The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-09-26

uouot IN every confederate and humane mind,
about plunging into. the forms of revolution, in
tearch OF remedies for opprefIion, in any coun-
try, where the evils of Ariftocracy were con-
fantly qualifying, by the proerefs of the licences
and arts that better the condition of human
life.
But what resemblance is to be found, between
the old Monarchies and Ariaocraces of Europe.
and the ingredients that enter into the ftruc
ture of fociety in the u States We were CO.
onies of England. We were nurtured, pro-
tected, and then fqueezed in exact conformity
to her interefs. The pride of the parent GO
vernment would not condefcend to impart to
obicure coloniRs, the dgnities and privileges
OF her own orders in Church or State. The
pride andtuxury of her Nobility and great Ceu-
try. withheld them from emigration to the CO.
lones. Her rich men, who might afpire to adj i.
milton into thefe orders, were as little difpof.
ed to traverfe the ocean and encounter the viii
dernets thefe painful fteps were left for adj
venturous need and difquieted religion. The
adventurous left behind them not only the no.
BILE but the ,ignobIe diftinelions and tenures of
their native country. The American foil was
eat'ly and cheaply acquired by every one, and
whether fortune placed more or lefs in the hands
OF landholder, the tenure and dominion of all
were the tame (; and the rights of civil equali-
ty were built upon the firm BATS of the foil.
thete were never choien among the great cha
raeters of the court, and fometimes among its
ottal we had royal Councillors, on whom were
conferred fome official privileges: but they
feldom or never obtained their feats through a.
ny immediate notice or favour of the Crown &
OF the Great, but through the mediation of CO.
lonY-aeents or colony-merchants The few of
tices ofgreater truf and profit, when conferred
on native. were generally charged with an
Engi'h Rider, and fometimes not from the mott
respectable cla's OF court jockies, as was well
| known in. this colony.
In this tate of things, we are overtaken bv
the Revolution. The infant we were fevered
from England, the feeble traces of Araocracy
were obliterated and the frmeft materials for
popular inititutions, were abundantIy blended
IN the intimate ftru6ture of our fociety. The
iribe OF Tories were rather plaguelorle than
formidable, and were too inignhcant to fur
ni'h thoie motives, which in the civil brols of
Europe, have. exaiperated the paflions into
mercileis rancour and fury. The fmall eleva.
tion OF few families, which property and of
nee mad IN time produced, was foon brought to
level, by the rife in the general character
which that great event effected. Spirit, Talent.
add Enterprise were called for, and they fDruug
from every quarter of the community. Num-
serlefs men attained 70 the highsit military and
civil fatlons, and many of them now hold fuch
itations, who, but for the Revolution, would
have fingered out their lives, as their fathers
had done, in the mott inglorious obfrurity.
Yet Orange to tell, many of thefe men have
spurned the hand that rafed them from the
earth, and nurfed them into importance. Al
though faplings Of the year, they have duped
themieve' into a belief, they have acquired the
NE and flrmnefs of the oak, that can fuftain the
lofty roof of Ariitocracy
The views and motives of hcb man mich. La
dIimitied with r'dicule, were they not preg-
nant with much greater mitchell. II NAV be
venai to laugh at them; it would be uniuft to
periccute them; but eternally expedient to bolt
them from power in every exercife of our Elec-
toral winnowing fans.