The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-01-10

'heir great Cities prDfuslpa OF wealth an
consequently. OF splendor md luxury, little
II at all, inferior e. what are met with i,
the circles ct foreign mobiles and princes
Ana the consequences are such as invari;,
Oily wait on wealth and Injury: " a rein
ment IN vice" which polutes and degrade
the character. both moral and ntellectu al
ana Keeps 1t down by a species of Circear
enchantment-a dissoiuieness of manner,
SO deep and s. widely spread, that the soul
OF Virsnian recoils With horror from the
recital of 1t. A, the same time 1t is rot the
Immediate possessor OF this wealth to
whom the greatest mischief is dono-i. is
that motley & mutitudinous troop of sharn-
ers' ionngers, sycophants, detrsctors, and all
the ministers OF vicious qualification, which
tnat wealth generates; which battens ON
the very superfuites of the rich and then
contributes to spread the taint through, cir
cies that can feel the impulse of provoke
passion, although they have not yet fell, the
inchement of wealth Hence the most opu
tent of city are, in general, in the first in =
'eance, me most eXemp! from low and gro
vehhg vices. Their indulgence i'm elegant
luxuries permitted by law, and their secret
indulgence in others which the law cannot
PUNISH. because 1t cannot prove. throws into
circulation that wealth which forms the M
triaient OF vice, IN ranks less enligh eped
ana proud ct character but as vice once
introduced, mas pressure, like water. in
every direc:on, II must eventuate i'm the
maj run Ut any society, which permits it
to flourish w,thou, opposition.
IL IS not unworthy of remark, that over
grown wealth and genuine republicanism
seem 10 nave natural antpathy to each
other; wealth and aris,ocracy. a natural
sympathy and alliance. Wealth begets
PRIDE which Can very lily brook that princi
pie OF equality which IS the basis of re-
Puohc; pride which pants for Justine ions
IN society; winch retreats tas, dioas'y from
Tue approach OF poverty and humility and
with all the squeamishness of the Courier
poet haEes the hrcfane putgar and keehs
them az distance 1 know ina. here re
exceptions 90 tue remark rich men VIII
are really republican at b. art, and proud
nea who flnd 1t pontic 20 afftc to be So
exceptions, however, imply and prove tbs
RUE; ana the largest and mos, opulent CT
ues on the continent, furnish ample illus
'rationS OF this aris .ocracy OF the he art which
wealth SO naturally creates-a considerat,.
on which Ill the esteem OF sincere repub-
l!cap, nigh abate something Of that insatia
u!e lnlrst f-r wealth which has sunk so much
The honor D. this country
=. ms ye', however, so tar as am informed.
hei,her che wealth, nor consequently the
iuxuries and vices of the cities. to which I
nave referred. have spread to any serious
extent through the surrounding country -
On the Contrary, even in those states in
"hi|h me metropolis is the most vicious
tae People or the country still remain pure
and urtcJ., opted.
Tue Strong discrimination which exists n
so'he other states between the people of t
coun ry, and those of the town, in point not
only OF manners and principles, but of intor-
matfon also; the insurmuuntabie barr,er
winch Stands between chem and the political
CONSIDERATIONS by which that barrier is kent
up ny the MOBILES, are inConceivable BY any
VlrSlnIan who has not seen them. | mere
~ mint at tliis subject as one worthy the cu-
riosity OF the American traveller: 1t is COM
rary 10 tae purpose OF these papers TO pur-
SUE II further.
come now to Virginia Among us. in
comparison with of thu ,,taer sturs
there are few, if any instances, of over,
grown wealth. There is little, theref re of
Tue splendor OF luxury among us, and the
morals Ut oar people are iii Certain resuects
comparatively chaste and pure. But we
nave among US species OF property which
mas gwen to the Virginian cast of charac-
Ter little less ruinous than wealth and luxu-
ry could lmpart; and which has spread The
mischlet hrst IN that quarter, where it is
"'' W oc ioibu III the northern states i
speak Of slavery, which has poisoned thi,
commonwealth. and particularly the coup-
Try, so deeply; which by exempting our
young men from the necessity of labour. has
rendered them idle, and subjected the to
all those tnischIefs which Incidence gene
rates as Certainly, and fatally. as wealth
ana luxury lead forth their train.
LOOK at the young Ten of this country
no" are they engaged! :" and where will
you ind them ?" Will it be in the silence of
refinement and study, following the long,
dlverg'ng tracks of knowledge and wisdom
WIN 1t be Ia the enrapLured walk of history.
hxhg their emulation by the bright exam,
pies OF ant'ent and modern cxcellence1 Will
1t be hanging over the midnight lamp nd ex-
plorlhg the deep and well stored mines of sci.
ence WIN all that constlncy and per,ever-
ahCe' ny winch alone great men are made
" no:-but having shewn by these in GRO
Satories where they ought % be found have
no disposition to press the enquiry where
they may be for r.y object is O serve and
not 10 wound them. They, indeed, are but
little tn be blamed
1t IS the legislative and Earentaln g.ect If
those means which are necessary to- ward
OH tne consequences OF a long and prosue
rous peace-it is this, that is in fault. For
am hrmiy persuaded that those Deruicious
consequences IL w from no defect in the nm
mao cna, acter which makes them mevi a
VIC nat ny wise policy, by a well d,-
tec'ed education, they might not only be m.
tercepted but that the very princioIe fror,
which our vices sDrinQ the la e =. :. ""