The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-06-13

ties which he there exercifed, he was called
hy ms native tate to perform Others not lcfs
interetting and necelfary. Our countrvmen
were then attempting a new and hitherto un-
tried experiment, of vat Importance and of
doubtful fucCefs no lefs than the political re-
generation of a great nation, the total dearuc-
ton OF monarchcal fyfem, and the eftabliih-
ment of republic in it's ftead; every thing
then depended on infuling into our laws that
republican fplrit which animated the people,
and by the prefervatpn of which alone, their
liberty could he preferved aud pcrpetuated. 1t
became therefore neccffary to new.model our
laws, and lay the foundations of the temple of
freedom firmly in the wifdom and juftice OF our
inltitutions The perfons appointed, to execute
TINS great work, and ny whom it was aeeo nbrR-
ed were Thomas Jefferfon, Edmund Pendle.
ton and George Wytbe who, tho mentioned
iait, might with propricty be conidered as the
chief; FOR, great and exalted as is the merit of
Mr. Jetferfon, it mua be confeiied that he is in
great meafure indebted for it to George
Wythe, his preceptor and his friend. Between
thoie two extraordinary men the warmeit
friendihip has ever exiited, and the prelideut
or the United States has always been proud to
acknowledge hmfelf the pupil of the wife and
modef Wythc. BY refoution of the Virri-
mia Atlemby, dated the 5th of November 1776,
the three gentlemen, have mentioned, were ap-
pointed rev'fors of the laws, with power
TO .propoie fuch alterations as in their Judge
ment ihould be deemed necehary A truf of
prodig'ous importance, on which the future
dettiny OF Virginia depended And in what
manner was it discharged In a manner more
glorious and more ufefu to the human race
than the works of any other legislators, an
c'ent or modern. On the 18th of Iure
1779. the committee of revifors made their
report, memorable monument of indefat-
igable induitry and attention, AS well as of wifi.
dom, virtue and patriotifn. In reviewing the
labours of that committee, we find tina, they
were the authors of the a6t directing the cour(e
of defcents, by whichthe odious and UNEQUAL
doctrine of the right Of primogenture was abo
liihed, and an equal diltribution of the landed
property of perfons dying intefatc is made A.
mong their children, other neareft relations ::
All act which, by Introducing and fupportinp
equality OF property to certain degree among
the citizens Of this commonwealth, has pro-
duced, and will continue 90 produe more inn
portant and permanent effect in favour of free
dom and republication, than any other caufe
whatioever. The fame committee promoted
the act for regulating conveyances, by which
all eltates in tail were converted into fees finpe
and one of the mott detefabe contryances of
ari!tocracy to keep up inequality, and fnpport
proud and overbearing diftinctions of particular
families, was completely defeated. They alto
produced the defervedly celebrated act for the
ettlbliihmcnt of religious freedom, which truH
hasre'eaied the people of Virginia from the
danger of being ever fuhieeted to eccleGafficaI
tyranny, perhaps the wort of all. Asaproof.
however, that the propofaI of that act did NOT
arie from delire to fiIbyert religion, but. nm
the contrary, to maintain i. in purity & peace.
they az the fame time propofed another, en-
titled IN act to punifh dftuybers of religious
wor'hip and flhbath breakers Such were the
mott precious fruits of the appointment OF
that truly republican and patriotic committee
OtherimPorta ut actsmight alfo be mentioned.
for, in fats, the whole OF our militia FIFTEEN as
6rit organized, the original arrangement and
mode OF proceeding in our courts of common
law and Chanccry, were all the worl, of that
committee, were all luxurious examples of their
'ndntry and Legislative Kill; in which if Eome
detects have IN the courf- of experience been
Uncovered, they are only proofs that no human
performance Can be perfect. Yet the commit.
tee OF revitors are not only entitled to Draif,
for the laws, of which thew were Instrumental in
obtaining the eitaDi'hment, but for G.veral
which they propofcd without fIccefs. Amony
thoir may he found bill for the more general
iIfuhon of knowledge, which, if the public
tpirlt of the general ailembly had been equal 70
children of the pooref citizen in the communi.
ty to fand an equal chance of acquiring fc,-
ence, honour, and promotion, with thore of the
mott wealthy. Animated by motives of the
fame enlightened nature, they propofed bill
for efabfhing public library another for
amending the contribution of VIM. and Mary
College, and providing more adequate revenues
for its !upport; and furnifhed hint. which
gave birth TO our prefent penitentiary fvlfem.
nv bill for proportioning crimes and puniC,.
ments in cafes heretofore capital, and bill
for the employment, government and rlDoort.
OF indicators condemned to labour for the
commonwealth.
We next find this excellent citizen in the i'm
portant Office of one of the three Judges of the
high court of chancery, and afterwards, foIe
chancellor of the fate of Virginia. His extra
ordinary patriotifn and diinteretednefs was
here mott completely difplayed. He ferved in
that mott troubefope and laborous office of
all IN the gift OF the commonwealth of Virginia,
and perhaps of the United States, for MANY
years with the fmlll faary of 500, and, at lait,
with fIlary fomewfat larger but ftiil very in
adequate. With that fcanty fupplv from his
country, he lived in this expenfive city, fecud-
ed from al other buinefs bat that of the pub.
lie, to which he devoted all his time, unlcfs
when prevented by icknefs; and in that off he
continued till the day of his death, becanIs he
believed himfelf better qualified to ferve his coun
tryin thattaton thanina any other ;when, ifhehad
been diipcfsd to feek for Offices, he might have
eilily obtained others far more eafy and lucra-
tive. Notwithstanding, however, the toiIGome
duties Of that Office. HE r,atriot;Cr, s,,s. a.;