The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-03-23
ENQUIR
RICHMOND, MARCH %, 1905.
POLITICAL VIEWS.

D.
The United States at this moment exhibit a
political fpe6tacle, full of the mott delightful
attractions, and almolt unprecedented in the
annals OF the world. A tociety diiturbed by
none OF the privileges Of rank. bv none of the,
artificial diitin6tions of political or eccIefaftcal
ettabiiihments where every free man is. conf
dered as equal in the eye of the law, equally en-
titled to ITS protection, ard fhut out by the few
cit poiiibie reitrictions from an equal particpa-
ton OF power; contribution originally deriv-
ed from the will of the people, at ali times
fu6lect to their controul and correction. and
occurring responsibility of its various function
ares IN various ways aud degrees, 10 its foye
reign power an administration acting in the
truet iprit of the contribution, and exercisinp
all its constitutional powers for promoting the
tgreatef good Of The greateR part of the commu-
nifty; Imported by i majority, whole triun
plant afcendency relieves them from the necei-
hty ofcomPromifng with their opponents, and
from the fear of linking beneath their influence :
an undiiturbed peace, without any entangling
alliances with foreign powers, fave only war
with the petty Baihaw of Tripoli, which fervine
at once to exerciie the activity and improve the
diicipline of our neceilary maritime force, has
contributed to exalt the infant reputation of our
navy; at home, no terrors of civil war: fac
tions expiring; the republican party ncreafne
harmony & ferenlty returning TO the focialcircle:
an increaing population, clearing and cuItva-
ting the land, drawing new wealth from their
iabour, and giving new graces to the lsndfcape;
our commerce extending into every Tea, and
multiplying the refources of the treafnry
theie conititute groupe of political advarta
eeS which perhaps no other nation his ever en-
joyed before Us, and no nation of our own
times can certainly boat. How ling This un
PARALLEL fate of PROPERTY is TO continue whe
thera year or century is to BE- tie limit of it's
duration; there is no modern Syhil TO predict.
Still our preient fynem will not have ex;Ned in
vain, for the nitruction of our POTTERY:, ihould
they only fee it in its ruins, or in the records Of
hiitory. They will have fortheir confederation
a memorable experiment on republican govern
tnents. They will perceive the admirable
hructure of our contribution ava the appro
PIRATE meafures of the Administration. we
have almof REALIZED, they VIII Zee, the moG
Derfect idea of political powqf; where the few
sit rights poflible are given up by the people,
forfeiture the remainder: Were individuals are
heit protected from injury, and their private
Judgment mott acredly peipeGted in every cafe,
where the fecurity of tie government will per-
NIT. To contribution thus wifeiv Organized
and vrtuouGy adminjfered, they will not fail
to attribute the tranquility, the fecurity, tae IN
dependent fpirit aFi general happiness, which
we poileis. So thblime a fpe6tace AS this
cannot efcape the ohftrvation whilh il eycites
the admiration of future times Hereafter
fome patriotic Lycurgus may arife, who pro-
fitting by theexamplc of our country, NAV Al
tempt to amend the inititutions of his own.
Our fy1em will not therefore have been efa.
hliihed in vain, though it fhodld not have heen
defgned TO exit forever. The hiftory of II.
while living. will kindle the emulation and ami
mn 70 81, 80, n
much as it may afIlict, and even difcouraqe tb.
political reformer, it will ftil furnifb him with
tome fa!utary admonitions. On the ruins of
our government will be infrribed the capC,s ne
IFS cecieniion. The future politician will en-
qnIre, why nation 70 fupremely hleGed in =
republican contribution FL incuIarlv exennt
ed at one period from the defpotfm of its oo-
vernment, fhoud ut another moment have ev-
hiblted very different fcene They will eva
mine whether the form of its government was
TOO favourable to the encroachments of power.
or ~he'her the people themieves were igno-
rant OF their rights, too much eneroned Inv their
own interets, and too Indifferent abont ,be
conduct of their officers. Examples of tb;.
kind, will induce them to adiuf the powers of
their government on fafer principles {; or TO ac-
commodate the habits ard knowledge of the
people to the republican form of their govern.
ment. Already has the fate of the French revo-
luton convinced every enllaved nation on earth.
OF the folly and the mifchievous confeouences
of precipitate reform. Orr own fate viii
hold up memorable example to every nation.
who is about TO eftablifh, or who already cniov
free contribution, of the efficacy of thof. can't
es which may have led to our own, or NAV nj
tmatelv lead TO their, defiruction.
Having acquired mot of the ADVANTAGES of /, |
good government, it fhould he the pride rs If |
certainly is the interof of an American neverto |
exhibit 10 melancholy lenon: to new-noiCe |
the powers of our contribution, whenever exne-
rence fuggefts the imperfcetion, and TO watch |
over the conduct ofour rulers, with a vigilance
that never 0eeps, aud fpirit never corrupted
by PROPERTY. As the moft admirable exped;-
ent for the attainment of this purpofe, let ms
exercie the rights which our government has
respected with the NOT fcrupu Gus proprietv. |
Let individuals rightfuIly employ their time,
their talents, their fortunes, or aught that
belongs TO them. To entrench, as Iittle
as Pofiibe upon the rights of private iudp-
ment; to leave individuals in The poGeC
hon Of all thofe rights, which are not er
Ientiai to the preiervstion of the remainder
This contributes the fun total of good po7,e,1-
'nenf, and il is nearly an accurate picture ofour
nwn political fyfem. To employ all their
qualifications in the NOT patriotic manner: