The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-07-17
Gle GnQulrer.
RICHMOND, JULY IL. 1910.
CFOR THE ENQU.nnp )

| E.riract off letter fran williamsburg.
| % have particular pleasure IN announ
eng to you, that the anniversary of Ameri
can Independence was observed by our Al
MA Mater, the College If William * Ma.
ry. with all the zeal and patriotism. which
has so, long distinguished that Seminary
IL is upon that day, that she still calls
forth her young Orators 10 celebrate the mos,
important Revolution in the History of man.
to trace the causes which led to that great
event, and to evinCe the beneficial effects
which have, and will result. not only TO this
new world, but to the whole family of man
kind thus communicating to the rising ce
neration. an ardent. but rational love Tor
their country, and for those political insti-
tutions, which only are worthy of ire emen
IL IS also upon that day, she invites genius 10
the discussion OF such literary subjects, as
must prove interesting to an enlightened
audience; and which serve, at the same
time, to evInce the progress which her sons
have made in moral, political, or physical
science.
At half past ID the President and Pro
tesSors, together with the Students and Scho.
lars, entered che church. in which A hume
rous assembly Oh respectable Citizens had
already convened An appropriate prayer
was Delivered by the President This was
formed by young Gentlemen, who also gave
select piece between each orallon.
Mr.. William Roane then delivered an
GRAFTON, in which, after congratulations upon
the day, he showed the transccndant supe
riorty OF the Republican form of Govern.
meat, over that Ut any other; and evinc-d,
that the American Revolution, astonishing
as It must appear in ito beginning, its pro.
gress, and its Accomplishment, still derived
its highest illustration from the political in
stiiutions. which the wisdom and the Patri-
otism OF the WORTHLESS of that period, have
tradSmtre ed to us.
Mr. Imam Horner followed-He eonsi
dered whether there was Dot beet ill., go
vernment; or, whether in politics, as in eve .
ny other science, there was not a theory.
founded III the nature Of man, which ne
C0ssarily led to that mode Of civil union, and
to those practical rules by which govern =.
ment, in every region OF the Globe, would
produce the greatest possible sum of public
and private felicity. He endeavored to
show, that there was such theory; that
it led TO republican government, founded
on a social compact, 6t furnished practical
rules, from which there could be no devlsti
on. without subverting the whole social udi
fee.
Mr.. George Croghan spoke upon the rirht
of expajrlatlon. He underworld to shuw,
that the right was natural and imprescrip
tible; that 1t was guaranteed by the social
compact, aud that he citizen could never
be deprived OF it, but by hi, voluntary con
sent.
Mr.. William Page spoke upon the trial
by jery. He took a view of the origin OF
that institution, and exhibited its importance
in free government, IN a strong and brill
ant light--He considered how far an uni
nimity in jurors should be required. particu
Iarly in civil cases aud supported the OBI
Mon, that an alteration. IN that respect
would be happy ameloration in the dis.
tribution of justice lie concluded with "A
pancgyrick upon the political institutions Of