The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-09-05

tncir eScrcitc tpecies OF information to be de-
rived only from local fources.-The puref prin-
ciples Will be mifpplied, the beR intentions
will be i'll directed, the mot fplendiA efforts of
genius, will prove Intellectual without an init
mate knowledge of the manners, cutoms, pur-
iu'ts, and intereits, of the people, TO whom they
are applied, or in Whole favour they are exert
ed. Should this reafoningSe uft, it would APP
pear to follow that local Information fhould be
preferred in tate lcgilator, to fplendd ac-
Quircment, when they cannot be united and
hould we give the Representatives. of the Uni
ted States all the iupeiiority they claim and un-
doubtedly merit, yet we cannot be- accufed of
prefumption, in fuppoGng that we know fome-
what more of our own country, and its local in
teretS, than men who are acquainted with IT on
ly from report. II will not, we trutt, be anfwer-
ed that the members Of the council mutt be fe-
lected from the inhabitants; we have already
ihewn what ihare this council will probably have
In leeiilation: and the reGdence of one year is
Certainly too lhort to attain information, or fe-
cure any thing like a permanence OF attach
ment.
If this local knowledge is neccffary to legif-
late wiiely, how much more 10 is it in order to
tele6 difcreetly, thofe on whom this talk mutt
devove. The PRECEDENT mutt necelIary de-
pend on the information of his agents here
without any peifonal knowledge Of the men he
NUT chufe, how can he detect irnpoftion, or
Or fecure himielf from the reproach Of having
confined our intereits to men, in whom we have
no confidence! We might cchtrait thefe iu-
conveniencies with the evident advantages Of
choice made by the people themfelves, and the
conviction would be irreffabe, that the latter
po1efs, exclufvely that fpecies of information,
with refpeet to character, conduct, circumitan-
ees and abilities, which is neceary to 4 prudent
choice OF their representatives but we prefume
c.,
pie not abfolItely funk in ignorance, the kind of
knowledge Indispensable to good government,
or tele6tion of rulers, can only be found at
home--that the bef abilities and the pureft in
tentions viii not replace it abroad, and that
without it all legiilation is tyrannical and op-
prei1ive.
Convinced of this truth we find the advocates
for our iubjection, driven to an argument, at
which we have before hinted.-To deprive us
OF our right of election, we have been reprefent-
cd as too ignorant to exercife it with wldom,
and too turbulent to enjoy it with fafety. Sunk
III ignorance, effeminated by luxury, debated by
opprellion, we were, it was faid incapable of ap-
preciating free contribution, if it were given,
or feeling the deprivation, if it were denied.
The fentiments which were excited by this humi-
Hating picture, may be imagined, but cannot be
expreiied, confident with the refpea we owe
your honorable body. We were willing, howe
ton, but we could not avoid wondering that il
thould be 70 very defective, as TO have drawn
from the names offome diftr6ts in our country,
an argument as to the language fpoken in them,
which proved fatal to an important amendment
to the bill. We could not imagine what had
excited the idea of our efferninacy and profuG
on and the laborious planter at his frugal meal,
heared, with fmile of bitterness and con-
tempt, the dicrptions publlfhed at Warrington,
OF his opulence and luxury.
AS to the degree of information DILUTED
through the country, we humbly reQueit that
fome more corref evidence may be produced
than the iuperfcal remarks that have been
made by travellers or reidents, who neither at
locate with us nor fpeak Our language many
OF us are native citizens of the United States,
who have participated in that kind of know
ledge which is there fpread among the people,
the others generally are men who will not fufer,
by companion with the population of any o.
Their colony. Some disadvantages as to educa-
ton IN the higher branches of literature. have
lately attended us, but the original fettlement of
the province was marked Ivy circumstances pecu-
Harry favourable in this retpeGt, it was made at
no d'tfant date, at period when fcienCe had at
tanned great degree Of perfection, and from a
country in which it flourfed; many individuals
Pofetiing property and rank, which fuppofe
ahberal education were among the irf fettIers,
and perhaps there would be no vanity in aiert-
ing that the 5rft eftablihment Of L0uiliana might
vie with that of any other in America, for the ref
portability and Information of thofe who com
potedi 1t; their defendants now respectfully call
tor the evidence which proves that they have de-
generated 70 TO become totally incompetent
tothc TAX Of legi1afion; for our love of order
and fnbmifiion 70 the laws we can confidently
appeal 10 the whole hihory of our fettlement and
particularly TO what has lately pa1ed.
In thofe dangerous moments when it was un-
certain AT what point Our political vibrations
would TOP: when national prejudice, perfonal
Interet, factions views, and ambitious ieligns,
might be fuppoied to combine for the Interrupt
non OF our repote when in the frequent changes
to which we have been fubie0, the authority of
one nation was weakened, before the other had
eftGbiilhed its power. In thole moments of cri-
sand danger, no infurre6tion difturbed, no riot
dhgraced us, the voice of fedition was fent; and
before maaiitrate was appointed, good mo-
rails ierved infead Of laws, and a love Of order
initead Of civil power it is then rs unjuft to tax
MS with turbulence - i Is d=g.adng t. gsproieIi
us with ignorance and vice.
Bu' lot us admit that by fome train of rcafon- !
Ing to which VIC are frangerS, by iome incom-
prehcn'iblc faiity we are cut off from our natl
on1l rights, and from an unfortunate exception
TO thoit general principles on which your reyo-
LUTON and government are founded; that there
Is no clauie for us in the great character Of ma
In Il Fl.f. -