The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1815-03-25
For TIE EGreUIRER.
No. g..

&Nt.Os
., lou. far our country fos GATED TO
Ter ,AGypceer among the nations IF The
Garth.
The topic which now presents itself opens
field OF ENQUIRY % the most extensive inl-
portance. 20 a superficial observer, ration
ofcharacteT may seem an ienu5 .fatnus, an
unsubStantial dream, which h&llnts the brains
OF disteinpered politicians, and only serves to
round period ~ the harangues Of noisy de-
magogues. there are some indeed, who at
feet 20 reason or the SUBJECT. they tell us
that nGtioHglb6nor has always been the pre-.
teXt cf natiDnal injustice that il hos involved
the world N continual wars. for some idle
punctlliO, o. no Importance TO the welfare of
mankind. Such reasorers evidently con.
found lhe realty with the Ccuntt rift. Their
arguments are iust sound as those If the
,uhCei who deITdes religion, because the hv-
pocrite sometimes assumes its mask for tie
perpt tration Of crimes.
Character Is % important 10 nation as 20
an individual. 81 man is respected in pro-
portion to the moral qualities he possesses:
i his temporal weifare depend in a great
degree upon his general reputation for inte-
gritty, justice, bencvolenCe, courage &c. 50
does nation proSp r or decline, according
20 her estimation among other nations, for
the same qualities. If any diffcrsace exists
D1L"tVi ANU NNtiCndt character. 1t
IS certainly in favor of the superior impor-
lance Of the latter In society there is always
superior pcRer u decide Controversies he
tween its members. The force of the corr
rnunity is substituted for the strength Of the
individual and however weak an jui1re1
member may be, the law affords him pr,
lection, and publishes the aggressor. But IS
IN the society Of nations there cannot be a
common umpire, and every member must de-
pend upon her strength and Courage to de
tend her rights, il seems 20 follow, of ucces-
sity, that her security mist depend upon the
possession OF those qualities, ard the t,6yhn-
ton ofthcn 7rifh he yv1rLd. There is also
some difference between a naLon and an al
dlvidual as to Che order IN Whicb the virtues
which adorn each respectively. should stand.
n man may often pacs through life with tolc.
rable ease, by merely preserving a peaceable
oemeapor, g pursuing an inofensivc course ::
because the laws viii defend him from I'M
Just aggression. Courage, therefore Is less
important to his welfare and respecsabilifv
than many other virtues. But with a nation
Vt Is tire sine qua nan Of security and hapbi-
hcSs. Without the possession Of this quality
nation wants that shield which alone can
Guatd IT'S rights from invasion.
There is another consideration which ex-
hihits the superior importance Of energy, Is
the attribute OF nation IN striking point IF
view "a 'nkind attach very different opini-
nns TO acts OF unjust violence when committed
by ono man. ana when perpctratcd by a com
manity. We pursue tie roobsr to the gal
lows aud cOnsign his name 90 infarnv. We
KAT the congHeror 70 the skies. and posteri-
ty Crowns his nav With unfading laurel
ana yet human ingenuity cannot point out
eny other did.Tcocs, bus that the conquey,z
IS T1o6eT on larger scsk, and spreads mis-
cry over wider surface This oDliquity in
the nind c. man woald be wholly unaccount-