The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-02-01

ana eer thcifi, and treat tnern, in short, with
very species ofconteinpt "W@at can che mar.
Io'' Oh silly question. Yet, not so silly as II
IS insiacere for who puts such a que stion 4,
himself, when some object OF private gain, plea
sure, or convenience when an object ,f seifcr,.
tiication ofany sort is pointed out to hn, if, IN
deed, such objects did not crowd upon him fast
enough of themselves " What can one man
do p never seems 10 occur to those who are 20.
inS to far market, ball, play, or on any e.
Tier pursuit of gain of pleasure.
This question, so often put, arises, be assured
not from want of understanding but from :,
want OF public spirit and public principle Wer.
the thing practicable, should like to put, verbal.
~, to each individual OF you, this question" Do
you believe, that, if the whole Of the Common
Council consisted of men of MIR. Wai,hman';
spirit and principles, the abuses of which yo,,
complain, would soon be removed my opinion
Is, that, u tins question were put to every ma,
OF you, you would, without moments hesita-
ton, answer III the affirmative. My opinion is
that this would be your answer with as ,horourh
CONVICTION AS ysu entertain of your existence
and what excuse, therefore, is there for your u
patty for your wiliul neglect OF so imDortant :,
duty
The history of cur country shews that il :,
the Capital that must lead The rest of the king
dom. II is inreascn and in nature that it should
be; but, the fact is, that London has always Ia.
ken the iead Thus 1t will still be and there
lore It IS not at all matter of surprise that eve
ny minister the King should endeayor 10 gain
over the city of London to his side. and esnect.
ally that corrupt minister should do this thai.
ne should besiow places upon some pensions,
upon others, gew.gaw titles upon others. and
That he should give bis supporters in the. citv.
contracts, jobs, aad patronage. These are for
irritable Means but even means like these can
not corrupt = hundred thousand men, and. OF
course, they can AVE no very great effect in an
eiec'ion OF the common council, which If we'll
constituted, consisting it does of more than
TWO hundred persons. would in short time.
produce An elect, of the extent of which, few
Persons are aware In short it appears YER,
Clearly tn me, that without any assistance, from,
any quarter Whatever, you have it in your pow
er TO lay the Certain foundation of that reform.
without which At is my thorough conviction
that TINS nation will soon have nothing to boast
Oh more than ITS late allies upon the Continent
l ho'e not the vanity to suppose, that with
those Who could chuSe men like the Dixons
who by their city oratory, have notoriously gain.
eu places iof sons ; or with those who could vote
ioF Il man, WHO makes an open defence of corruD-
tion, having at the Same time, a contract for
making great'coAsts Tor the army waite r-proof
nor, indeed, have the vanity to suppose, thas
any thing to be said by me is capable OF inducing,
one CT you TO do that which you otherwise would
not be disposed 10 do but, of this am certain
tiiat unies the Common Council Of London be.
composed OF men of sound political PRINCIPLES.
There IS no ground whatever for your complain.
ing OF any hardship proceeding from the gov
ernmen and t,lat, if every farthing of your earn
ings were taken from you in taxes, to be given
10 nabobs, contractors, or to be thrown into the
WeiiS, ana down the mountains Of SPAIN yo,
would not be an object of the compassion of any
RATIONAL man. You sin, in such case. not only a.
ganst tic light .nd without temptation; but, a.
Sainst the memorable example, the noble exam
pie, oiyour ancestOrs who, in the cause of free
dom, always stood foremost, taught the nation
no" 10 tNnk and how 10 act and who. whether
the dispute WAS decided by the pen OF the sword.
slwas prevailed.
! am, Gentlemen,
YCui friend.
WILLIAM COBPETT.