The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-01-07
COMMUNICATED.

tilted, II CoAnhend If History on m. So
nnel 'phehtiey, Of .Nezo-Jer3ey; they
are tGken from his remarks on che U'zitcd
SAFES.
The government of the u States seems
to DC without :, parallel--Wc find uothin,,
like it i'll modern times ancicntly the
Greeks had something which rcse.nbied il.
but that RESEMBLANCE was indeed remote and
feeble iheir Amphictyonc Council WAS
little different from AN assembly or ambassa
doris, saving that they met regularly both as
to time aud place, and when convened. their
proceedings were more ike some kind Of su-
creme court, than u representative legisla-
tive body.
Our government is no less singular as to
its naturc than it is in its origin.-'I'is, per-
haps, the only government which. in all its
parts, was the result OF plan, foresight or
design. Most governments have jumbled in
to existence from mere accident, by q Co.'S
cuirence OK unforeseen events. Great things
nave grown from small beginnings others
have been tatigucd into compliance with the
dictateso OF prompt and daring ambition, and
,iave acquiesced in Il system of arbitrary
power, but IN our case, Il number CT men.
competenr 10 so great work, sat down anG
Planned onr government before them lay
the Legislation OF past ages-They saw the
Shoals on which many have dashed they
did what they could for our benefit the plan
shey formed was dictated by their know
ledge Of our circumstances, and it is proba-
oly the ao'est and best plan of government
ever formed by man
Bat without virtue in the pcople-in!ecd.
without great wisdom and circumspection,
the best theory that ever existed on paper.
WIFI be like a paper wailoppased TO the car
hop's mouth. hc wiScst regulations the
best laws will be ceusured as demonstrations
al, through lEerc psrversion. The consti-
tuition Itself wilt be assailed under pretezt of
amendment, 1T will be curtaied, mutiiatcd,
undermined and destroyed Nothing can
prevent evils of this nature but public viz
tue.
1t is worthy of remark, that emigrants
from Europe are from a more advanced state
OF society than is geueraily found in this
country, on at least an older state. 1t thence
happens, that mary of them. even Of the
lowest grade, have a certain knowledge of
mankind, the necessary result of rainylinr
with an immense u,ass OF population. This
knowledge !ndeetl,Jis Chiefly made I'D of va
nifty and vice. but it helps them to great vo-
luoiilty OF tongue, smartness OF reply, and
seeming knowledge of things which, hand
cd out Oh ali occasions, readily soIs many
people to staring st them as at something
extraordinary. Fn'. THIS very reason, ;f,anV
OF them ynlgarly PASS for people of great in
fHrmation, especially III the circulating po;i-
tics CT the day, and of course they are plac-
cd in posts OF considerable responsibility.
The people brought up in the bosom of
the british kingdoms are essentially differ
cnt from us both i'll their views and feelings
about government; though ,hcy may use the
sane word, that We use, though they express
the same abhorretce Of tyranny and opprcs-
SION, get liberty considered as a creature of
the n'.nd, Is with them ii different thing from
what 1t is with It's 1t is no difficult matter
TO account for the licentious views of liberty
and the romantic ideas of the freedom of this
country entertaircd by the lower classes Of
Europeans. From their infancy, they have
associated with government and aw. the i'd a
OF tyranny and Injustice, and with liberty, = a
state OF society IS unrestrained as state of
nature. When they Come into this Gentry
ana lind law ard government of stcIner
cast than they had figured TO themselves.
they "oon grow discontinued AMI seek for q
revolution.
lie people o. every country are the most
snitab'e to govern their own country. Could
fit and Fox be restored to life, they would
rot MAKE good Legislators in America fin
uced III lew I;u"tT Aus inat. .,:Ss it wcVld
%, as there l. 10 generalI'a lc without cXccp-
tiops, yer the prInciple here laid down is
certainly correct; III whatever country TO-
reIsners interfere with government, the ten
dcncy OF that interference Is a CHANGE eli
thcr for better or worse, aid the tendency of
Changes, especially when the effect Of blind
Causes. Is bat 10 wei known
hc frame otour government is probably as
fa"ititss as can be expected in this impe! feet
world; It's ultimate SUCCESS must then de-
P2"d upon its being wisely adm instered-
Relative 10 that article our security lies in our
elections. AS in orr form of Government
the right OF suffrage is among the most i'm
portant Of Civil rights, it should be pre-
served inviolatc, but it should be guarded
with the sevcrest caution. Foreigners who
arrive IN this country seldom come with am
expectation of becoming Legislators here
Hcir confidence IN our government brought
them hithcr, where they ought not to hope
Tor more than security OF Life, Liberty ANA
than such security 4 would
~ the end, work iniGry to themselves.
Let foreigners find in this country an asv-
lum OF rcst-an escape from OPPRESSION
there lcs them Luy, and build and plant-lct
them spread and flourish pursuing interest
and happiness in every mode of life which
enterprise can suggest or reason Justify, and
let them be exOnera;ed from the tolls OF 90
Vernment. We do not need their hands to
steddy the Irk. If wemakc good laws they
viii share the benefit, ifbad ones, the blame
viii not be theirs Let their children born
amongst us become CITIZENS By BIRTH
RIGHT.