The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-08-05
pisseIIanp.
ENGLISH TON.

ENGLISH TON.
Some of the plain planters of Virginia will
think that we have copied the following def
cription from the Romance of the Arabian En-
tertainments or from fome other high-wrought
effufion of the fancy. We mutt therefore allure
them that il is borrowed from London print
and is faid in tooth to be ferrous sepre,tnfaf;-
onof a grand gala exhibited by the wife Of an
Enghfh Banker. Thank God then they mutt
exclaim, that we have no fuch rich bankers
wives among us, to ding fich outrages in the
face of our virtuous impicity-! But
Let us not repofe ourfelves in deceitful fecu-
rity. An error on this fubjeet may prove the
very bane and death Of our liberties. Why are
not fuch loathfome fcenes exhibited in oevn
country Ones of the northern editorshasafcrib-
edit to OUR re publican form of vernme mt. AC-
corting TO his account, "tbey are the peculiar
attributes of the fyaem purified under the cor
rupt governments of Europe" But let us not
,uii ourfeltes 70 death by fiioh flattering deuf-
ons. Let us boat az much as we p'eafe Of the
fublime advantages of our republic; let us fwear
TO perrin or to preferve it; but let us not, by
truleing too much to it's projections, neglect to
= cultivate the Other means OF our falvation.
There are fome ftatefmen among us who hatter
kheir pride and their Incidence by the ridiculous
heiief, that our government can do eTery thing.
zsu. the beenlidr advantage Of republic is, that
III encroaohes in the fewef poffible points upon
pri1,nt. Judgment, and permits eTery man
10 Eek bis ozvn bappiseG in bis osUn Scay. Upon
the due employment therefore or the leiture,
the genius, and the wealth Of individuOiS, we
mutt depe,d for all that is hmple, all that is
great in morality, and for every thing, without
which our luxurious government itieif n'sp fn&
;ufo ,,,;ns. II was arlid& the faint glimmsrings
Of .hic immortal maxim, that Montefquicu de-
clsrcd, that "virtue was the BATS OF repub-
lic.'
That fIch a government as our own rs not 10
nutritive to luxury as the corrupt monarchIes
of Europe, is almot too evident to require IL
iuitration. It is without monopohes of titled
wealth, laws of prmogeniture, or laws or en-
tail; and every individual is equally priviieg-
ed to accumulate property and to deitroy 1t.
The halories OF Its officers are not 10 extrava-
santly profule as to pamper the IuIr oI luxury
though if is objectionable petition, whether the
'falary Of $4,000 dollars is not too enormous an
income for the PRECEDENT Of a plain republic. A
third benefit which flows from its eftabli!h-
Inent is, that by rendering merit and talents the
neceffary palports to otEce, it ftrongly ferves to
countera6t the avarice for wealth and the
prcfufion of luxury. But what do all thefe adj
vantages prove? That a republic is not quite
harchy; but not that fplendour, luxury and
CORFU tion cannot aouriIh there in the NOT me-
lancholy extent.
lis an eternal trxtb, s5at no government
ran eS,er delqroy tie huxu,y ef a sDHhinS people.
IF this maxim does not flow from the very ma
ture of man, it is proven by the hittory or
every fumptuary law, that has ever been at
tempted to be enforced. The Agrarian law of
Rome is Of tfelf an eternal monument OF its
trufh.-But if luxury cannot be arrcited, even
when poEtiuc aSvs are leyelled againft it, is 1t
not ridiculous to expect it to PERTH amidit the
Hence of the laws 4 The goyernnenf of re-
public has no magic charm againft its eucroach.
ments Let thofe who think 70, ponder upon
the fate of Rome. Were the fuppers of Lucul-
lus,l coftly than the /oAfpierJ of Mrs. Hope
finder every fpecies of focety, the means of
accumulation mutt vary to different individuals,
&they muA vary in the mott cxtravagant proper
tons. But if wealth be once accumulated, what
hall proven, It's nciug diifiI,ated III an
inducements? Not the virtues of pablo, fub-
lime though they are admitted to be; but the
virtues and wifdom of the people. Upo-
thefe and upon the expedients proper to Gre
ate them upon education, upon the prefs, up
on the general diGufion of literary excirements,
our irnlef protection againf luxury aud def
potii1n mutt be repofed. 1t is an eternal truth,
that againft tie uriPoeraey Of HsAzTH no othsr
antidote exits than the arjGOeraey of MIND
Enqwrer.S
National InfeAigeneer.