The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-07-30

ength ofthe peoples power. By ,heic truly osnocra.
zeal and excelis proviiioDs OF contribution, and
the rigid, perhaps extremely ideas Of public Geo.
nony, which prevail alnoa universally among our
citizens the wde doors of corruption appear TO be
nearly c.o.ed even agaia1 thof. rcfentatives who
might feel no reArain from their own fenfe OF moral
obligation. We have not however the fame inilanta-
neois conrou over ntereffs in the federal yoverr
ment. Politely, the of the duties which de-
vye on our may render il impo-
ht'c that we ihould and as long as the people of
the United States continue 70 be vrtuous aucient-
ly democratic character their ilate contributions may
&c powerful and proper defence againt corruption
and uturration in the government of the union For
though the Rate Legislatures may have the right of
debating to all thoic who adminfer the general 90
vernnieDt, yet it would leem, from the ate men,ora
bieexainpes OF Kentucky and Virginia, and the rcop-
trosertible realonngs by which they were utiGed,s
thai they may rghtfully give them the mott aseGi
IL would be propitious indeed for the permanency
OF liberty and happiness in Virginia, if the pardon
which we have iaid is fonietimes granted to immoral
ny IN the characters of Representatives were con-
lined to extraordinary men, extraordinary occa,ons
The boundlefs genius and enchanting manners
OF Aicibades, might execute the infatuat,on that
blinded the Atheniaps to the ruinous example
oil his immortality; and the tranicendent talent.
and ardent patriotifm Of Fox may iui}ly re-
deem his fame from the !" deep damnaton' of thou
land vices But with us, it mutt be acknowledged
and depored that this forgiveness is too frequently ex-
tended, on the mott common oceaiions, to the mon
ordinary men, And though the people may feldom
have cauie to lament the wiilfu mifcondu6 of their
Representatives, yet this indifference to their moral
characters by frequently extending public patronage
to the vicious, s,every day, dfeninating and nrf-
turing evils the mo!e nfchevous focety and hoi.
tile TO the exiience of Republican government In no
other country in the world perhaps in other part
OF the United States, the principles of liberty
more predominant in the conlfitution in the laws &
IN the affections ofthe people, than in Virginia Bu,
the general mai. of our f=lowctizens do not know
or they regard with criminal and fatal indifference
the cauies from which thote principles if they ever
perth arnongff us, defined receive their NOR
tai wound. 1t is not from the feductve arts of amb
tots denagogues, nor from the treachery and ufir
patron o public iervarts that iibertie. are mon
in danger Our political ruin can proceed only from
venaiity and corruption in the morals of the pcope
1t is in the general abandonment of morals the pro
liiic nurery of national calamties, that thoe end,
have ariien, who in all other countries have over.
thrown liberty, and who, as long as they are pro-
duced in fuch numbers, will forever pres down its
aipiring rtenberaney. 1t is in this dreadful conlupra
ton OF principles that thofe monitors have been ce
nerated, who could, with tne-fervpr yerIa,ili,v.
be aves and defpo,s with Louis the 9TH reformer,
and republicans with Fayette and Condorcet, blood
thirty iacobns and diforganizers with Danton and
RobeiPierre and uurpers and tyrants witt, the fir
conful and the emperor
The citizens Of This county, are at prefept. oens-
rally men of good intentions, and of UPRIGHT and
prudent conduct in the management of their private
concerns but 1t is very common for them to commit
the ai-mportant nteres involved in the powers ofle
giilation, to men whom majority of then, would
never content rutt the hubands of their d,uob
tiers, the guardians of their fons or the executors Of
their wills. This abiurd conduct, 10 perplexing and
diitrefling to the enlightened lovers of freedom.
cannot perhaps be more nationally accounted for than
by con!iderng II as the effect OF of general in
formation among the people and OF THAT political ana
thy corcom;tant of h.ir Ignorance
But Al there be any who, perceivngits fatal tendency
ttil Perht i'll " filming againlt light and knowledge :"
how deep and infinite i, the condemnation thew de-
ierve There is certainly purity of private conduct
that can compenate for this public abue of the RIGHT
of iutfrage. The father in his own family NAV iet
example of virtue his fon, and the leions of the
tutors NAV inculcate the founded briueiIes of moral
i,y; but the father and the tutor before the face
OF the aipirlng youth, below what he is taught to
believe Is honor, on men whole morals are notori
ouiy the revere of what he is told his flouid be
the private examp of ,l.c l... and the moral ef
tons of he tutor are ONO avail and the youth, who
learns from the occurrences of every day that vice Is
no obAele in the the puriut of honors and prefermen
hurried blythe vonptuouinels of his imagination and
the imPeuolity of his feelings, into the vortex of diff
parton, where he CONTRACTS FOR his future courfe hro
life the mott incurable and deadly habits of exceG
The contagon of vice decked in public honors. is
dreadluliy epidemick and if freedom is inevitably
the Viaim ofts general propagation, how much is
the intereR and how acredly the duty of the OILY
free people in civilized foeiety to refi its progref,
with vigilance and bolincfs
That "virtue is the foul of a republic" is a maxim
founded in the nature of things and is pregnant with
eternal truth. 1t continually and inperoufly calls
upon every republican to praaile and encourage il,
principles. But, from the general conduct of our
teow-citizens in this refpe9 it would appear TO be
too literally true, that virtue its own, and alnoG
its only reward For If a candidate for public ofc.
no matter how bafe and ignorant he may be- prac-
tiles low, and vicious familiarity, fpendinp
i'll eectionecrirg and in intemperance the time and
means which ought to be devoted to the improve
nient OF his own capacity for ufefulriefs or which
perhaps are due to he wants, the comforts and ed-
cation OF family that is dependent OH him, how
rarely and with what difficulty do we fee him ex
Guided, to make room for a man whole improved
understanding and correct principles will not ruTer
him to ufe the fame means of fuccefs But if men
Whole difioute morals bring ruin on themfeve, and
families, & Example orruptsthe prn
eples baits the hope of the rng generation receive
The eoun;enance patronage Of the people whenever
offices OF truh and emolument are TO he dfvored Of
the trongett excitement to virtue, and the mott pow
erfuI check to vice, is wanting and the only lure
la!tDg foundation of liberty, Is broken up and def