The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-02-01

a
have long entertained doubt, whether fhe has
not alto iolt iome OF thu w;fiom ard patrotifm,
which would have warmed and enlightened the
councils OF her Legislature, and have impaired
new improvements to her internal policy
When able and active politicians have once been
created, they ,viil alpire TO Inc higheit Offices
within their reach. The Virginian, who can
obtain feat in Congrsis or III tie Senate of the
United States, will fcarcely circumtcribe his pa
triotifm or anbitoo by the interelts of his fate,
or the triumphs which he can reap in a fubor-
dinate Legislature. Let him even be indebted
for all his greathei 70 the debates of this relprt-
able BODY, there 10 ltii higher Rep for hun to
take and If the tunuits of public life ihould
not have already relaxed the visour OF puriuit,
he fame prOlect!e power will itrive TO carry
him forwards this other Rep.
I'm one refpcct, the Legislature of our fate
may derive fome improvement from our federal
relations. There are many politicians, believe,
who conIider that body as kind of political
Lyceun, as ichool CT preparation, in which
they may acquire the habits Of tpeaking in nu.
meross a.iemDly, and the knowledge OF legal
details. Like other pupils who combine an in
dGitrious reiearch after knowledge with 4 fluff
Gent extent of genius, their powers become po-
liihed, expanded and ufed to exerciie but thefc
powers are not TO be dedicated TO the alma ma
ter heffclf, from Whole initruttion they derived
them. 1t is to obtain feat in the federal leella-
turr, or fome pot in the higher departments of
the government, that theie men have auxouily
aipired. Yet their talents were not altogether
loft TO the afiembly of the fate. In the We
ry act Of improving them, and obtaining the
confidence Of the people, they ferved to enlight-
ell the councils OF their Fate and they letl an
example OF talents behind them, which may I'll
nuate the efforts of fome LET'S patriotic or leis
ambitious members.
Our own Legislature then has upon the whole
view OF the iuoject, loft fome energy and talents
by the hyperion a!lurrments of the Federal Co
vernment. was not rritaken there fore in the
prefcntiments, which you had 10 often hear! me
exprsis OF its rea! character. Unacquanted as
was with the members, the modes of pro-
ceediug, and indeed with many of the mea-
tures which are annually Investigated before
thsm, had derived thete opinions more from
abitra6t speculation than actual experience.
Yet upon mixing in the icene of action, my con-
lectures are found to be not altogether errone-
Gus. | can now venture to pronounce the great
majority of the Virginia Legislature, pure in
their political principles, correct in their views
of the public inreref, incouuptibly honef.
can alto allure you, that the talents and attain
mentS of foIne OF its members afford An additi-
onal confirmation of my favouritc petition :;
that the native genius OF Our country!I!c. s ~.
there have been few locations during the pre-
ient FELTON,, when theie talents were ditplayed
III all their fplendour; and NUT candidly con-
fcfs to YOU, ihould not have wilhed our natl
ona character 10 be eftimatedby any European,
who has heard our debates and UitneiItd Our
proceedings.
AS your enquiring mind will not be content
ed with this generalvie of our legislative bo-
dy, will you permit me to employ my feeble
pencil in iketching out for your private infpe6ti-
ons the portraits of four or five of our mott dit.
tinguiihed members T ROM tnrle you NAV
form fome rude conception Of the worth and
attainments Of the ret. In delineating theie
| ketches, you will do me the juitice to believe
me perfectly impartial. Towards theie en-
| lightened members, hold no other fentiment
but reipea and ftiendihip. No emotion of en-
Wy or rivalry mixes itfelf with the iInpreilions
that fuggeft their portraits.
No : my dear friend, am not defined TO be
the competitor of any of theie men on the po-
litical theatre. 1t viii never be my Office to
WELD the fceptre of influence i'll popular at
iembly. Nature certainly never intended ME
for fpeaker; or education has mott unfortu-
5ittcisY her production. TEhie riffr III
public aiembiy, expoied to the keen glance
of innumerable eyes, and the penetrating iudg-
ment Of 70 many men 70 hyperion TO myfelt, my
feelings are like thofe of the young mariner on
tempelt-toft ocean : ideas appear to fit thro'
nv brain without atIociation or method every
object appears to fwim before my fight, and
ten thouflnd ocular fpettra rapidly puriue each
other, and diilipate my attention the fpeGta-
tors, the benches, the very fpots on the floor,
become 70 many rapid'yayes. Meantime theie
objects themieves d1e fil aud unagitatcd. 1t
is my own brain alone, which forms and imi.
tates the heavings of the ocean, and commune
Gates an imaginary motion to all the objects
around me. SO completely does this embar-
raiiment unnerve the faculties of my mind, that
could never addrefs fmall circle of my cou-
ftituents, without feeling inexplicable confuion
and difinay. No man, who abours under thefe
defects, is defined to act the part of an orator
H. wants that radical qualification, which
gives Il tone aud colouring to every otiicr,
and without which every other would be-
poor and powerlefs; he wants confidence in
his own powers. No one Can command the
paiTions or the Understandings of another, who
is not completely mater ofhis own. His mind
may be the depoitary of the rnof afonifhing at
tributes: Fancy may be ready to pour forth
her mott affecting figures: Wit may have la
vihei upon him her cholelt companions: And
philofophy may have taught him the divine
gifts of analysts and arrdng ement. Yet
thefe mighty powers are TO him as if they were
not. His embanaliment becomesa fecond ig-
norance. He is like an admirable initru-
1850. touched I,,,a ~ t.npnlilhsI hpud sTL.-