Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-04-24
VIRGINIA ARiIJe.
W. Asbntes iamns, e sonrent H,acnte-
Richmond. 8prH "a, 1916.
E X R.4 CT.

Uf young VTginan of the most amiabIe
disposition and whose native talents and acouirei
knowledge promise 10 his country an extensive
career of social usefulness, many months ago
placed in our hands manuscript from which we
have made the annexed extract Many will M
doubt be disposed to rank the writer among the
benevolent enthusiasts, whom the world calls
VISIONARY philapIhrUDists No mstter--s,rb
dreams are better than the stern and reDuIsive
realities which the present times exhibit in the
Eastern Hemisphere.
81 have hazarded the opinion that the enamel
nat ion Of the human race from the woke of mon
archy IS an EVENT. which we may look forward
with the most certain expectation offuIhlInrnt
and, as ii is an event so desirable for America
and subject of such deep interest to all man
Kind, it may not be improper to expose the foun-
dation upon which that opinion rests Since the
tailue of the French revolution, the opinion that
this expectation IS ch;merical and delusiye. seems
gradually 20 have gained ground, and IT IS now.
too generally trea ed as the visionary dream Of
enthusiasm, rather than the sober and impartial
conc us;on Ofreason and experience am aware
hat the opinion of the oand is established on a
very different foundation aud that The French
revolution is held up only hy the hired adherents
ct monarchy TO brighten mankind into subm 8.
sion OF Their reason TO authority, and 10 turn th m
from an investigation which would shew them
the absurdty ut forming general theory up N
an individual experiment, an experiment too no,
tend ng, in the smallest degree, Ia Illustrate he
republican system m its generic cha acter and
only shelving It, under the notifications Il NAV
assume in the hands Of vice, ignorance, aud I'M
DrmcIpled faction. But those who reject the ex-
recitation Of The general freedom Of mankind as
the offspring Of the so much rediculed doctrine
Ut pertectbility, are unphllosophical as those
Whn infer It's impOssibility from the French revo-
luton; Nor are those more rational, who infer
II from little progress which mankind have
already made IN that desirable event The sIov,
progress of liberty throughout the world Is M
more an argument against is future advanc ement.
than the stu slower progress IF christianity Is
against the probability Of its future prevalence 8.
vet, separated from the support which the latter
opinion derives from prophecy, 1t is rendered
highly probable. indeed lmay say nes Unable from
its intrinsic excellence, and its superiority to the
pagan superstitions which now prevail over more
than halt Of the human race II may be- said
that christianity is professed byeyery civil.
zed nation on the globe, and that 1t is no long er
opposed, except by The ignorance Of savage life
whist republican government, is unpopular. even,
among those nations which have attained the
highest pO nts of refinement and civilizst,on.--
But w the early ages Of christianity We find that
us hrst progress vas among people who were ir-
norant and Illterate, and that Il met with rnuci,
greater opposition among the Greeks and Romans
then the most enlightened nations in the world
than m any other country. The reason Of th.g h
very obvious. The superstitions Of the Greeks
and Romans, which were so intimately intcryo
ven with their civil institutuns-the sane ner.
Sons frequently exercisingtle functions of naf,is
tra'e and priest-the splendor oftheir worshiD-
the magnihcence Of their temples, ana their con.
Tempt for the ignorance ofthe Je vs. among whom,
The frst apostles of the gospel arose, all contrib
u'ed 20 confirm them u their attachment to their
own forms of worship, and to make them desD,se
and reject the simplicity of The christian religion
There are precisely similar causes VIII ch Com.
bme TO oppose the progress Of republican liberty
among The present enlightened nations of Europe
! ne Immense engines by which the thrones Of
Europe support their power--the subserviencv
OF The P.iiieged orders, the NOBILITY. he eqts-
blisied clergy, the hierarchy the unlimited
command over the national treasury, acquired b,
corruption which gives them the same influence
over the wpriviieged and tie splendor and
pageartry BY which they are surrounded which
dazzle the judgement, and maintains a rsrpetu.I
mutation IN every class, for participation, r-n-