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

s9bnS3t't>'l IN th!S aaN paper ne ForSigo
Intelligence, the ichenr for unworthy, the Dc.
bate in Cougrefs, and fummary of the acts Of
the Virginia Legiilsiure, die not permit US to
publiih il ut full length. To the readers
of thofe letters, no apology is due for their
inft.tion. Whit we deem the prcfs too facred
20 be made the vehicle of pertonal Handler or
party abufe, we mu2 at the fame time admit
that /. decent criticifn upon the character Of
public AGENTS is tautary and inftru6tive NOM.
tor both to themielves and 10 the people.
LETTER IN FRoMAMEMBER oFTHE VIRGINIA
LEGISLATURE TO HIS FRIEND IN sa*+".
Ritb,sond, Janaary
you know, my friend, the prefentments and
expectations which filed my mind, when iet
out for the capital of Virginia, s. the feat of our
legillatvc body. Hiforical books and my ear
LEFT rs6s6fions, had infpired me with TOO auguft
IN idea Of the attaininents and virtues OF ali de-
Lucrative afemblics. When I brought before
me the dcssn and contribution of luCh body !;
fornetines the whole mats of the people them
felves, and fometincs lelecf body of repreien-
fatives, collecting in one great snenbly to wit
nefs the energies of genius, to Ultimate the re-
fources of knowledge, and TO decide on the mof
poonentous concerns, the improvement, the
property, the life, and fon,etimcs no lefs aeon
..ern than the liberty of their countrymen my
truant imagination, ever ready to eXaggerate
what it canuot ditincty comprehend, would
NGcsrce!y reprcfeIt them under alets impoting ap-
pe,rsnce thana sa collection ,ffages, deiiberating
and deciding on the deltinies Of the world. The
fine models of former times, iengthenng intheIr
gigantic appearance from the remote dilance
AZ which we behold them, would now and then
teal in uoon my memory, and aitltt the way
ward Ceiufians of fancy. Il was the patriotic
nf a he IN a -
rails of focial order, and reducing them TO a
beautiful ard harmonious fyttem, whom al
fi,oed rs nv tlndard of every thing, that a le-
yiGator ought to be. S; every thing that he was.
u was the reliflefs eloquencc OF DemoitheneS,
glowing like the lightning ofheaven, & kindling
the expiring liberties of his countrymen or il
was the mighty foul of Chatham, abaihing, aw-
ing and putting TO fight, the corrupt junto OF a
Britih administration that appeared to my
imagination as the neceilary attributes ofevery
man who rofe in popular anemby. How
great then would have been my disappointment
and difgua, if under theft early and glowing
impreGions, had fra been P.etented with view
ofthe Virginia LegiGaturel Without the art OF
CORE cling the conceptions IF fancy by the lief
fons of experience: Without the power of ma
KING allowances for the difference of times,
countries or circumstances, every member
whom iloul1 have feen, would have appear
ed not ltf3 diguiied than Scion and Demofthe-
mes the'nfclves: yet hould not perhaps have
met with fingle member in the whole sfem.
bly,, who would have borne a companion with
thcje luxurious Athenians
Theie men, my dear friend, have owed all the
greatness of their talents and the fpleHdour OF
their rcr.,9"sn, to the peculiar circumstances OF
their times.
1t was becaufe Athens was diiturbed by re-
volntions which acknowledgement talents, and be-
saufs fhe had attained that degree of refine.
rnent, which is fuificient TO produce them, that
Scion became the Iawgiver and father of hia
country. II was becaue Philip was fearing ia
the fovereignty Of Greece, and the ipirit of A
shens was Numbering III the duff, that the gent
us of Denotthenes called forth in her de-
fence. Had it not been for thefe external ex-
Citemcnts, the laws of Scion might not have ex-
tended beyond the bounds of 4 conviviacrcie
and the eloquence of Demofthenes might have
funk uiilivf The Ses ali know
that the character of man is modified by his itu-
alton. Great occaions will always produce
great talents. According to the beautiful allu-
Gon of AN iiluRrious Virginian, they will rife like
the water in the pump, in proportion to the
fuperincumbcnt preiiure. Enlarge the theatre
of glory; multiply the means OF drawing forth
the powers OF the foul, and whether the effort
extends to nation or An individual, the great
refs OF the eFsel is COMMENSURATE to the activi-
~ Of the carfe. twas becauit the circumftan-
ces Of orr times are 70 various it was becaufe
the Rate Of our commonwealth is 60 exempt
from tumuts, anarchy and wars in faa it was
becaufc no nometfonJ location exits to ftimu-
late the exertions of the Virginia Legislature,
that Iidid not expect TO Zee the iplendid powers
of Scion or Demofthenes completely dit
played.
You can eaGy conceive, my dear friend, The
great auctions, which animate and exhibit al
the talents of Legislator: and fuch quenions
you very we'll know, are rarely introduced into
the Hall of the Virginia AGeinbly. Legira-
tor ofthe prefent time has no political Chaos
TO reduce to order the principles of the GO
verrmest have long fnce been adiuted by an
efablifhed Contribution. Does he cenfure the
relations which we maintain with foreign coun-
tries 1t would be unconstitutional TO diff uis
them on the theatre of the fate: He will
hn1 thatthefe complicated relations, so difficult
to be arranged, and 60 favorable TO the difpay
of political wifdom, are excluively refcrved
for the national egillature. Is there any de-
fe' in our military fvtem, in our naval fyGem,
in the great fyRem of finance, which he wifhes
TO anatomife and expofe; is there any great
danger, which he forefees from the ADAPTATIONS
OF the government 1t il not in the inititutions
Of the Rate t'st tbefe intereRing objects are to
he f,er He Ynun Attend to the Federal povern-