The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-07-12


the ends are fairly considered. and the peculiar
tiles OF our situation accurately ascertained.
Ihe American revolution has given TO the
| world on ezra in political science nat has neve,
before been contemplated in the most ABSTRACT
and visionary theories Of speculative. politicians
| The fundamental principles of our institutions
$" discordant to the governmental maxims OF
| former ume3 4; our geographical .pos,tion, as i,
aspects the greedy and designing turbulence oil
foreign powers "a wide stretch OF territory.
spreading in various latitudes, and containing a
numerous and diversified population multiplying
faster than mas been known i'll climes of the
same Temperature. while habits af social indus
try and spirited es.:~rpTiZe usurpIng every
where the places ot.ing.orious sloth and CT the
bloody violence of war; all these are crcum-
stances combining to render the peculiarly
OF our situation as novel it is important It
should not therefore excite SUI prise, nat politi
cians,. feeling the fall force this Election,
and impeiled by the rapid progress Which they
daily contemplate other sciences, should still
attempt innRovations in government by abolish.
ing existing FORMS Hence, the principles of e.
quail representation and of checks :, The power
ct altering and amenuIng the constitution reser-
we'd to the people i; tie abolition Of religious es-
tablishments, and other Innovations, are peculi-
ar 10 our system, and are designed 10 ccun,eract
The defects which are incidental to- all Tree re-
publican governments like ours Eut, as aRo-
VatIons IN government are hazardous, we should
buaruSU anO cautious we should endeavOr.
ny pry'ng INTO the revolutions which, nations have
undergone, Go ascertain with accuracy the eau.
ses that produc ed them I'VE should guard
with circumspectioa those monuments of tree
dom Which, The wisdom of sages has erected &
lsonvenence, those mad enthusiasts in innova
ion, those stubborn heretics to established prin.
leiples, ina mcautous novelties are the ocks Z,
quicksands of government on which the noblest
Fabrics OF liberty have been often wrecked j
do no mean TO say, that we should notstrk,- out,
lSr.exterminate from among us all goyernn en-; al
owls, out 4 would, that the evil be d. used
before ahazardous remedy be apphed. The boz
Idly poitic, like the human body IS sometimes
diseased IN beth ii rs necessary frequently to
inius4 new life and. when limb IS rotten or
decA> ed, So &mput..te IL IS the remedy but the
proper INSTRUMENT must first be found. So tar as
iae policy OF thos nations who have ripenen be-
toie Us has 5ren founded On he real and inti-
mate relations OF SOC al man, and consecraied ~
happy nj successful application to his wants,
we hsy embrace It vita reason and advantage.
= But III Tar as IL IS drawn from MS moral ma
ture, disguised by habits materially differ. mt
from ours, such policy IS to be SUSPECTED A.; Il -
10 be scruiinized end brought To tbs lest"
The sages OF modern and ancient times, who
have gone before us, who nave treasured up the
results OF the v@rous vicissituues which nations
have undergone, and who have enriched man
kind with SO many stupendous monuments Of
genius, never knew or framed government
like ours. representative democracy, on an
enlarged and extensive scale federal govern
ment conducted or democraticai principles, re
unprecedented IN the annals OF preceding gene
rations, and remain as the glorious specimens of
American invention. When We look arc md
and contemplate our present sItuation-ihe no.
vel mechanism II our vast political fabric---:e
grand principles that~rsve wrought il INTO Il,
present beautiful and harmonic form--the w,d,.
spread or territory we now occupy, toget -
with The political artifci 1 ties which are { IL
mite numerous and diversified population no
one great family, and which are to be relied u,i-
on az the indissouble bands of future e.ne,
tons, what anxiety. what sollci+ude VIII At pa -
ful approximations must crowd upon th% md or
the continuance and preservation of phenomena
SO stupendous and grand Indeed, . phio,o
pher, who shall not have examined this beautl-
fuf symmetry under all its aspects, and i sc 20
sed ITS principles under every bearing, may ne
led to conclude that it is too beautifuilo re du
rable; 100 ingenious to be solid. --' The mas
sy pyramids OF Egypt seem to be formed OF in.
Pcrishabie stuff but the more modern nd more
beautiful structures of Rome, Attica & Palm
ca have yieidedto the runs of tme.--He may &c
led to sssimilae IL to the airy bubble that floats
upon the smooth and gentle surface of the "a
ter 1T will fascinste while but the an
cry spirit of the storm arises-il founders and
dissolses, and like the baseless fabric If vision
leaves not a wreck behind-he will 60 farther
he will think upon the ruins of Greece, and, res
soning from fancied analogy, anticipate the gave
OF our liberties Greece, rent and divided mo
number Cf petty republics, was harrassed md
di5ordered by factious demagogues, and became
the prey OF every casual and accidental INVASION
The power of Jaw III her ancient DAYS, never
having grown upto any thing of consedueuce,s
the IdcLess eIcesses of the c,gcus were frequent
ly restrA,ued 10y lawiesS bot1er.--But, until the
causes that combined 90 destroy Cree shall
exist for America, we have nothing to fear.---
In America Union is the palladium OF liberty
the stroFg Ggdrten that binds her citizens 10 40
damantns ciisirs --snd which not the restless
po,tings ofIn,riguc, nor the folly nor deprsvIty
of isct,Un can eyer destroy.
i do not propose to- discuss the principles of
our political ,nsututions urder all their various
bearings. Were competent, could not now
enter on the tass, and presume upon your pa
tIence by trsnscendng the limits usually assign
ed To the celebration OF ths day.
Suffice 1t tor the present, to point out few
OF the means necessary to preserve inviOlate
those bappy institutions, winch were planned l.
directed by the wisdom Of those VINO have gone
before us. WHAT then, are the glorious pillars
OF our national salvation What the mean that
shall shcw us tive bainstr .de to- progressive i'm.
proyement "A general diffusion Of useful
kno wedge-'nc Incuication of pubic virtue g.
mDrdIiy, ajudl-ious attention. to tue improve
lment OF manufactures, and the advancement Of
internal commerce, are among the most obvious.
80 obviOnS 10 the influence Ola general dilu
sion Of useful knowledge, 10 aneiiorate The con
ditloa OF government, that II has been regarded
by philosophers a. an nfaiible criterion Of c
4 n