Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-03-17

where the rule OF vice and weakness pre-
walls, it will vegetate with rank and hane-
ful luXuriance....In despotic governments,
weak prince will always be governed by
courtierS, parasites, pimps and huffoons,
who stud. his ioibles and catcrfor his vices.
The voice ofwholcsome admoniton is never
suffered to approach him, or is rejected
with disdain misrule provokes, and weak
ness invites rebellion or conspiracy, and
some successful usurper assumes the scep-
tire. The repetition of such events, in a
greater or less degree, fill up the monoto-
nous history ofdespotic governments. They
excite no emotions of sympathy, whether
ct sorrow or ct JOY. because they are neither
the causes nor the indications of a change
in the happiness and destiny of mankind.
But when similar circumstances, and a Sc
ries OF causes, strictly parallel, announce
the death of liberty, the rise of despotism,
and the melancholy truth that a people is
unfit for freedom and self-government, the
mind which does not experience sensations
of deep md agonizing sorrow, must be dead
to every generous and noble feeling.
The same vices and defects which in
despotic governments. produce a change of
dynaSties, transform republics into desDot-
isms. In civilized societies, superiority of
mental endowments Is the only ground of
personal prc-eminencc, when not counter
acted by institution. The reign of physi
cal force ceases with the commencement
of civilization, and the empire of the mind
keeps pace with the progress of refinement.
1t follows, that AS the people must ALWAYS
possess the physical force of country, it
can never he in the power OF an individual
to enslave them, except by the ascendancv
OF mental talent, courage and address, over
ignorance, weakness and credulity. What
CNurtiers are to monarchs, such are dcma-
gogues to the people; in both cases the So
vereign is hattered and deiuded into false
security and SupineneSs, until the peoDle
are robbed of their liberty or the monarch
hurled from his throne. An ignorant Dub-
Tic will neither estimate measures by their
utility, nor men by any just standard OF me-
rit: the theatre OF political life will be a.
bandoned to demagogues and traitors the
true patriot will be excluded from Office bv
the very qualities which entitle him TO it
the road to popular favor will lie through
the foulest avenues of intrigue, hattcrv and
venality. Is the existence of such a state
of things to be expected to continue Is its
continuance even to be wished?
The ancient republics owed their down.
fall not only TO the defective state OF politi-
cal science, but TO the corruption of man
ners produced by the influx of wealth and
luxury into the cities and republican CO.
vernmcnt at that time was confined to ci-
ties. From this latter source of degencra-
cy, the American people may fairly calcu-
iale on an exemption, since the art OF print
ing has extended the sphere OF democratic
rule, and difused it over a surface incom-
patible with the existence of idleness and
luxury. But the press, which ought to be
considered as the sacred palladium ofliber-
ty, the pure, unadulterated vehicle of truth
aud useful instruction, among an unenlight-
ened people, will be rendered subservient
to the qualification of deDraved, vitiated
appetite for defamation and scurrilitv. The
same absence of interesting and elevated
thought, which III private society, renders
SANDER an interesting subject of conversa-
ton, transfuses itself into the press, and
some merccnary hireiing becomes the dis
honorable pander TO the most degrading of
human propensitieS. The United States
have already Witnessed n great pcrversion
of the press; it only requires to be more ge-
neral, to sap the foundations of popular 20
vernment, and consign it to meritetl destruc
ton. A scurrilous press is as certain a cri-
terion of a depraved and brutal taste, as
is the existence of brothel, of iicentious
morals. Both must have customers or they
NOulNl liOl GAlSl.
1t is customary with the seekers of popu-
larity, to endeavor to ingratiate themselves,
by false and fulsome compliments on the in
tclligence of the people. Measures of a
dangerous and anti-republiCan tendency,
have been defended upon the ground OF
their having received the appreciation of
all the UzTtUous and eHfghtcned ,heohke ;
when in fact, the virtuous and enlightened
people never bestowed a thought or a care
about them. Such language can answer no
other purpose than 70 induce unfounded va
nifty, apathy and supineness. The people
seldom Judge Of measures by a calculation
Of remote consequences, and are ONLY rous-
ed to a scrutiny of the conduct Of govern
ment, by direct and palpable appeal to
their mcrcenary feelings. Although I am
disposed to allow my countrymen all due
credit for the qualities which they really
possess; for their prompt and principled
submission to the laws, the alacrity which
I they have displayed i'm their support, and
/ for their readiness to resist encroachmcni
on their rights, wherever it has been seen
or felt; yet the truth is too important to be
! concealed, that we are more indebted for
/ our civil liberty, TO accidental, local and
! temporary CirCu instances, than to any mo-
/ raj superiority which we possess. The SIM
| plicity Of occupation, which is almost en-.
tlrcly agricultural, and the dispersed po-
| pulation Of the country produces q sim.
! plicity Of manners, favorable TO the sue.