The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-05-14
THE ENQUIRER.
FOR THE ENQUIRER.
mAr14.

SOrE stDu twenty centuries nave apnrO-
we'd the wisdom and utility OF the moral
maxim, " Know Thyseli - aud the max
iJn IN Politics. " that no free government
cap sGbsist long, without frequent recur
renee to first principles" tho inferior in an
uquity. is as we'll sustained ~ authority, by
wisdom add intrinsic use. bo,a maxims
seem To have been intended as correctives
20 very general foiole III human nature.
which is alike observable III the moral de
pertinent of indi RITUALS, IA ia the political
conduct Of those, who guide the affairs OF
state. Each is prone to shrink from the
excrtions Of vigilance and fortitude,- that
are necessary TO preserve L moral or polsi--
Cal person in an exact Course OF Duty each
is Ingenious in exercising and approving So
pAistry, which serves to palliate or quiet
retlexion, which operates with most efficacy
upon Seif-which spreads with diminished
force to our relatives and friends aud al
its progress among the bulk IF mankind, is
either quite lost, cr gives place II the oppo.
site foibie OF finding fault, for which there
is no just foundation.
One OF the strongest propensities in our
nation, is the free exercise of private iuGg-
ment, IN oher words to do as we w4i !; and
under whatever checks or Limitations oil
time, men are invested with political pow
er, they are invariably disposed to exercise
which they have been, ofright, accustomed,
in the conduct of private life The love of
power Sc distinction impels mutitudes TO aim
at, g. many to acquire power, v ho are wan
tlng IN that scope, Nigolr and correct
ness "t mind viii are req aisitc to the ex
ercIsing il, with due fitness and effect
they are pressed with difficulties, and
SHRINK from steady and enlarged system, to
the shifts ct occasional eXpedtnt, or they
are missed by ambition, oversight or weak
ness, and III BETH cases they resort TO a self
approving sophistry, which serves to APP
pcase the Temorse OF guilt, or the honest
coutrilion OF conscious error or incapaCity.
1T may be added. that the persons who eX-
eTc'se the powers of government, even in
the best Construed republics, ere compa-
ratiVeiy few, and that their stations neccs-
s2r,iy beSet Interests and propensities, diff
terenc from those OF the community at
large TO resist these interests auG pro-
peGsitios with effect, calls for degree Of
iO.tIeode and virtue which those acquainted
with the modes Of rising TO offi cial appoint
ments, viii not be ready to attribute TO the
greater number Of those, who admiaister a
ny government.
When people, after hazardous strug-
gle, have recently won or maintained Their
liberty, the sentiments it inspires are pre-
>
| ing principle, the amin ating spirit Of their
manners and iUStitutions. Hut whea danger
has been TAR removed when government
has long gone smoothly and securely on, the
people become remss and iaattentve tn it's
course, although they are the cniY party TO
Il, who have an unqualified, unvarying and
Single interest, in maintzining Ibe purity of
| principles, and IN the uniform adoption Of
its practice to the sole Legitimate end Of go
verGment, the general welfare and happi-
ness. Remissness and apathy in the psopie,
greatly favour the gradual declension Of
those who rule into devious Courses. The
same general causes which occasion the
people 20 relax, from the arduous duies of
vigilance and superintendent IN the affairs
ot government, operate equally upon those
VINO administer It, TO cast off part of the
burthen OF duty from their own shoulders,
under the concurrent inpulse too Of the Sc.
par2te interests, which they derive from
their station and distinction. A SCI of men
come into power and office, VIXEN public 5u-
sineSs has lo0g assumed a regular course
and tocm abusive modes OF conducting the
Puoiic councils end business may have crept
in but they have become so Incorporated
with the established Routine, that tse truu-
bic and delay Of ref lrniRg them may be
thought to Outweigh the abuses ther. elves.
SONS Rodes of tranaaGting business may b.
d tect,Ys new & better Inudes may be obvi-
Gus; the demand for them may be pressing :;
the men who devise thc m, and the men W o
can give them being, may have a just con-
hdence in the recHtaGe OF each others m
tentIon IN matters not Of vital concern TO
the state, the cons.i ution may be overlook
ed and the acts may be dona, at the ex
pence OF just so many breaches of frst prin
ciples. Again, men d zZled with elevation
to citice' may &c seized with political I'D gets
they may be etcrnally at work, to fiud
out new ways of doing or viewing things, in
order to enhance mems opinion of their IS
siduiiy and perspicacity; and this may be
done with a microscopic scrutiny, better be-
coming lily, than man. They TOO may
add to the list, their share OF petty constitu
tIonal breaches. These violations of first
Principles, taken separately and apart,
may he visible, and alarming to a few
only, but tine VIII gather them into mass
OF very formidable amount ard the OH
garchiCal faction, that from natural eau.
ses necessarily subsists with more or less
strength, in all republics, may be surprised.
should they set into power, to find so much
useful work zone ready to their hands, by
their Conscientious opponents and prede-
cessors.
This brief and incomplete enumeration of
the Causes, that constantly tend to vitia,c
hrst Principles, may serve to shsw the I'm
portance OF the foregoing political maxim
20 show, that the constant, rational, firm su
pcrintendencc OF the CO1murty, can alone
preserve them from being dcgrayed and