The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-05-17

iSttLcs BECAUSE until piAtc PROOF - OotatheO,tbat
,e acted from motives adverse to the common
good. he ought to be presumed to have obeyed
an obvious duty to the people OF great magni-
tude, IN preference to very inferior 5uty to his
immediate appointers, the reality of which re-
mains to be proved.
The author of the essays in the Enquirer
pens the subject in his first number, by various
historical examples & by references to some au-
,hoeites
have made few remarks on England, and
shall add some on Holland, as the 3 examples,
that seem alone to bear upon the present ques-
ton. To all true republicans, the constitution of
the late United Provinces presents beacon to
be cautiously summed, not pattern to be follow
ed. From its birth, 8 destruction was constantly
,ccelerated,by having half king & half repub.
lic-the first rad power enough TO do great deal
of mischief, & too little to keep him quiet, for
moment II the most eminent Patriots stood
forth he could generally succeed in prosecuting
or destroying them 1t was by Stadthoderian
influence, that Barnevelt died on scsffold, and
that the Dutch mob were reused to eat the flesh
of the De Wits, whom they had mangledss MUIR
dered-As to the republican part OF the 60
vernment, IN a country consisting almost wholly
OF Towns and Cities, great majority of these
had No right OF voting at all, and in those which
had, the right was not in the people, but in the
olgsrchic Regency of each Town & City, who
could perpetuate their own existence, by cleo.
tion to vacant seats, and the elections were ge-
peraly under the influence of the Stadtholder-
The Regencies elected the deputies of the pro-
vmcial states, and these elected the deputies OF
the states general.----The Regencies possessed
the power of cblg atory instruction the pro-
vIncial states, and the latter possessed similar
power. with respect to the states General to
this was superadded the necessity of unani
nous vote of each of these bodies, in many Of
the most important concerns of state so that
a foreign power, who could gain over to its vie "
the smallest province, the most Insignificant w.
ting Town, might defeat the most interesting
measures Of the government. -TDis may be an
example of the actual pratice of the right OF
positive instruction, but certainly not of it's uti,-
ity
do not entirely accord with the author, in
the view he takes of the authorities to which he
refers.
Judge Blackstone was an Englshman, and
therefore 1t was his duty to be regulated mo-
harchist.-He was professor IN the loyal uni
Versity OF Oxford, and probably looked forward
10 the benches of Westminster Hall, and there
tore might be some what of a courtier but il
has BEEN remarked, think truly, that he has
stated the main points OF liberty, in the constr.
tuition of his country, with more strength and an
parent appreciation, than might have been eX-
| pected.
Wnen MIR. Burke supported the doctrine
contane,i IN bis letter to the city of Bristol the
French revolution had not drawn from him ia c
| splendid phrensies of his latter years. He as
then in the high and palmy" state OF his cha
racter; he was the friend OF general freedom,
the advocate of American rights, and the enco
mast of The American character.
| The honest zeal, the undgested mass of rea
ding, the confused composition of Mr. Burgh
forbid all hope ofh,s reasoning with accuracy &
discrimination on any subject And no part o.
his work, seems to suggest this remark more
strongly, than his chapters on the very question
OF instructions to Representatives,.
| will only add 10 this prolx epistle, tina,
trrth is too pure and invuInerable, TO be injured
by the character of those who utter 1.-THE
profound abilities of Nicholas Machiavel were
employed, IN giving the most pernicious lessons
TO tyrahis, for the acquisition and preservation
OF their power yet some of the sagest repub
lican maxims to be found in his writings
That no free State can De oflong duration; with
out ajyequens recurrence TO FIRST PRINCIPLES, is
one which cordially wish was more deeply inn
pressed on the minds of our citizens, and more
frequently confirmed by their practice.
Yours, with graat truth.
(aj am sorry the British jbh,-uss, " Piyht o,
petition" suas ad,niHed-tke right to Der, is al
best poor pruilege, ana in the sense referred 10
rs totally inconsistent zorh the nature of our goy-
eyDfftent.