The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-12-23


sEycre ftraDger OF enlightened mind, unac
uoainted with our local inaitu,ons, TO Witt
Virginia, no circumstance would more imme-
h;ateIy and powerfully excite his allonifhment
than the general neglect of the means of diffu-
Eng information. The inattention of patriots
Ind parents to the education of youth, would
'ftrike him as phenomenon peculiarly inexpli-
cable and inaufpicious. In rejecting or con-
verfing on this momentous fabjett, ideas of this
Tort nay be naturally conceived to ruin upon
his mind and BURT from his lips.
l."Haye you adopted form of government
and organized fyffem of political intitutions,
that devolve upon comfortable majority of
the people, the exercife of rights and the per-
Torrance of duties, the judicious exerciie and
faithful performance of which obvioaHy pre-
fappofe an extenfive diffufion of knowledge,
and have you neglected the ufe of the only
means by which knowledge can be effectualiy
communicated, or generally difufcd?
2. Have you a'alifhed or impaired the arti-
hcial faueions, and broke the letters of that
complicated liberalization, by which under ar
-bitrary and oligsrchical governments, maori-
ty of the Inhabitants are compelled to acquire
and exert habits of induary, frugality. fobriety
and decorum, and have yon failed to e1ablifh
inftitutions, by which, either the ri(iug genera
ton or the adult may obtain that portion of
knowledge, which is neceffary to prevent the
general, the licentious, and the ruinous abufe
of the ineftimable blei1ings you enjoy?
8. The grand object of wifely organized
and well administered government is to fecure
to the greateft pofIible number of individuals,
over the Target extent of territory, and for the
ETsatsiht length of tiuie, ample portion or IL
berty, property and leifare. This Object has
been accomplished, but you frem to have for
gotten that the pofIefiion of liberty, property
and eifure, are relative and inarpmenta, not
abfolute and cardinal blei1ings. tUJnlefs iBfor-
nation is DILUTED in proportion to the degree
i which liberty is extended, it nun degenerate
into licentioufnefs; property in the hands of
per'ons whole minds are unenlightened will be
boarded in the capacious Golfers of avarice
fcattered with blind and baneful prodgality,
or furnifh excitement and qualification to fem
fuality, vanity and pride, to every frivolous and
vicious propenfity Of depraved appetites and an
abject mind: Even leifure, which contributes
the genuine opuence of civilized man, unIefs
accompanied by that capacity for ufeful pur-
fuits which the cultivation OF intellect only can
befow, will lethargife & patty every active ia.
Guilty, become an intollcrabIe burthen and caufe
time, +" like foul and ugly witch, to limp mott
tedouily along"
4. BY dii1olving irrevcr6by the impious uni
or church and Rate, and aboliiSing every fort
of eccleiiaftica etahliih ment, you have rent the
MAX and broke the felters of facerdotal inn
pofure and oppreflinn. Liberty of confidence
and religious liberation, are declared involable
But you have neglected by the general eftab-
iihment of philosophical fchooIs, to apply the
only eHeGtual antidote TO the revival and preva-
ience of pelent and antifocia] fuperRitions,
and by roofing in the minds Of the rilIne gene
ration correct opinions refpeding the fcurces
and !aneiois ofpratticai me raiity. which mig bit
operate as whoefome and necciIary fubftitmte
for thofe reftraints npon the iniirmilies of hu-
man nature, which eccleiiaificdl authority for
merly impofed.
5.You have efabIilhed the freedom Of the
prefs, but you feen TO have forgotten that a,
free prefs, although in fociety where adequate
means are employed TO enable the rifng gene
ration TO Obtain elementary knowledge, Ike ihe
fun eniphered in transparent &ihrr, it darts in
every direction, its genial & renovaling beams,
nun in focietY where the education of youth
is neglected., aud where by neceIary confe-
quence Comfortable number of adults are
grofsly ignorant, become irs-brand Of faction
and di1euiion, an engine the NOT formidable
that can he imagined, for the ,purpofcs of i'm.
pohure and INTERPRETATION.
s. What ayails the freedom of publication
ard the unrenraned accefs to books of every
deforipticn, if the rate OF the public mind is
iuch as to tolerate nay require the couftant
cfrculations offrivolous and vicious productions
and II individuals have not acquired through
the medium of liberal education, difcernment
20 felett, capacity to underfand, or tafte to
enjoy, works calculated 10 enlarge their nm
derfanding and corree their errors? The ge-
NAL funliine and retreliing dews, that ferrizc
The foil adapted to iubibe their Pituitary influ-
ence, are flied in vain, on the fandy defert, the
impeaetrabIe precipice and the ftormy wave.
tlnleis The minds of youth be ftorcd with gene
raj Information aud exercilel by miscellaneous
enquiries, the truths depofted in the volumes
of Silence, will lleep "Ike the unfunned FLYER
of The mine" ans even the flowers that bloom
~ the parable Of literature, " will waite their
fveetnefs in the defart air."
Z. You have relaxed Che barbarous rigour OF
penal law, and adopted code, mild, equitable
aud humane. in which tile ieverity of punifh-
ment is graduated according 70 the degree Of
Cfimina,itY and guilt; but tnlef5 the citizens
during youth are initiated in the know ledge and
injured to the praeiice Of moraI principles,
will not this very circumGaucc combine with
other cs,fes to multiply the preparation
of critrss aud ultimately introduce that in
frcurity Of right aud t7oiuienefs of mo-
rails, of which The iubvsffon Of republican go
veIcn'egt muR be The recefary confequence?
g: bay aot the crHieating number, .Gze and
lnSnry ~ ycur towns aud the evils inevitably
incider; to population continually becoming
more crnwoc'' ard cordenled, be naturally eX-
ptcita, (un''fs The only adequate and practica-