Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-08-06
AN GRAFTON

ceavs,,ea fo- tAe hRr7sose Of celebrating
fhs .4nniuersa-y Of IudefeHIenee.
(Cohcsuded.1
1t is the art OF printing which alone has
produced this changes, has transferred the
theatre of republican government from
cities to continents, has extended its IL
mits and insured its permanence. II Is
this which carries the light of reason and
the means Of information not snly into
the cottage of The rustic husbaDdman, ba,
into the cabbin Of the roviag hunter OF
aur frontier wilderness, a being, who but
for the advantages which he derives from
abe art Of printing, would be on level
with The savage Scythian OF antiquity.
BY means Of The press, the transactions
of government, and even the debates OF
the legislative body, are Instantly waited
TO the remo,ess limits of the continent,
and the most distant member OF the CON-
1nunity may be considered az witness OF
the conduit Of his representatives.
Alter taking this favorable view of our
political situation, and looking forward 10
a long period of exemption from the evils
of despo,ism, it seems natural ts enquire
what is the nature Of the freedom of
which we boast! And in what respect is
il conducive To human happiness Here
L am free TO declare my opinion, that
from contrast with the miserics oil ser
vitude which are so often presented to the
liberty, more than its meritrd share al
panegyric, and given it too exalted q sta
ton among the nsccesary constiiuenis OF
human happiness. Liberty is nothing
more than ihet sta,c of existence whsre
the action comedies with the will. In
order that even voluntary acton should
promote the happiness OF the agent, it is
essential that the will should be under the
control of virtuous dispositions and di
reeted by the lights Of Knowledge. So
far as men pursue virtue and avoid its
contrary, so far will freedom be condu-
Give to their welfare, but in other res
p-Sts it implies only the absence Of a Ger.
tain description of evils, and i. perfectly
compatible with others equally hostile to
human happiness.
II is with sorrow and regret, that the
friend of humanity, looks in vain for that
rapid progress in The ameliorRtion Of our
social condition, that improvement of our
moral and intellectual faculties which phi.
lcn.hrophy had fondly anticipated, and
behold in our national character, our
manncrs and our ,ows, either the vestiges
of our ancient subjcction or the symptoms
OF culpat!s supineness. But this only
proves that the changes OF habi. cannot
always be commensurate with those Of
opinion, and The progres, OF reason hav.
ing in this country, no insurmountable
obstacles to contend with; the improves
ment of our social condition may BE cal
culatrd OH ss certain, although slower
than is consistent With the expectations
OF the sanguine.
will briefly state such Of the errors
and abuses. prevalent amongst US, as
seem to have the first claim OH the a,ten-
ton, and to call most loudly for remedy
and redress. Among these l consider
our absurd retention in the present en-.
lightened age, Of The ancient system Of
English Jurisprudence. This system
formed during the darkness of the mid.
die ages, in society composed Of fana.
teal priests, military barbarians aud alb.
jsct slaves, presents the most incongFu-
GUS mass of ignorance, cruelty < artifici
bbbhIys WIZ WIZ 0aS GosSDNoHCu
regulating the private concerns. or held
up tn the respect and admiration Of any
civilized society. 1t il true that legisla.
Tive innovation and judicial ingenuity
have in some MEASURE sofiened its rigors
and accommodated it's principles TO the
purposes OF substantial justice but the
remedy will never b. complsat until il is
entirely by we'll digested methodical
code ofiaws, founded on the principles of
natural justice and accommodated to the
complicated relations of civilized society.
What a spectacle does it present to see
lnigsnt obliged to pursue justice lhro'
such laby rinth of UnmeanlBg forms and
then to end her buried under such mass
Of rubbish.
The necessity Of reform in forensic
litigation, appears the more important,
~hen it is considered, that the court
houses in this country are the places Of
most frequent popular resort, and the
sceae, Of fraud and chicanery which are
there Displayed, are but lily calculated TO
improve the morals Of the people or 10
INSPIRE them with respect for the institu-
tons Of their country.
The coDduet pursued in our elections
also, by no means corresponds with the