The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-09-12

new order ofthings, we yet find fome important
principles recognized; the fovereignty OF the
people, with their right to alter aud ahoih their
governments at pleaiure equality of all men
in reiped to their rights religious federation
taxes in proportion to property; thefe, with
Tome other principles, declared and acknolv-
lodged in the better times of the republic, are
fill facredly regarded inherent in the nation.
Louis was literally king of France; without any
legal or literary fiction, upon certain contingent
cies, the whole territory of France might be for
feited to the monarch he was the proprietor,
and the nation, from the prince to the pea
FAINT, were his tenants. But Napoleon is EN-
peror OF the French; the foil of France belongs
to the people of France and the laft title which
he has aiiumed, merely expreaes the political
relation in which the governor fands to the 60
verned. This is one great point gained not
only TO France, but to mankind in general. We
hear no more of divine right, or any other right
than that of the fovereign people; and though
they may abuie it, as they have recently done,
yet the bare acknowledgment that fuch 4 right
exits, and its being recognized by the govefn-
ing power, as the only legitimate origin aud BATS
of his authority, is material advance in praGti-
cal politics. Second and fbrd-the/ nature of
the nobility, and hierarchy, or church enabl(h-
, ment. / do not fpeak of the nobility and hie-
rarchy as It relates to theiry feudal privileges
thete will be coniidered prefently but as hoa-
ny, civil and facerdotal sritocraces, whole pow
er and preteniions were viewed with awe and
reverence, by an Ignorant and fuperftitious pea
fantry. The lord, who occupied the manors &
the mapiions, which his anceftors had occupied
III tacceihon, 10 many centuries before him, was
eahly impreiled with belief, by the circun-
frances of his birth and education, that there
was an immeafurabe diftancc between the feel
inss and the rights (if fuch were allowed) of the
poIilhed baron and the rugged peafant. The
peafant too, ftrvant to the fon of that father,
who Fad been ferved by his father, before him,
and whole anceftors had from time immemorial,
been in the relative fituation, with their barons,
ofmafer and fave, could not but believe that
his Lord was hyperion being, invefted. by ma
ture with all the rights, while the fervices lmi-
ferable birthright y alone belonged TO him.
| Thefe fentiments of domination 1.-THE one
fde, and debafement on the other, WIRE greatly
aggravated, whenever the peaiant's bird hap.
pened to be an ecclefaitic. Family difinction
was united with prieftly hauteur; but the un-
bending authority Of facerdota1 pride is lrover +,
bal.
There is wide difference between the pre-
ceding, and any order of nobility, hereditary
diftincton, or religious eftabliihment, which is
now 10 be found in France. Any nobility which
3onaparte can eftablilh, if, which we mutt fup-
poie, he choofes them from among his adhe-
of France will witnefs their creation. They will
fee their old companions, brewers and bakers,
hewers OF wood and drawers of water, made
members of the legion of honor, from their a.
lertneis as fpies, or their perseverance as blood
hounds. And while it has tendency to extin-
gulih every fpark of veneration and refped for
no6leJ, 1t elevates them, in their own imaginati-
ons, by exhibiting 70 palpably that between the
pea1ant and his lord there are only artificial diff
~ IL fha,a n
railing the clais to which the peafant belongs, in
his own eftimation, (Which is important for
the monsui man believes that he moves in
lower circle than his merits entitle him to, he
becomes reitlefs and uneafy-) while it depref-
les the order to which his comrade has been ele-
waited. He very naturally and very jufly ina
glnes that he has the fame rights as his quondam
friend the brewer nor will the pageantry of
power be able to beat this Imagination from his
BRAIN. The Prefent religious efabliihment in
France, is widely diilimiar to the old hierar-
chy. The domains of the church have been
fold, and the fale repeatedly legazed and fanc-
toned by fucceiiive factions, from Robefpierre
to Bonaparte. A new divifion of diocefes has
been made by Bonaparte, in concert with the
Pope; and new divilion of pariihes by the
biihops; the government dominates the latter,
who, In their turn, nominate to the PARTIES. All
mInliterS OF religion are paid from the public
uCdiuIy. ne superiority or the pretent eta
bhment will be feen at glance. Formerly
immenfe landed eftates were attached to each
dioccie, or bifhop's fee, connected with which
were myriads of idle pretenlions, opprefIiye
privileges and cruel extortions. A French bilh-
OPP of Bonaparte, compared with French bifh-
oP of Louis l6, is as powerlefs and Insignificant
as Virginia parton. In this point of view,
therefore, in fuppreffing the ridiculous venera-
ton for mobiles, and the impious idolatry for
priefs, the French Revolution and Emperorfhip
of Bonaparte, has been finguIarly happy, not
only for France, but for the progrefs of liberal
thinking.
Fowtbly-The administration of iufice, in
the old and new governments. 1t is indeed
Perveriion of terms to call the judicial proceed
ings, under the old government, an admnftra-
ton of juftice. The knocking degree of cor
ruption and venality which pervaded thefe
courts, cannot be paralleled in any other age or
country. Initead of employing honeR and able
attornies, fairly & ingenuouny to fate the mat
ter in difpute, to an impartial jury and upright
Judge, they were notoroully and avowcdy,
certain clafs of females, who, under the name of
les Go'ieifrarc5, were bribec, by rival clients, to
corrupt the court by the mot infamous facrif-
ces. But there is another feature, in the ancient
regime, which tends more pointedly to thew the
dreadful infecurity of the lives and liberties of
all ciafies of men. allude to the hffyeJ de
lit r. r