The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-12-28
TO aHr 1nlroa OF rHa Isertsxs.

D.
Sur.
Is IL not time that Virginia shall step forth
and emulate her SISTER states IN ohlents Qf i'm
.prcve.neht aud great n.tion2 Importance Ssa(i
narrow rTriuSiTres aud lecsl considerations pre-
Vent greM and respectable state from pursuing
course which round policy and patriotism, and
interest itself SO plainly point cut and prescribe J
Virginia heretofore foremos. in paiTiotIsm, and
distinguished foe her zeal in promoting, lie poll
teal rights of the people of Amercs, SIS to sink
INTO n fatal iethargy upon subjects which relste
to her own domestic economy and policy, or TO
Rise Superior 10 the contracted views and petty
interests Of some of her slindedis ciiz sns Some
attempts, it is understood, have. berescf5re been
made to introduce a law imposing ajax on dogs,
which have always fsisd from the mistaken OPT,
mons IS some of the members of the Assembly,
ana -asiss i WIS supposed to interfere with the
: pleasures Of others. mean The pleasures. of the
chase fit IS sn object unworthy the Legislature
Ms IT relates to revenue, surely il it could be be-
heyed that such a law would tend.to promote the
permanent interests and indeD Sndence OF our
state, an Independence upon forsisS powers, we
shouia nettoSa msmen' h.sitqte y 1t appears TO
me, thsuih the present state of Our country, it
behoves us to sxtend every encouragement 20 the
improvement and raising OF sheep. 1t canpot it
would seem, be doubted by any Intelligent, re-
hecung man, that whilst we have such a Number
OF dogs whoss mischief Can in no way he res
trained but by thy interference of the Legislature,
that. the end proposed is inPrsctiosbie withou,
their aid. When 1t 10 consiJer-d that night is the
time for The depredatioas of these animals, that
they are extremely sly and diff slt to detect .S,,
that when detected, It is sc late to prevent The
Creates injuries, since whole Aoosa viii previ-
onsly have fallen before them, 1t must be evident
that dininution o. their mum bers is essential to
destroy the evil that such tiimination would
take place IN tbs evsnl u such a law, can be g,
little houbted. eThe interest of the slaye hoII s,
writ be imniediotcly promoted, and al descyip.
IONS OF society wlll alhmately he hcns6ttsd, even
the ioShunter himself not Scep,ed. Hpw des
btute ct patriotism must u,N nsn be- what :
slave to pleasure or to avarice, who, rather thar
pay lew dollars TO go into the trsasuSya of ais
own country, would be willing to sacrifice The in
terest ana portion Of the inSependsfce of tn A
Country IN justice, however, TO fox.hunttrs. 4
must be remarked, that there are Soma of The soos
independent AMONG them, who would snnra,e NJ
such law, and who think that a man wbn c,,
afford to keep pack 81 hounds, may afford 70
pay tax on them, when the interest of the p,,b
hc requires such sacrifice. II is true. that ma.
nyoi these gentlemen Of fortune are so ancus.
toned to the nnsry of foreign manufactures that
they would be ashamed to appear in the tesn.s.
nc sarb OF their own country How different
were the sentiments ofo,T forefatilers who cho,e
rather to subject themselves TO every nrivat;on
to forego the luxuries to which they and their
famiies were accustomed; to brave the dsnserp
OF the tented field, and to leave the traces eff i've
blood which icklod from their naked frrt tbar
to give up particle OF that independence so dear
to their hearts But alas we are encrv,tad .v
luxury, we are corrupted by oiIr habits and ,h,,
men o. the present day are interior in COURAGE
and torutude and hardihsod, to the women of
those times. This remark is to be confined "a
those who have been raised in that mxury and
ease and efiemilacy, so inconsistent with that
hardy life to which the soldier is isured. and
which makes us feel so sensiby our de5enSence
on foreign powers. The patriotic Mr. wings
ton, whose name viii be mentioned with honor
by tbs fixture historian Of cur country. has en-
deavored, by PLAIN statement of facts 60 MOVE
TO our sister states OF the east that even as m ar
ticie OF commerce, the profits of thsir wool NAV
De made equal 20 the imIuense profits derived
from the cottens of tbs south Is there sn,
thing ln the climate er the sod Of Virginia, which
WOULD prevent US from serving equal adyantases
from this prolific source Of wealth! Ii il. he
fesred that there is something 10 be found in our
sacrihce OF solid advantages 10 pleasure, in our,
lnvs et The rasesnt1y of foreign countries rather
than pam hcInesPun, which has acquired an g
cendancy over our enervated minds 1 h.ye
seen some time past IN some Of our NEWSPAPERS.
apFoposition fvoIa our sister state, MARYLAND. TO
exempt sheep rom the payneat Of debts, in or
der 10 encourage domestic manufactures Ifthis
suoject should be taken into consideration bv
our Assembly, they in their wisdom will decide
how tar tbs latter measure nav come ia aid of
this former, or whether the latter alone 10 s,f6.
Gent. am not SO attached to NV own oninious
but that should be ready to adopt those of O.
thers, who wished to attain the same great end
IL am aware that the latter measure yp,v eyg.
cite the Indignation of merchants, &c sartic,,
larry British merchants, who would raise CRY
against any thing American, especfang, that
which should encourage our manuiactures-
But we have the happiness to live in a country of
freemens Whose primary interest is In The soil
and whose Legislators represent the holders of
that sol. Whatever their interest and their
will reqBire, 1t is their solemn duty, If in their
powerto accomplish and that will, expressed
throguh is proper organ, becomes the law of
the land There are number of citizens who
would procure merino sheep, and others of an
improved kind. if there was not SO ereat a pro
liability Of losing them. 1t is even believed that
some have adventdred, ano have lost the value
OF their purchase in lees than week by the "a
pacity of dE,s. We only want little encou
cement to induce us to besto W our attention on
this most valuable stock And after an. II *
thought a tax OF dogs, would be more tAsctusl
than any other means ttiat car hs devised
to accomplish the proposed end 1t viii Dc Al
tackled by the VIKINGS OF tne day, with AL RE
asqeIity OF nd t,uie, which they see,n to csnsi
dee as the Oaly test OF truth But dis < q to-
in the infaii5ility Of which good christian viii
not c0nfisle, since the most holy Of ali nstit,,ons
has been tried by the same standard. and h q
remained unshakcn for ages, whilat lie greatest
states and emPiFes have fallen into ruin
FBEEHOLD DER.
ARcHER'S RESOLUTIONS.
Tie Joilo'Ving is correct eeey eftAen, az amend