Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-09-05
ADDRESS TO THE SJBSC &I5:aS OF
rar VIHGlNIA ARGU5.

happiness the one il the means, tn
other is the object of his laoors. Pro.
violence in this as well ai IN most
things essentialto his well-being, has
made his reason act only in subservi-
eucy to his inclination. Hence, curio-
sity, through life, Is most ungov-
ernable propensity ola generous mind:
And the most speedy anil obvious
mode Of its qualification is the publica-
ton ofnewspapers.
As longer prod Lotions require more
time in their composition 50 they al
so require closer attention on the par;
ofthe reader in their perusal. To this
the listlessness and Incidence Of the
mass of m ankinl, prevent them from
sub hitting. .fhe recital, therefore, of
foreign and domestic Incidents in news
papers, from the novelty which they
furnish, have been foun'l the mosC APP
propriate kiud of instrl;tioa for such
persons.
Til. sudden revolutions Of empires,
and the phenomen, Of nature, of which
those infor n US, w list thew afford a.
muse nent to the igination, are A.
ted also to exercise the understand
ing.
The facility thus afforded to the 'ner-
chant and farmer in the public alton of
sales; to the housc-kesp=r in IN. re-
covery of lost moveaoles TO all dis
criptions of persons in supplying their
wants or ninisterius to their gratihca-
tons, are advantages we'll kuo IN 70 the
inhabitants of this country. But it /.
In, the science of government, that
newspapers are attended with great and
lasting benefits to people.
Government, like every other de-
partment, of human knowledge, Isl pro-
gressive. Courtiers the nsclves, now a
days, laugh at the divine right of
kings, and derivative excellence of
iblooi. PRINCIPLES which two hundred
years ago would have consisaed their
authors to the aanes, aad their aoe,-
tors to d ,ngeo9, ARE now avowed and
practise1 in the courts of Princes.
Despots themselves have leacned that
in proportion as people become en-
Eghtened, they M ist relax something
of their expressions. AMI that If so me
governments, either through ignorance
or through obstiaacv, have sighted
the demands of peopl. for redress Of
wrongs and emancipation from oppres-
sion; that the volcano OF pop ular re-
volution has fatally taught them, that
there was time when, by Welding,
they might have averted that accuna-
laion of popular fury by which they
were finally overwhelmed.
But in this country, wh re repubi-
canism has not been strangled il the
commissions of its birth the people
have been lightened of load of for
mer errors. Religious prejudice have
either entirely disappeared or assum-
ed milder aspect freedo n of opini-
on has been secIred a discrini iati IN
has taken place in.thc specific guilt Of
crimes, & conmensurate punishm; is
have been established the gh.s o.
nations continue to be di Gu ,seI and
to be developed : so that upon the
whole, so great has been our improve
mems II every principl9 of govern.
ment, arising fro a discussion anl COM
mlnlcation OF OBI ,ipn through the me-
diam o! the press tlit we're the per-
sons now living WI, first published
codes on those subjects, they woul
scarcely recogaize tn few truths they
themselves fouid out, ami l,t the mul-
titule of subsequent discoveries.
Fron the nu obsr Of political publ
cations which, in thi, n11ser, daily i.
sac from tn. press; though each
should contti but snail p)r.ion o
poll ical knowledge; yet fro n tn va
rIous forms il which 4 subject Is pre-
sencd TO pub &c view from the differ
ent modes OF It's i1lstraion by differ
ent writers; AID fl tie null itud
of answers and replies which follow, i
is scarcely possible that the rotten pare
of an ar5unens should noe be foun,
out, and tn souri parts established
! But the Influence of the press is no
aloae consiI -rable il pointing ont ex
isti1g defects, or in pr5posin neq
tforns OF government but also for