Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1804-09-08

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Scllov, that 5pcai ia,or-na,ion should be
preferred inas.7te segissNor, 20 splendid
requirement, when they csnloi be united {;
and should we give the representatives or
The United States all the superiority they
claim and undoubtedly merit, yet we can
not be accused presumption, in suppos-
fng That we know somewhat more Of our
own country, and lis local interests, than
men who are acquainted with it only from
report. IT will not, we trust, be answered
that the members of The council must be
selected from the inhabitants We have
already shcwn what share this council will
probably have in legislation and the resi-
,,ence OF ore year is certainly too short TO
attain Information, or secure any thing
Ike pevmanence Of attachment.
II this local Knowledge is necessary 10
legislsle wisely, how much more so is it
In Orderto select discreely, those on whom
this task must devolve. The President
must necessarily depend on the iniorma-
iion OF his agents here; without any per.
sonai know ledge os the men he must
Choose; how can he detect imposition, or
couneract prejudice ?-llow defeat in
trigue, or s.cute himself from the re
Proach Of having confded our interests 20
men, IN whom VIC have no confidence !?
We might contrast these iaC0uvcnienceS
with the evident advantages Of choice
made By the people themselves, and the
conviction would be irresistible, That the
latter possess, exclusively that species OF
Information, with respect to character, CON
duct, circums, stances and abilities, which is
necessary to prudent choice OF their re-
representatives.; but we presume enough
has been sajd to sbew that among peo-
pie not absolutely sunk in ignorance, the
kind Of knowledge indispensable to good
government, or i selection OF rulers, can
only be found al howe--that the best abb
lities and The purest intentions will not re-
place it abroad, and that without it all Ic.
gislation is tyrannical and oppressive.
Convinced OF this ruth we find the adj.
vocates for our subsection, driven to an
argument, AZ which We have before hinted.
TO deprive us OF our right of election,
we have been represented as too ignorant
10 exercise it with wisdom, and TOO turbu-
lent 20 Joy il with safety. Sunk in igno-
rance, eseminated by luxury, debased by
oppression, We were, it was said incapable
Of appreciate 3 afree oons,itution,ifIt were
given. or fr4llng the deprivation, If 1t were
denied. The sentiments which were OK
cited by his humiiatng picture, may be
imagined, but Cannot be expressed, COZ
sis,cnt with the respect We owe your NO
norablc body. We were willing however
10 ascrihe il ia the want OF correct informa-
ton, but we could not avoid wondering lha,
n should be so very defective. rs to have
\. drawn from the names az soOle districts in
purcountr!, an argument, as 10 tiielanguagc
in them, which proved fatal to an
important anerdmen: 10 he bin. We
could not imagine what had excited the
p.Aea cf our effcminaey and profuson !;
and the llborious planter at his frugal
meal, heard with smile of bitterness and
contempt, the descriptions published at
Washington, OF his opu'encc and luxu-
~.
ITO he c6ncIuded az WcdncslaY
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