Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1805-06-08
.lne spirit operating ,hrooph ali H..

from, the august tribunal of the Lor
Chief Justice, down to a petty Court @
Requests, from the Secretary Of STATE 1
ms haHosest retainer, or from the magni
hcens merchant down to haberlashe
crsmaii wares, all, allis in countera6tio,
to the proud principles Of their constilu
ton. no people are more ready, at the
esestre, TO applaud the 6ne sentiment
Jpho steals my Nurse, steals fr'ash." This
y still .passess in court Of honor, and *
passes in the theatre, when retired from
real life, The people forget themselves;
+ but / have never he ard il quoted al Guhd-
hall. nor at Westminster. The 'hichng
of a GOOD name, and the stealing purse,
would conduct to.yery different tribunals;
and the damaging of anqther sIxpence in
purse and sixpeace in reputation, would
terminate in very different consequences.
The sentiment OF Shylock IS more just
"If you spare my life, spare my property,
for that is Iife." In general, the spirit of
flaw discovers the spirit Of nation. But
Engiand is an exception. The English
laws destroy al distinction in the several
gradations Of crime This would puzzle
foreigner, ignorant of the English cha
racl-r. lie would either pronounce the
Ergl,shto be more attached TO property,
than 10 life or reputation, or conclude
them nation of thieves. AT the old Bal.
ley, saw wretch capitaily convicted for
stealing ragged handkerchief while the
humane Judge, feeling the hardship Of the
case, questioned the prosecutor, .sIf he
Yves 10 the least degree sensible of miss.
ing il, at the time, or Immediately after
the time, for if he jeif ID gro from his ftockes,
the felony was not capital. Sometimes
the jury to save man from the gallows,
will generously perjure themselves. They
are in the frequent habit of reckoning two
for one, q, the Old Bailey, except when
specieis stolen they are then obliged to
yaltie two pounds at forty shillings; tho
] have heard the Judge condoIe with The
jury, that there was no system of arith-
motto which would warrant their comput-
, ing shree guines at one pound nineteen
sshiilings.
am not sure IL it be candid to attribute
their unequal laws to their incorporate
regard for property. Yet have labcred
In vain to find q less dishonorable reason.
commercial people, we all know, will rem
der law as offensive as they possibly can,
TO others, and as defensive as they can, TO
themselves. But The same spirit seems
To run through the whole system OF En-
gIish law, whether relative 10 commerce,
or 10 landed interest. II you ask the mer-
chant, What he considers The greatest
crime" he might possibly say, murder,
but he would mean forgery: on the other
hand. should you ask the country squire
the same question, he too might posslbly
say murder, but he would mean the muir
der of one his hares.
Few crimes, inthis country, are thought
to be highly criminal, 50 long as property
is secure. Oae would suppose that The
1orcible amputat!on of o mans ears or nose
was greater crime than the stealing one
Of his sheep: but the FACTS, mans ears
and nose are not essential members, noi
subjects of trade otherwise, if man.
ears or nose were soused, like hogs tee
and ears, the law in this respect, wouc
change from eivit process 10 felony. i
you steal The only child of a fond parent
the law is silent but If you steal the child'i
clothes you commit felony. was pre-
sent al q trial Of this sort, on which the
prisonerwas acquitted, IL nofaf5tearing st.f
.fcientiy epzdeut thaf ne stole are child svifk
a piezp 10 sfeaish ciofhes.
The same spirit Influences the public
administration Of affairs. The subject is
invidious yet Sufficiently notorious. Pub
lie offices are not sold al vehdue, but il is
wellknown they may be purchased. You
frequently see in the most celebrated
newspapers, advertisements, offering GER
tain sums, "To any lady or gentleman
who can command sufficient parlIamenta-
~ interest 10 procure the writer public
Office, with specified salary"--promising
the most profound secrecy! confess,
had Of much simplicity, when FIRST saw
such an advertisement, Thought il al ex.
celIcnt Joke. am now fully persuaded
that, publicofi maybe purchased ifyou
know where TO apply Bot Dir, Adding
ton is the last man 10 whom would re-
commend sutton: he would suffer ce q
tain disappointment. The following sin
gular Circumstance passed within my own
observation.
An honest fellow, in the west Of Eng
land, with more money than correct know
ledge Of the world. had doubtless heard
a Il n go