The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-04-06


Void IT have Jared better since the DAYS o.
Rome and Athens than the present. no,
"''hs'anding tina depth of prejudice it may
nave toencounter, and the degree of vene-
ra'ian that may b. given to it from the un-
disturbed repose in which it has lain. Gus.
tohs q rules, 40 matter how absurd or how
eccentric, no matter in what time or IN
VIVA region they existed, are quoted by the
sovocates OF eternal allegiance, as worthy
OF y the weight and dignity of Principle &
f1istpry. twill be readily imagined. there
lore, mat the author his To range Though
ne earliest records Of soriety, To follow the
subject down upon the tide of time, aud "a
penetrate through the shadcs -f Go,hic
NiSht, IN order to loosen the entrenchments
OF Certain writers, to disprove * to d .slodye
mem from the grounds they have taken
ms IS dcne win an enviable fdrce Of styie
faithful adherence to fact, a candid exhil
oition OF arguments. and if i, be not too boI,l
10 say so, with the ciearest emanation of
ruin. Under the iBfluence OF these opini<
chs. Ut Is nothing mare than the perform
ance OF toty, weak and unava,ling as it
may be, TO recommend the Pamphlet to s--
neral study and rejection. 1t il be proper
nat man should have q knowledge OF his
rights, 1t follows of neces sity that he should
'e.rn the sources from whence they are
drawn. that he may b. enabled AT least to
decide for bins-lf, II not To become an adj :
vocate tor. others. These sources lie deep
aud d'-tan,, and like the mos, valuable.
| 'hings IN the estimation Of many, are to be
explored with patience and with firmness.
When we lo'k into the practice of those
times which are said Tn have been enl,ght
ened and inspired with divine wisdom, we
can perceive n" plain and distinct footsteps
o. lcsd us toa direct and positive conclusion.
! but we ind, accordi.s to Mosaic accounts.
that mep, either individually or in tribes, mi
Igrated TO what country thew pleased. with
out any reference to the latitude of their
tDlr!h, and without any check from coaside
ratlons OF natural allegiance. Such was
| me case, we are told, with the venerable
Ifatriarch, % the inspired IAw-giver, (2)
and the man after 6 id's own heart, (3.)-
in the latter iDstanre. he not only lef his
Laege Lord and settiediA another country,
mn actually took up arms against his own.
MS particular case, however, though men
iohed by Tucker in his notes To Blackstone.
cannot, perhaps, be considered, when all its
circumstances are taken into view, as nos
sc ssinS any particular force. But The prac-
ice and the customs of that age. are suffi :
cientiy manifest without it, and al ugh we
meet with no express laws. we find the
strongest examples, which we are told, are
bnetter at all times than precept. Hence,
1t is surely fair to conclude so far as the d.
vine law can be brought TO bear upon the
tSuhJect, from the conduct of these who
were order its dia care ard iirec-
ticn, that it is in ftvor of the liberty of p
lecf'hg whatever Country may be preferred.
| vixen We come down I" a la er period. we
must also rely in great measure, upon the.
customs OF Nations, although it is perfecr-
~ Gear. that Whenever the subject he's fall
len under considerable, that the wisest
Or .I,a,r Z
the right, and have been ready to firm n
Cho us with he Poet of Ubi 1.-The tas III;
I,'Hna. such was he opinion OF Cicero at
koae. and ut Plato at Athcns. what no
o.e rights, says the Orator, which by the
blessing OF Heaven, have been enioyed bv
our ancestors ever since tine Roman State
teg2n ihat nrne of us should be forced to
'eaVe our Country or to stay in it gainst our
wills. ms is the lmmoveable foundation
- DOR Lloer'y, that every man is master of
It, and 0ay keep it or resign it as he pI7as
es." The Philosopher SAYS. that i was
ia"tni f"rpevery private man. after he had
examined the Laws and Customs of the Re-
puoic, II NJ did not approve of them, to
qn't the City and retire with his effects
wherever he pleased" In concert with
both, we find Horace expressing this sent
fnSnt at q season of particular in crest and
embarrassment TO the state, and m strains
/ OF ne boldest emphasis. Daring tine war
between Anthony and Augustus, he endea-
Vors to PERSUADE a. three hundred thous
and Romans TO leave their Country. LIE,
US, says the Poet. quit our dear Country. and
wander by land as far as our feet will carr,
US, or roam on the Ocean. wherever the vi
olent southwest wind may blow us. But
stop; Let us first swear not 10 return I'll
stones, rising from the bottom of the desn.
! swim on its surface. and then, nd not he
! ore, turn our sails homewdrtis when th,.
| hail dow up TO the top Of the Matin
Mountains, and the lofty App-nine shall
'hr'w tie't into the Tnicd Of the Sea -
| when mons rous love sh-ll ION the liver
| IN tue Il d. and The Kite with the ID I'VE :
when cur Fl0cks no more dread the Lion
and the Goats grown smooth take pleasure
IN the hrny Ocean." II may be taken for
granted, that unless Hora, haa been YER,
confident and assured Of his right to lea =
! ms country, that he would not h We indnly
ed MS muse thus far, but would rather ave
been more prudent and temperate at thu,
Critical period. Thus Ii seems, that tbs
earliest ages * the most enlightened line
the pracuce and opinion prevailed and exis.
Ted ~ favor OF the right of leaving one coun.
Try Tor another. Ard upon this subiec
there can be no authority more resoect9b
at least than tho sentiment of mankind IN
all aSeF' And this we surely have 81 riyh,
! 10 claim from their conduct and their onin
ions' and the unimpeded course they havs
taken without restraint from power. or q
afaa aVNr.r 4. s~-xE