Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-10-06


rapidly over those great revolutions in go
vcrnment as well as in pubic IN ,nners. Inv
which our political complexion may be dis
tinsuished. Like a skiiful painter, we
would endeavor to introduce into the fore.
ground, those principal 6,ures that give a
name and character TO the piece and TIN ow
into the background those agents and G.
vents which, though OF subordinate kind.
are necessary to the effect of the whole nc
ture.
Inc fortunes and characters of nations
as well as OF individuals, are often deter.
mined by that peculiar direction win CHI ell
ther education or accident has given t.
their passions. We have Il proof of this in
the iorbearance OF every people under CD
preston, provided it be sanctioned by ii ne
and precedent: and even those goaded on
TO revolution, still retain strong attach
ment to many OF the customs and usages of
their former government. Hence, amoiti
GUS men IN making attempts on the liberties
OF any people, usually begin by protesting
aprotound reverence for re-existing names
and distinctions. Philosophers, may, there.
tore, continue to ridicule customs aud usa-
yes but have we not sufficient proofs OIL their
fatal effects on the rights of IN nkind /?
| 10 effect Change or government (says
"a celebrated author) is "A work sullicirnt
\ y A
| "out to overturn all the established n \,
"bits OF the head and heart, to destr,v ~,
te reverse the fixed associations. maxim,
"manners and principles of a civilized com
munity, may be ranked among the mos,
"extravaSant sends OF Greece and iom..n
hnu would not he VINO expected by his wri.
tugs, I'd produce unanimIty among the DIFF
ferent political parties of this country. en-
gage IN an undertaking equally rontn,ic !,
Irevions to the declaration of American
independence, prior institutions and est,b .
hsnments IN religion, policy and manners
n'u laAen place In TINS country. raesc
were derived iortuitously from those coun-
e'ies from which the greater part of tue
nation derive their Origin.
Vue constitution OF the English govern
upoh which noiel the colonial gov.
o,"nsnts were afterwards formed. there
existed distinctions of n,rties devoteI -
A'"SS, to MOBILES, or to priests, and ma
ny advocates OF their separate priyue-
ses with their persons translated to this
.,ounery, the prejudces and attach ment of
their respective parties.
houSh an English hierarchy or church :
lestaoiishment never prospered in this coun
| try; yet the prosecutions of other religious
denominations, gives Us sufficient evidence
| OF such an intention. Yet the d,ssentrrs of
NJ England, have had no reason To com
PLAN OF the bad treatment they experien-
ced elsewhere they justified at home and in
power, tine prosecutions wnIcn they suffer :.
ed. 30 true is 1T that the spirit of bIgotry,
when supported by the strong arm of law
Is every where the same: and though by tine
revolution IN this country, it has been suf.
fered to sink into state of imbecilitv
which is mistaken for a chlnge of charac
ter; yet this we must attribute to tia state
OF exhaustion, tor want OF proper aliineut.
not 20 any loss of the original principles of
! irs nature.
Or these different sects of the christian
religion (for the Constitutions of some states
as yet tolerate no other. and many of these
too IN restricted fIrnt} some in the for :
NATION OF their rei;g Gus Ceremonies and
lcREDENDA, or articles of belief, are more
or less attached to repu)l C IN govern men
as the originti govern nent in which their
sect originated, happened To be more or
| TESS asSinillte TO that model. Those who
know any thing OF the times and countries
IN which different religious sscts first sprung
up wili understand me- when assert, that
all religions IN their eccl .siastical discI.
pine, nave been assinilatei II the genus
| ol the people aud govern nents in which
they were at first established.
| ne catholic religion becoming the reli
gion OF the state, under the monarchical and
arlstocratical governments of the feui 4
times, partook OF the nature of those gov
Iernnents. Inc Luth ran or Protestant re
lligion, introduced in similar situation, its
hierarchy was established on a similar mo.
del. Fhe religion of John Chauyin or Cal
WIN, hrst propaglted in Geneva, assumed
an external form. similar to the republican
form OF the existing government. These
exist more or less throughout the u 5. and
though the followers OF any possess no ex.
elusive privileges; yetitis foolish to assert
that the original formation of their doctrines
and the received usages of their churc !.
have no influence on political Old nj
ons.
fhere IS another Cause of the diversity
OF opinion that exists in this country, which
IS entirely attributable to us rs the descen.
dants OF those nations who compose the Bri
fish empire.
The Identity Of language, combined with
original prelnlices. had for long time the
most powerful influence on the conduct oil
the people of this country previous TO the
4 American revolution. Before that period.
e.. Britain was looked upon with a SORT OF
hallowed reverence. The tales of the nur
sery we're found Ia the mouths OF oar mos