S intelligent
even than MS own, may politely derive curioiity
or Information from his own Imperfect corcep-
tons. Having this difiidence, therefore, in his
own judgment, which he ihould b. aihatncli to
affect even ifhe did not feel it, ne has fcarcely
ever fubmitted any of his rude aud siefultory
ikctches to the public eye, without comfortable
hehtation and reluctance ; and it is not on an
location like the prefent, when he PERFUMES to
addrets himtelf to the Legislature of the rate,
that this ieutiment can be expected to lote any
of its painful importance.
Tie Capitol is not and ought not to be the
only theatre of deliberation on the affairs of
Virginia. Previous dfcuiIions on all thofe ouef-
tons, which may be expected to come before
them, might confderabIy increafe the intorms-
ton Of the members of the aifembly; and the
Prefs offers itfelf as happy initrument for fup-
plying the advantages OF couverfation, inter
rupted as il is by the detached reidence OF the
members, and perhaps by an ignorant neigh
bourSood. Even if the Communications OF the
pre!s Mould not always fu,niih concluive prin-
ciples, !ti!l they may lead to the attainment Of
this objett-They may flrniih topics for exam
nation and fact from which tbefe concuiions
ma he drawn. In this manner we may conf
der the prefs as the handmaid of leciilation ::
During the whole year, Ii may be preparing and
dgetug mate rails for the confederation and en-,
ploynent of the legislature. Outlines OF the
mot important fytems may fonetimcs be
ise;ched out, which will reqpire only their fl
milling hand to fill up in all its minuter parts.
When the members afcend the fteps of the
capitol to organize laws for the fate, they would
not always be ignorant of the fubjeGts on which
they will be called upon 10 decide, and Obliged,
in the hurry Of buinefs, to trift to the hyperion
information or fophifry of on3e more intelligent
or fpccious perfon, for the materials of a con-
cluiive opinion. But they would 20 to the Ca
pitol with their minds famiiari ed with the mott
prominent points of controversy, aud warmed
excited, and prying into the diTerent facts,
! '~h;ich might decide Inc 4ticfat;ioit.
The proceedings of the general government
are attentively Conlidered and carefully analyz-
ed. The great importance Of its meafures,
which fometimes extend to every part of the
union, fcarcely fail to command the attention 81
the confederation of ALL Our exterior relations,
our naval and military arrangements, the re-
fources of its tredfury and the details ofits pub
lie debt, are clofely tudied, and there is fcarccly
an inhabtant ofany of the ftates, who has not
formed fome opinion on theie fubje6ts who
has not criticized the meafures which have been
already puriued, or who has not nednated up-
on thoie, which ought to be adopted. IN Their
impoing Importance, the confederation due To
the interets of the fate nments, is too fre-
G':c-.!y m oDd-n,er -tssz,ra s1-ip,ls have az
cended to an examination of thefe great mea-
lures, cannot without foine effort defend from
this elevated view, to turn an enquiring eye up
on the fmaer and the fubordinate interets of
the tate. 1t is this account that too little at
ton perhaps is given 70 the code of our Fate
laws. Ihoie great objects OF the fate fove-
rcignty, the administration Of iuticc and the eff
tabhhnent OF public works, particularly tn ofe
which are de6gned for the education of youth,
or FOR extending tie commercial communicate
on between diitant parts: thefe have been per
haps too much neglected, and too little inlpro-
we'd. Under fuch iyiten may it not then
come to pats, that while the general govern
lment is administered with constitutional regula-
rity, and with due regard TO the fecurity OF
the nation abroad and their liberties at home,
Ibe,exhibting very different fpeaacle. Nav
not their revenues be neglected; their laws
carelefsly compiled and tardily administered ;
may not THAR rivers fill be iuaccefiible to navi
CATION, and reighbouring dreams approach each
other in vain: aud may not their mott diCtin-
guiihed youth, in whom they behold the flu
ture Legislators and lierati of their country, be
anguifhing from the want of intellectual excite
ment, or waiting their genius in frivolous, OF
pernicious purfuts l need not ak, whether
fuch things may not be: does not every man
| fee, that fuch things are
The following ferries of papers addrefIed
to the Legislature of this Safe, is intended to
draw their attention to certain iubjeds, which
will or which probabably ought to invite thei,
confederation. Many of thefe fubje6ts are by
no means of extenGve importance, and they
are not calculated on that account to excite
much intereft or curiofity. Should thefe pa
Pers however fuggeR Gngle fact which had
before efcaped the attention of the afiembly, or
fhould they lead TO Jingle difcufIion among
the people, which would not otherwife have
exiited, the intention Of their author will be
completely anfwered. lie can honeftly fay,
that if litle imprefon is produced, little is ex-
peaed.-As they are written without effort
they are publifhed without order. The FRI
of thefe defd,tory Dsetches which is now pre-
tented TO the public confederation relates to one
of our financial arrangements.