Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1810-09-11

of this government are tyranny in ID.
most hideous forms, expense, exacsion,
military domination, unnecessary wars
wagrd for the qualification OF individu-
al passions, and too often the rule of an
ideot, or of one, deprived of mental
powers total ignorance in the COVER
nors, OF the interests and accommoda-
tons Of 1.-The people must prevail, and
iconeqpently total deficiency of salu.
tar ret AatiR s 1t Expresses virtue,
aud exa Be- vi stiles the cries of JUS
Fiicek Against liberty aud supports
isseMby ths Host tyrannical laws. But
notwa standing these defects, there are
still advocates for monarchy, who con-
tend that every thing in nature points
to unity in government, and appreciates
the monarchical form. The universe
they say, is governed by one supreme
beng, and the nations of the earth In
like manner, should be guided by the
authority of single sovereigos, who
may maintain in their respective en-
|pires, that harmony which reigns
throughout all nature. But what Can
be more absurd than to compare an
immaculate, wise, and cmnipotent God,
with the limited powers of corrupt, and
frail man!
Monalchiees are divided into cleo.
tive, and hereditary the votaries of the
latter, conscious OF its defects, have
preferred on some occasions an elective
monarchy, to prevent the sovereignty
from falling into the hands of persons
of nosorious mental imbecility. But
such Is the stfange and perhicious eff
fects8 IF bonalrhy, it maybe doubted
whetk r S nlpde be bspefcial, TO me
It Is n Z, for TIE nearefxhe monarch
approachsss<6 a cyphs5, Ae better for
the SUBJECT.
+ The evils attending elective monar-
lchy are so well understood, that it has
found few NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS., intrigue
and thousand calamities attend il.
Rossean, who certainly did not love
monarchy, gives the elective prefer
ence to the hereditary, and endeavours
to provide against the evils of an cleo
ton; by introducing species of sorsi-
ton, or lot, bur how far chance, or the
decision by lot, may be compatible
with the sound principles fpolicy and
sober reason, refer to more compe.
tent judges than myself to decide,
1t such be the evils of elective mon
Iarchy, what are the vices of the here
ditary? Is it not inconsistent with
every principle of just and natural law,
and common sense, that one family in
a seciety-should be exalted above the
rest Of mankind, all originally equal by
the order of creation, and designed by,
heaven to enjoy the sa,ae rights and
privileges, and possess In coparcenary,
the Common bounties of nature T" Can.
the distinction of kings and subjects,
bejustlhed byany natural reason Male
and female are the distinctions Of
natufe good and bad the distinctions
of heaven" Examine the infant son
of one ofthose mighty potentates and
mechaaic; has nature designated in
different ineaments their future for
tune? Is one of them born with cal
lous hands. and ungainiy form? Can
you trace in the other, the early pro-
mise Of genius, and superior under
standing, or more exalted indications
of virtue and honors We have been
told that" nature will break out, and
that the eagiet ola valiant nest,
=" VIII quickly tower
cup to the region of his SIRE"
Poets may chaunt their venal prais-
es, or soar aloft upon the wings of inn
agination-5ut Poets are not the le-
gislators of wise, and scrutinizine
people.
Ancient credulity, and superstition,
adhered to that opinion--Bur all nature
has snce been renovated by the rays
ofliberty and science, and mankind will
no longer bear such absurdities but
1T is not SO much the absurdity, as the
evil which concerns mankind. Did
monarchy insure race fwise and vir-
tuous men, it would have the seal of
divine authority. But as it only o.
Ipeus the door to the foolish and the
Iwicked--the sooner it is closed and
barred with adanantine security, the
more fortunate for man.