Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1810-09-18

"idSHihatiouS tntv make every eHOrtI
70 resist the progress of knowledge
and illumination among the people, i
tor they know, as soon as the deceit is
detected, their occupation is gone.
deem it unnecessary to enter into
a minute lisquisition of the different
species of aristocracy, since the same
objections are equally cogent against
them all-Aristoeracy may vest its
prerogatives principally in the indivi-
dual as formerly in Poland, or entirely
restrict them to the mobiles in their
corporate capacity, as also in Venice.
The former will he more tiimultuous
and disorderly, the latter more lea
lous, intolerant and severe.
will only observe, that as aristo-
.cracy. founded upos supposed ine-
quality of mankind, is inconsistent
with every principle of natural law Il
the offspring of art, foreign to the ma
ture of things, aod therefore, like mo-
narchy, must be supported by article
upon the one side, and ignorance. on 4
the other.
But the American mind turns from
the contemplation of such systems of
depravity and misery, or can view
them only as the perpetual monuments
of the vices and folly of mankind but
to sympathize in their calamity is a
part OF our nature-.-to pront by their
experience, and to derive useful les
sons from past events, is the preroga-
tive of wisdom.
Let us then direct our attention to
that government which considers man
universally equal to man: That gov
ernment upon which the peace OF soci-
ETY. and the happiness of man can only
be founded. This | denominate re \
publican, under which l have had the
honor to have been reared, and finding
1t the only one congenial to the spirit
OF frsemen, under it / will die.
The advantages of republic are Ii
berry and equal laws, regulations adap-
ted to the wants and circumstances of
the people, public spirit, frugality, aver
sion 90 war, merit rewarded and geni.
US promoted, by the opportunities
which the assemblies of republican
state afford TO men of every descripti-
on ofproducing their abilities and coun-
ellis to public observation, and thereby
exciting and calling forth 10 the service
OF the commonwealth, the faculties of
the best citizens.
The evils of republic I consider
comparatively few f; delay Of public bu-
siness is considered an evil, but delay
is essentially necessary, as the voice of
the people could not be obtained with
out 1t; disclosure of public designs
and councils is also an attendant but
this l consider inseparable from good
government, for yirtuous proceedings
are in all cases like truth, which fear no
investigation.
The ealumniators of a republican go
vernment attribute TO it, incessant COM
motions and civil wars, but this posi-
ton is contraslicted by the history oil
many nations, and particularly by that
OF the Romans, for it was only during
that period, in which the republic pre-.
vailed in its greatest purity, that they
enjoyed the greatest sum OF tranqui!i-
ty. This calumny has been so ably
confuted by the immortal Sydney in his
imperishsbIe work on Government,
that no farther observations upon it are
necessary.
In republic merit only advances a
man to eminence, there the voice OF
the people is appealed to, and the mind
meets mind upon equal grounds with
the weapons of truth and reason What
can be better calculated to promote the
happiness of the poor than this pros
pect OF rising to the highest elevation
in the state ! What more grateful to
their feelings than the right Of suffrage,
OF those popular elections, by which
that contemptuous and oveIbearing IN
science, which is commonly offered by
the high, to the lower order of men,
receives the reproof which il justly me-
riis.
This right produces mutual habits of
respect, and destroys that inequality
which would, otherwise exist 1t pla-
ces every member of the community
in his proper rank, as entitled to his
portion OF the sovereignty. We ought
then to consider this right one of the
n 4 A.