Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1804-10-13

IN public life will have the best education
IN arts and sciences, and therefore the
gentlemen viii ordinarily (no,wiihstand.
ing some exceptions to the rulc) be the
richer and born of more noted families.
by the common people, we mean labor
ers, husbandmen, mechanics and mer-
chants IN general, who pursue their occ,i-
pauons, and industry, without any know
ledge III liberal arts and sciences, or in any
thing but their own trades and pursuits
| though there may he exceptions to this
! rule, and individuals may be found in each
OF these classes who may really be
GENTLEMEN. Now it seems 10 be clear
that the gentlemen in every country are,
and ever must be few in number in com
| parison with the simplemen. If you please
then by the Democra tical proportion Of Sc
! cicty we will understand the COMMON pEo.
PIE as before explained; by the aris;ocrs-
teal part oil the community we will under
stand the GENTLEMEN;t the distinctions that
have been introduced among the Gentle
men into nobility greater Or lesser; are
! perfectly immaterial to our present pur-
pose knights, barons, earls, viscounts,
marquises, dukes and even princes and
kings, are still but gentlemen, and the
word nobe signifies no more than kyogpa-
ole or conspicuous. But the Gentlemen
| are more Intelligent and skiilful, as well
as generally richer, and better connected,
and therefore have more influence and
power than any equal number of the COM
mon people: there is a constant energy,
and effort in the minds Of the former, to
encrease the advantages they possess o.
YER the latter, and to augment their wealth
and Influence, at their expense. This ef
tort produces resentment and iealousies
contempt, hatred and fear between the
one sort and the other. individuals a.
mong the Common people endeavor 10
make friends, patrons, and protectors a
mong the gentlemen. This produces
parties, divisions, tumults and war {; but as
the former have most address and capaci-
ty, they gain more and more con .inua!iy
until they become eXorbitanily rich, aid the
other mlserably poor. In this progress
The common people are continually look
ing up Tor protector among the Genie
men, and he who is most able and willinfr
to protect them acquires their confidence.
lhey unite together by their feelings
more than by their reflections, in augment
ing their power, because The more power
he has, and the less the Gentlemen have,
the safer they are.
+" This is short sketch Of the history
OF that progress of passions and feelings
which has produced every monarchy in
the world; and If nature and its feelings
have their course without reflection they
VIII produce simple monarchy forever"
q HIS REMEDY.
See MS ctC7acc. Vol. l. fGges 1s3 % 200. |
he only remedy is 20 throw the rich
aud proud INTO one group, into a separate
assembly, and then ie heir hands. lf you
give them scope among the people at
large, or their representatives, they will
destroy all equality, and liberty, with the
consent and acclamation Of the people
themselves.-l hey viii have much more
power mixed with the representa- IS,
than separated from them. In the first
case they will unite, they will give the
law and govern all ifthey diff trey will
divide the State, and go to division Of
lorce. But placing them alone BY them
selves, the society ayails itself Of all their
abilities and virtues; they become SOLID
S'NNN " VIZ iO ~ sstINiNGS i4FiLiHGlNGSr
as well as to The Executive power, and You
disarm them Of She power TO DO mi chief"
"Place Two guardians of the laws To
watch the aristocracy; one in the shape
OF KING, on the ore side of it, another
in the shape Of DEMocRATIcAL- ASSEM-
ely. on the other side"
Must we in this country be reduced to
this expedient Is there no other remedy
to be relied on for the evil of : natural a
ris:ocracy," to curb its gigantic strides
upon popular rights, to Illustrate its unjust
and aspiring designs Instead of prepar-
/ ing for them " HOLE" instead Of
throwing them into group or a separate
assembly, By themselves" thus creating
body of Lords and entaiIing the curse
of Nobility upon our descendants, may
we not by an enlightened vigilance and a
! careful attention to our elections, forever
/ disappoint their views, counteract their
iinesse, tricks and straiagems," and pre-
| serve our precious liberties and those of
our children! 1t is hoped we may. Al
any rate let us have fair experiment, and
If we fail, then let US adopt Mr.. Adams's
remedy, and with heart and hand prepare
! a " HOLE" for the mobiles.