The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-09-26
COMMUNICATION.
Ex qaOVis L;gno non fit Me,enrius.


IN all controversies about religion. noI;t;c,
and even the private concerns of individu,J,
the adverfe parties often refort to topics of AZ.
TACK and defence, which, if not too wicked. an
Pe"f ia tue eye oi rcafor very wnimiical and ri.
dlculous. The conduct of one of the roIit;c,l
parties, into which thefe ftates are uneouaIIy
divided, offers remarkable example Of this
hind' which, not very long ago, appeared in fell
f1ape, IN the caucus defamation of H. G. Otis.
concerning the Manachufetts Election.
:, Inc federa'lits tgpp'y this example, when
they attempt TO hold fsation in this countrv.
analogous to the old ariffocracies of Furone'
and to depreis their opponents into the cha,
racter OF the great MATS Of men, over whom the
ar'itocracies have long borne fuay. This he
ing afumed, they claim, in con(couence. to he
alone the supporters of religion, law, order and
property, and to denounce the republicans al
diiorganifers, ike the Jacobins of France. and
As teilow-labourers in dernohing thefe great
conitifuents OF focal welfare by all the means
mat envy, hatred and malice can fIggef.
Let US examine both the prctenion and the
remuneration little more particularly, than
remember TO have yet ieen done.
In old governments, where an uneouaI dif,,;-
button of property, privilege and power among
me rev is hereditary and inveterate, Il follows.
that the great remaining MATS of the peonle.
deprived OF thofe powerful means of Sininaion
and honorable action, mutt, according tn the
degree of that privation, fink into deersd,,;on
and ignorance. The holders of this mononolv
of property, privilege and power, in other
WORDS the Arlitocracy, are not, as individuals.
criminal, by holding thefe benefits. Thev have
etner deicended to them from their ancetors
or have been conferred on them by the princs
according TO the eftabif1ed and fund mem >,
laws OF the rate and the protectors, in LEGAL
fenie, have right to maintain them TO the ,,t.
mott lYet however innocent, nav, in the view
OF true PhIlotophy, however pitable be the
condpion OF the individuals who exerciCe aric-
,ocrat'c functions, the evil of the thing itfelf ia
NOT changed. Arfocracy is always ab,,(ve
1t rs to certain degree always oppref1ive. In
TIE many, who are fubieets of this ororeiIiys
abuie, the fenfe Of natural rights, founded nm
aonicIous capacities for equal diAin6ion and
enjoyment, IS never wholly extinguifhed. Their
depreciation Inipires them with envy mingled
' w;,h gar' ana their ignorance and oppreiion
WIN the germs of ferocious paHions.
In this fate Of things, when caufes ariC. ,b,,
place the force and feelings of the man, :,
fIay aganit the artificial rank and authorize of
ing Iew' tremendous ;Tbe is Joined.
Oh inc one hand, the hazard Of r;cbss r,,L
SuIeoT'ty and all the fdttering dftinaion tbcy
CONFER ON the Other, envy Of fplendid fnneri'
ors' satTed OF proud oppre flors, and the e,er
ey which a fuddcn ptclpea of Ljberty and al
vance!nent always impair 60 the people pro.
ouee IN the REFLECTIVE parties motives Of f,cb
HaEhUude and force, as ncceGar;ly en0ender
I"iloos on corresponding magnitude and vio-
80, YIN Az iheir dreadful consequences. A
pu'iu'. of th's i1lJett would very naturally ex.
p"," '.e tertue events Of MOT revolutions
particularly ofthe revolution in Erarcc 80,
""'ch we have head 70 MUCK inGdious cant