The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-09-15
FOR THE ENQUIRER.
C(((
THE n " b W.-.-No. V.
ON THE AMERICAN GENIUS.


verified blelings we enjoy, have been the theme o.
paneeyrc, until it is longer poible to advance
new idea or modify ola one, 10 as to give 1t an
appearance Of novelty. Without entering on minute
repetition OF thofe advantages ct ioi climate produc-
tons and renotenes from the Eaern continent, which
feer to pro,r,ile eternity of happiness; ihall
eonfne my preient remarks to thoie moral cauies
which are intimately connected with the character OF
a nation.
Europeans have Fon,etirnes aecufed America OF Il
poverty OF genius and weakness of intellect, which
place her much behind the ancient world and even
the enlightened Button has adopted the idea that ma
trre is more feeble in her efforts, in the Weiern than
in the Eatern Hemiiphere. The charge itielf is
proof that European iagacty is iti far from having
attained It's perfection It could only have been die
tated by ilbera preference OF the foil on which
have been accidentally cait and contempt for ali
5tner nations Whole habits, manners and improve
meuts are not imlar 20 thoe OF our own country. A
philanthrorif will pauie, before he conlgns obvi-
OH the faireh portion of our planet; and philosopher
will forget that he has any other country than the
Globe itelf while he pierces with ardent gaze the
myiteries of nature. II we Gait our eyes over the
map Of America fhail perceive that nature has
merely confulted its convenience happnefs in the
diGribution of her favors; ihe has done more ihe
has put forth all her ifrength and ereaed monuments
20 her own glory. She has worked icale of
grandeur and magnifcence, before which the boalted
prodCies of Europe hide erdinnilhedheads. Where
will Europe thew her Andes which heave their inow
capt furumits above the clouds Where her dma-
Esa and La plata which would be regarded as fabu-
lous, did authentic hitory attef them ? Where
will fhe exhibit lakes Ike thole Of Canada, which
nected with each other and with the ocean bind all
the Northern part OF this great continent in indl
follble commercial chain The mott enthuiiaitic
admirers Of European excellence mut ihrnk from this
comparfon and 70 far mutt acknowledge that nature
is here at leaf bold in her ketches and as vigo-
in her produ6iiocs the Eaitern Continent.
~
with irresistible force, TO conclude that the hand
which has laviihed fuch unequaed favors has penu-
riouly withheld the more etimabe endowments of
the mind and the heart ? Has parable been given
70 degenerate fouls who ineptble to its charms
Is the mind of the American efficiently expanded
to take in thefe vat obje9s IL all their magnitude and
fubliality will not infut my countrymen by adj
dreffng the quefton tbes perceive glow OF in
dignation every cheek, and while write feel it
difIJrnlt 80 ::nrrcfs my But it will be more
inlru9ive talk examine the bsGs OF theie exalted
pretenhous pay the Jun tribute of Difference aud
homage European uperiority if it ihould be eitah
Gihed by inyefigaton; or to render to the infuted
American The honors which nature has conferred up
him, but which human ignorance has vainly endea
Vored to obgc;ire.
Il has been quehion of endlefs fpeculstion among
the curious, at what time America was pespled and
whether her inhabitants her offspring, or
emierants from the old continent. five to fup-
pole America coeval with the world, and that fhe
became peopled ioon the ether parts OF the earth
we may be aleed with triumph, upon what principle
account for her vaff inferorty in intellec
tuai improvement? Why did the adventurous band.
Of enlightened Europe, who ir explored our flores
find the native American, naked, ignorant and feroci
Gus Upon the fuppoftion OF equal talents and e
quail advantages of foil and climate may be told,
that we have right expect an equal progreiion in
the arts and licences in any given time. The fame
cau.es mutt always produce the fame effects IF the
I.I he, leo he Etrc,
ought in the fame apfe ofyears to have explored as
many licences, invented as many arts, and huTaniz
ed and pobhed manners in equal degree.
Thus realoning is at firt fight fpecious and impo-
hng; but withitand the eit of rigid enquiry
haI aiirnae the hypothesis moi advantageous to
my petition that America is old and has been as
long peopled Europe, Ala or Africa. ihall alto
make the comparifon, with the mott enlightened part
Of the old world. When I felea Europe for this pur-
pcfe it ought however be forgotten, that the
arts aud licences have originated with her, but
havefprung upn Ala; from thence have beentranpla
ted the Southern parts Of Europe, and by very flow
degrees have fpreadthemfelves into Nors hern
climates 1t is ALTO worthy of remark that thofe coun-
fries into which the licences were fr received, where
dizzy were nof patronized. and louriihed with rche
Insurance now the gloomy retidence of want g-
norance and defpotiim.
Whoever has obferved the progrefs Of the human
mind, nuR have perceived that its fri ruggles with
ignorance are always painful and difficult, than
Us fubfequent efforts. The ieps by which we afcend
from dfcovery to dcovery, from fcience to icence,
are hort gradual natural and eafy. But to leap at
from abfolute ignorance even to the humbeh
diueut OF knowledge, is indeed Herculean talk &
frequently reuls from lucky accident, than any
effort of the mind This remark which is here APP
plsd the general rogrefs Of mankind in the career
Of Improvement, is exempiied and fully eltabhihed
bv their advances in every particular fcience. Until
the beginning Of the eighteenth century, the world
hid adopted the ideas of Arotle all metaphysical
fusisas, and it woud have been balpheny to have
&n5faF their orthodoxy. Locke explored the inets of
the understanding, and explained fome oft proce1es;
aid what has been the coufequence Within the
oourfe of one century galaxy of iluiirous philofo
VeT5 arifrD, vino frcrri iiavv ivi feittvy any
fling 20 he d;lcovered hereafter For many ages
ASTRONOMERS had vibrated from abfurdity to
another, which all at length (7paLo7ced up
in the 1oyfises of D5cayfef; greater abiurdny
than all the ret. Newton appeared; recalled
the mind from its devious eccentric track gave it
ty5i-sfis ir,rue and taught it IN the orbit of
ruth. The World has not fince produced Newton;
but thoufand humble followers have ariien, who
have carried the fcence of Astronomy beyond the
utmof limits which even his etheria genius could
reach Thefs examples fuEicent to eftablifh the
pof'on, fsaf 'tcfyF f>6 brtb. P,agy5G Of Hs bpvaa
s.5i- TIE ma G.pf and fb1t zD5es mir Is affa0ed al
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