Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-09-13

an absence of titles and family distinctions.
All the money of Peru would not place eli
jther OF your sons above the son of your
poorest neighbor. Since, therefore, no
great end is to be obtained by the possessi-
on OF wealth, men are less likely to use un-
lustiiable means IN obtaining it, as well as
less likely to apply it to corrupt use, or,
to heap it on one child to the ruin of all the
rest. Hence that equal distribution of pro-
perry; hence that stubborn spirit which
| makes the labourer refuse to call his en-
pioyer master; hence that consciousness of
self-wOrth, which makes meanness and
crimes so rare and hence, in the Amer;-
cans,that fidelity to their country and their.
colours, and that contempt for their enc
mes. which naturally must produce. and
which already have produced, such won.
derful effects.
Introduce family distinctions and primoreni.
l.tireship, and all these blessings vanish at once
1t would not take ten years after that to fiji your
country with sinecure place-men, and pensioners.
political spies and nformers, hired writers, frau
duient and servile domestics and labourers, and
paupers 90 base to be numbered amongst them
If you want an instance of the lengths to which
a thirst after title and family distinctions will
lead men, look at Napoleon. See that wonder
full man that matchless soldier; that wise law
giver; the brave the generous, the acute the ex-
perieneed Napoleon, see him, even to the We
~ last moment ofhis power; and when he knew
that that power was just departing, in all human
probability, for ever, from his grasp, still cling
ing to his unfortunate desire to have roual de-
scendGnts. There can be no question, that it was
this desire, and the acts which It produCed, chat
finally have led the kings and their subsidized ar
mics to Paris. When the French people had
hpen uced IN an 81
were no longer ashamed to think of receiving q
King. The Emperor, by moulding the republic
into an empire, prepared il to become n kingdom
This he manifestly did for the sake of famiJ -
from that accursed motive of 7,anih,, which has
ruined the reputation of So many really great
| men, and has plunged so many nations into mise
| ry. Guard against the indulgence of It in your
country, Ibeseech YOU. You are, happily, free
| from titles and family distinctions Make it a
rule to look upon every one as an enemy of the
country, who makes the smallest attempts to in
troduce them; and thus win you keep the scouree
from amongst YOU.
Another evil for you TO guard against is, any
increase in the power. OF the priesthood. Ii YOU
look at Europe, you will see the amount Of the
| evils, which this powerhas produced The str1e--
gle now in France is, in fact between the priest
| hood and freedom OF thought Ifthe enemies of
France do not restore the power of the Priest
hood they will do nothing at all, at last, towards
the accomplishment other great iect that is,
the eradicating of what they call the Jacobm
| system. Whenever the Priesthood have power,
that power is sure to be employed on the side OF
what IS called " regular government - that is the
Keeping OF men IN order by coercive means It
IS very odd but the fact is so, that even YOU find
priests OF all denominations pull together in fhis
| 1vay, though they are daily and hourly accusing
each other Of teaching false doctrine Each tells
you, that it is sinful not to believe in what he
| teaches Hchla ha tell 2
Priests are to be listened to Also though all those
others tell you that he is in the wrong How
can you account for the wonderful zeal of the
Protestant clergy of Europe to restore the Pope
and Catholic religion Does not this zeal put
the subject in light so clear TO make it mn
possible to misunderstood it Does Il not shew.
that Priests of AL denominations, though thev
pronounce the creed ofeach other to be damna-
BILE, make common cause as towards the people
Does 1t not show, that they all on the side OF
| . strong government 2" Therefore, take care 70
give them no means Of possessing an influence IN
your political affairs.
By the same conveyance, I received printed
copy OF proposals for re-publshing, in an Octave
Volume, 5y Messrs. BELDEN & co. of NEw.
YORK, my Letters the late Var This also
has, as may be supposed, given me Great plea.
sure. It's another striking instance Of The lrrest
power othe Press and it is a proof to me.
that my iabours are not thrown away. 1t is an.
ther motive to industry. When, after long tug
glng against wind and tide, the almost exhaust
ed and despairing mariner sees his little bark be
ginning to make head, courage returns to his
heart and strength to his arms he makes new
and greater exertions and, finally, he overcomes
all obstacles. So, hope, It will be with me.
now see that have forced great and valuable
! truths amongst the millions of freemea, who n,
habit America, as well as amongst my own conn
| tymen. Ifecl pride, which cannot, and which
do not ' ssh to Disguise, when / reflect, that
| wha1 write in this little village, is, IN a few
| weeks afterwards, read by many millions of Deo.
PieheTe and IN another hemisphere and those too.
The most enlightened of mankind. / must be
| and am, proud to see these ESSAYS Of mine
written, sometimes, in the space of a dav. and
amidst cares innumerable, and pursuits that de
nand and receive my attention from daylight to
dark, thought worthy of being mouldered into
Pamphlets and Books. And this gives me The
/ greater pleasure, when / reflect thsl no o,J,e,.
HsemeHfs, no puff, nor reUicyps that no extrane
! Gus aid Ofany sort, has ever been resorted to bv
me but that my essays Unsupported and unpro-
| tected have been sent forth TO find their way
throughout the world.
In conclusion, gentlemen, I shall announce
through this channel my intention 10 put into
| execution a measure, which 7 have long had in
view, which ! am certain would be greatly bene
hcial to the people Of America, which had ac-
tually begun while in prison, and which was laid
aside onaccount the war. ] have perceived,
from several American writings on agriculture,
ard especially from Mr. Byingst0n's work on