Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-03-27
I'D, tate legislature of V1rginia.

tent mas been excited By the liberal, iud,cious,
anu sploadid course which the late i.eSislature
have pursued, III respect TO many important OBJ
Ilects of internal improvement Whist the OF. er
States are admring and eulogizing appropria-
tons " icb promise So much utility and brilan.
ICY to the ancient dominion murmurs are
heard, 1t is said, in several Counties, threatening
The popularity of those members OF the General
Assembly, who possessed genius TO plan, and en-
F, ergy to promote, the grand objects alluded TO-
we reluctantly believe that even partial d.ssatis-
faction can have been produced by Ian liable sys-
tenn OF Legislative measures SO evidently ffaught
with national benefit and national glory If, how
ever, contrary to our impressions, part OF the
good people OF Virginia should think the appro.
pratons made by tie late General Assembly
eitherpremattire, or burtnensome 70 the country
| al large, we would beg leave To offer 70 them a
lew remarks on topics avowetllS of the highest
moment, and AN which all possible light ought
TO be shed. Ia the first place, we would bid them
look on that state OF things which, not many
years since, elected from the patrotic and res
pectable author of Tie Brsnsh SD,l's the fol.
lowing ingenious, torcible < animated structures.
| virginia, as rapidly as her population and her
wealth must continue 70 advance wants one sup;
port OF solid grandeur; and tlat, too, the AMI
mating soul OF a republic. l mean, public sp-
rat that sacred GmSr 1qt,iG, which filed Greece
and Rome with patriots, heroes and scholars"
| = here seems to me 20 be but one object thro'
| ont the state ; 10 eiDl0 rich q passion which is
vis ole not only IN the walks of private life, bu
which has crept into and poisoned every publ:ct
body III the state. Indeed from the very genius
/ OF the government by which all the public char
actors are at short periodical elections, evolved
from the body of the people, it cannot bat hap.
pen, that the councils Of the state must take the
Impulse OF the private propensities ofthe country
| iiehce' Virginia exhibits no great public i'm
I T1rf f4F,a.V &c h..., -
part OF the country manifests their suffernes eli
ther from he penury of their guardians, or their
want OF that attention and noble pride, where
WIth II IS Their duty to consult her appearance -
Tier roads and highways are frequently mpassa-
bic, sometimes frghtful the very few public
works Which have been set on foot, instead OF
beng carried on with spirit, are permitted to
langu'sh and pine, and creep feebly along, Ia
such manner, That the first part Of al edlfice
grows gray with age, and almost tumbles in ruins
oeipre TIE iasy part IS lifted from the dust: her
highest officers are sustained with so aYaricious
SO hiSsard'y hand, that il they are not driven
| 10 suosst on roots, and drink dicl,-watel. with
OH Fanrcius, It IS not for the want of renubli-
can economy in the projectors of the salaries !.
and, above all, the general culture of the human
ihu' mat pest cure for the aristocratic distinc-
IONS which they profess 10 hate that best basis
Iot the social and political equality. which The,
profess TO love this culture instead of hect6,.
lng national care, is :nstrusted merely To such
individuals, as hazard, indulgence. misfortunes Or
crimes, have forced from Their native Europe. 10
seetSSn asylum and bread infhe wilds of Amer.
lea" VI 'A'''sF''
we wo'ild' perhaps, in the next place, call un-
Ion de:l TO Turn their eyes 10 the improved con.
Id't'oh OF most OF the states north oftIe Potow.
in@o' ana 70 compare with the aspect of those
5Sates, the general features oftheir own co,,ntr,
what reflections, what feeling would the str,kn-
lcontras' suggest and awakenl What emulation
iit IS calculated 10 create How the p.t,v and
erroneous OBJECTIONS Of avarice or ureind GO
would vanish before generous pride What
virginia aboundng in individual wealth. sh,,,Id
lconl"ue deiic ent IN public spirit, and N pnb6c
WORKS OF PRACTICAL utility ornamen al SD endor
The very thoughts would be sufficient 10 c,.,,,,
son the cheel, of patriotism win saya,,, ana
non2r%oie blush and to produce an arden Wiz,
ior mat very system which the late general As
Isemoiy have so wisely and so zeatouSiv D,,rs,,sd
! qua Wha', tpen, have he neinbers OF ,bat A.
sfmb!y zone, ihat their popularity .houId he o.,
IdanSefed Have they sqliandered away The .,
sources or he State IN prepos,rolls aDproDriatio,
-" HWoIo'S barren, unpr0duc' " scheme, -
vas II iothihg 70 open new and easy commuo,.
CAUCUS between the various parts OF . co,n,,,,
between the luxuriant spots where o,,r go.
commodities are taught to grow by agrcnlt,,r,l
industry and those cities or towns, where cam.
merce receives and pays for them Was il No
kulmS 20 provide for the extension of the banelft
ueFINed from the navigation Of our laire ,;vsts ,
! was itnothng to pave the way for q General ,l;c
lus!on OF Enowledge--fOr = system of instynr
ton winch promises 10 place the m1ss or d.
ieOP's On the msh ground OF moral Respectable,
| w was 1t nothing to rescue the character ot
The State from the reproach of ineratit,,ds -,
wards The most llustrious of her sons bv ,,Is,,
ning for his earthly remains magnificent yoa,,sl-
ieum f--Much more has been done bv tbs lsts 90.
neral Assembly. Let the Constituents -s,,Iss b.
Journals OF thRtmemorabe sessiorI-I ~ tl,e,, noel,
tle happy change ~ the spirit of Our lerrsl,ios
ther elevated cOurse--their noble eoncs,,s,,,s
their viyiyng activity The members 81 tbo I ..
gisLtpTe had elted ideas Of The Peonle ,ybe
,us{ rei,eu onthe'r9PProbation & supportuf apo.
Vei Dul oenehoIa & admirable system which they
lpursuetl--Sball the People, or any po,t,on ~ tb
People, belle the esteem and beirs,, tbe nooE
dence of their Representatives by trov,n,no. on
those Legislators who al tie same time tbat 3bev
have relieved as from many burthens. have b,5
| wisdom and courage enough TO retain t,xes adj,
quate % improvements Oh which, the con, ,r,,s .
and increase OF our prosperity essentially denend
We hope not--lIcre and there SOLITARY r,rr,o,,
may be he1d-but the general voice Is loud IN
lf1s apPlase OF these men who have not despaire6
Of tue public mnd--and who have laid the f9un.
da'ioH o. our zeal aud permanent greatness
FRANCE.
The intelligence last received at Balt;n,,e
rom boIeeauA, shews that the spirit Of isrance il
not yel extinct. Observe that only sr,all noe.
ton Of The truth reaches us.---We bave lit,ie
d9Hb' ofyey serious troubles agituin,. the ysj,of
% that county al the present moment ri,
next arrivals will probly disclose 10 orr view
SCSies no less mOmentOus and inierestins- tl,sr