Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-05-29
FROM A PARIS PAPER.

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| ofhe District Of Colum5ia, By d. B.
| WARDEN.
| The United States of America have re-
| solved the most important and most diff
| cult problem that has ever occupied the
| mind Of man, msan the establishment of
| liberty without RIGHTEOUSNESS, and of order
| without oppression these advantages re-
suit not only from tine social institutions
| adopted by the Americans, but from their
| geographical situation. They are not sur
rounded by jealous and restless eishbors !;
the wars which they have to wage against
toreign enemies cannot menace Their indie
pendence they seem to live in a region
always calm, from whence they contem
plate without fear for themselves, the
political storms which asitate and overthrow
other stat, S.
Montesquieu has enquired into the prin-
ciples of different governments, and es-
tablished them with a superiority of
discernment which was to be expected
from his genius. However, as the great
republic Of tbs United States had Hot vet
existed at the epoch when he elevated the
human understanding so high. it wanted a
subject of observation which should have
revealed tot a new principle of govern
ment. more durable perhaps, and more en-
ergetc tn n all others. know OF no phrase
which can better express my meaning than
the words shirit Of PROPERTY lesprlt de
proprie te.l All the effects which Mon
tesqu ca attributes to virtue in republics,
are. In the United States, the natural Pro-
duce Of the spirit OF property.
Among no other people do we find, in the
same degree as with the Americans.
respect SO inviolable for the right of prop
erty and employ the expression in rs
widest latitude it is not only out of man
that property is discoverable, but in man.
An American ruled by tas sentiment,
which he has perhaps never defined, sets as
much value on the improvement of his
faculties, the cultivation of his ason, on
freely manilesting his thoughts, preserving
the opinions acquired by the exercise Of
Judgment. as to enjoy in peace the actual
products OF his industry, or to fractify the
yet virgin soil which is to recomp nse his
labours. When an American citizen is
asked for the gro1rd of his attachment to
the political Constitution Of his country, he
simply answers, il is my frofieTty this
reply eXonorates him from all other argu-
mentaton, and in fact it appears to me
more conclusive than the distractions of.
publicists.
Thus whatever appertains to the Citizen,
whatever touches his rights, is sacred III
the United States. He stalks freely and
proudly on his native soil, fearless of the
jealousy of malevUlence or the stab of an
informer. He accounts not for his actions
but to that common law which is the pro-
perry OF all he gives to his abilities, intel
lectual and physical, all the Development
OF which they are susceptible he is
happy enough 70 desire neither Change
IN his laws nor III rhe condition of his fam
lily.
This idea Of property, this general SEN
timent IS represented more particularly by
tie Eotions annsx rd to territorial or landed
property. The class If America cultiva-
tors is the most Influential in the United
States. it is supposed with reason that they
reckon as more important than any other,
the right ut property, the principal supper
ter OF Institutions founded on the same
ght. Nearly all the cultiyators. impro-
perry called farmers, possess experience
and Information. They hold seats in the
legislative assemblies and the councils of
government; this class has produced elo-
quent orators irreproschable magistrates,
skIlful anil courageous captains General
Jackson, who distinguished himself in Lou
isiana by his heroism and MS victories, had
forsaken his farm to fly TO the defence OF
his country. Washington was originally
farmer.
tbs co7s Iteration, attached to agricul--
tural lab1rs, is not one ofthe smallest causes
OF me growing prosperity of the u.
STATES. The xienslve banks of the Ohio,
tn vast plains OF Genessee, the immense
s.vanHas Of the Southern states, are peopied
with individuals vino seek Country, with
c pital st, who think in earnest Of the pros
perty OF their families, such as they
obtain by tile culture Of lands yet in need
of clearing, still free, and without mise
~.
There, as in the time Of the patrarchs,
a happy old man may see his descendants
cover tracts of thirty leagues with their
habitatons and flocks, aad this without abu-
ses or violence, without their neighbours
Of the least want at the view
OF such riches,
This prosperity displays Itself by pro-
gr. ss'on so rapid, that we must, in some
measure, never lose sight OF the United
States for single moment, but we inces-