The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-10-04
GDe .Gnqutrer.
RICHMOND, 4tb OCTOBER.
FOR THE ENQUIRER.

LAMENTATIONS ON TIRE SOURCES OF POLITICAL
| cALuMNY, UNDER REPUBLICAN, AND DEMO.
CRATIC FORMS OF GOVERNMENT, AND TIE
MOST EFFEcTUAL ANTIDoTE TO THIS EVIL
CafSnny bas long been Permitted yarpe ne 7yo-ly at
large, and Ped its hafumid.zo on tie /aiyeR Ro-,e,,
team Fe7p sery ancient title, and zvN not eaGiy Gf
fer e;-d1wen."
When philosophers enumerate, when poets defcrb..
and philanthropis depore, the ills of life and the
'railties OF man; ca'umny always occupies confpi-
euous place The ranking tooth, the envepomed
ting, the baeful mdew every epithet or IMAGE ex-
prelive of pain evil, have in all languages been
fe!eeted to defgnate, fgurativey bur forcihly IFS
malignant influence II is nor like many other evils
indifferent 70 the character of its victims or rdif-
crn'nate in IT'S ravages 1t is like the king of
terrors impartial and universal in its vitations From
the powerful perpetrators of memorable crimes"
the iucoefsful niuper and the triumphant conaueror
the Demon. of caun,ny recos with Difference and
dread Touched by rhe regal fcertre or the in,peri-
al purple, the inaky moner is transformed into the
iyren OF aduation. Innocence, genius and virtue are
ITS peculiar prey The benefa6fors of mankind and
the ornaments of human nature its felecfed victims
EH painful Z" reflect, bur cannot be den ed that
democratic and republican forms of government, not
withftandng their va iuperiority over political ini
tuions of an oppoi,e character, have peculiar ten
dency to widen the range and embter the rancour of
eanmny. This tendency mutt he admitted, tn arife
partly from the very caufes which the liability &
advantages of republican intutions efcntially de-
pend Thus the vampire and the adder are bred and
nonrihed by the genial influences that bring to ma
turity the mott wholefome and delicious fruits The
equality OF rights, founded the fubverfion Of here
eary power and abolition of the privileges of titled
opuience the fhort term during which delegated
power is held and the consequently regular and ra-
nnfi .r,,l,
numerous competitors for political elevation and diff
tinetion. The gradual fubdiviGon of accumulated
property by fnccehion, alienation and MARRIAGE the
rapid dituiion OF knowledge, by the effabEihment OF
ienoois' the perennial circulation of mte laneous in
teligence in public prints, and the unfhacked free
dom OF enquiry and communications confpire to pro-
mo'e provocative equalization of opportunities and
conditisns Thofe menopoes and inequalities which
neither the violence of revolution nor the enlighten
ed efforts republican reforers and Legislators could
iaieiy aooh, are by the operation of thefe cauies
gradually broken down. Thus the mafles of ice ac-
| cumuiated during the winter, melt away under the
genial warmth ofprng, and gladden. the heart of the
huoandn'an, who onged to behold thefe impediments
to the renewal of his labours, difolve into prolific
moRure
Hence under popular governments the fphere of
competition for public honours and emoluments is
greatly enlarged the number of competitors CONT
nuaiy enereating, and the confequent ardour and
emulation of rival candidates calculated TO route far
cordIng to the character of the individually every for
did, noble or malignant pafion But the fame eauCe
that multiply cand dates and animate their rivalry
oimnilh the number and magnitude of the przcs for
! w.Hlch they contend The fphere of delessted now
err is confined within narrow limits precfely defined
and fortified by BARRIERS that cannot be overleaped
with IMMUNITY. The number of Offices is reduced
and all unneceiiary honours and emolumepts pruned
away with caution and parimony, perhaps too jea-
ous and rigid OF the multitude, therefore, who are
ucceively melted become candidates for office and
| eieVation, great majority NUT be disappointed
when Offices are conferred by popular fufrage, and
executive appointment on the Perfons ben qualified
10 perform the duties they impofe thoGe whole nre
teniions are rejected, have iuf ground for diatf
action or complaint. They ought, if animated b.
that patriotim and love of Juice without which tbe
ooaued and envied b!eilings of republican govern.
nents are lfeefs and tantazing faions) no, only r.
lacquefce without a murnur, but even to rejoice L
f5I degree OF diiinereGednefs, which il is unrea
ionable to require, chnerical to expect from tbo
who aiplre to public truft and dainaion in a fire.,
country! Mutt we regard fable, the anecdo,,
recorded OF Demaratus9 Mul we clafs amoupn ro
names, the hiffory of Greece and Rome? Or. i
he ecret Tor rendering patriotifn national and habi
'ua''the only art, known to the anccnts which ba
eicaPed the crutiny of Antiquarian reiearch and tb
curioiity of modern invention
oneis the delegation of political power and truf
ny 'ne people, and in the appointment to Offices q
emolument by the executive, the mot defervin, ar,
preferred unlefs the candidates are fwayed bv ;
principle oil inpartaity and patriotfm, the confe
quenoes likely to refult are no longer a fub;ea n
doubt or conjecture They are written by tbe fin
ger OF experience, in legible characters: He VIII,
runs may read them" A fpirit of faction, calumu,
and dIicord will be excited, which, if it does not un
oermne the foundation ofrepubcan inilitutions will
dituro LOCAL intercourfe, aud give rife to the moi
odous irnn'oralities and the mott fatal dnenfions
The indignant conicouinels of neglected merit. of vi
oa,ed right, lin Perfons other,viie dpofed to INDULGE
the mott generous fentiments) will produce mif-n
thropy and an averfon to the public Cerviee DIFF
oP7o'nted ambition will degenerate into envy of th
iucces'u candidate, and dpoiition to milreprelen
and biaoken his character and Actions Wourde,
pride will ranke into incapable hatred BaGled in
trgue and unmarked hyPocrfy, will refort with def
Perate and renorlelefs magnty, to the mott villain
Gus artifiees and the no diaboiical defamation Eve
ry inilituton eablihedto iecure equality of rich,
and liberty of action will be liable to the nio lanen
table and licentous abufe
Thus on dcealjul lEL1as j9o7u'yy E6.,
Initiating 0erdare glad He rowing rye
HbN iecret fo0es 7OiB unextinguiilld yaoe,
j Inlafidte, on IFS burning entrails prev,
| dHd melt its treacberous beauties iy,o putu
II, shafao ~. .