Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-02-07

~ ''''sl -ue CDiOnc I, WHO had mi aSngie re-
| preventative in tc British parliament. and OF
which no portion was paid by the reDresenta,iv..
who ev'oried Il; and which revenue tins ext,,rt.
| ed was applied, not - defrav exocnces incur.
| ed ~ The government aud Inain;ena of the
Colonies, h1. IN the Persecution of the Color:es,
ar squanderel in distan, reg .ons TO pamper The
hSatia'e avarce of orr cruel and unprincipled
o?orsssors. Nv heart nev n brnods over the his
| tor or those memorable dIvs but with panec
vibrating on its tende nerves and never. never,
without putting up the voluntary Offering of it's
gratitude, Ia The good Be;pg, bv whose proviclen
tai aid our agsreve;i and prosecuted fJref,thers
did finally prevail over the hard ,s"essure of their
rd'hfui foes -and really, when .oolS back to the
period when the nation was bowed down TO the
most degraded attitude which EnglsE arrogance
ana domination Could HDoSe, and then cast nv
eyes fprwar;lto he peace, plenty, prosperity and
Happiness uhch reign throughout the land. 7 be-
come astonslcii tn see any of my cn,lntrvmen
address gave anil studied argument to tile .
gislature, for the purpose Of drawinE a parallel
between what we s,rrc aud what we are, IS if s.e
had nor risen one inch from tie miro into VII cb
we were tr0dden BY the covcn faot Of ENGLISH
w.ckedness AVID persecution. Inst cad Of pnral-
lei, there runs con rast between these perio .
OF our history; = contrast, which for the prjd.
and honor OF our country, ami the liberty of
mark nd, hope will be eternal, as it is OBJ
viots.
We are told, too, that TO confne tic right of
suffrage TO the holderq OF real estate is 10 create
fearful aristocracy in the nation TO the injury
and oppression Of every other cl ss of the COM
inunity. So fur has il been from Creating t.e I'm
due influence of an arstocratc order in society
that dare hazard The opinion, that nothing can
have greater tendency to Keep down the natu-
ra arst0cracy CT the nat or, than the mode of
suffrage which now prevails. What may aDoeor
stringe and prradoYlcal may very elsily solved
| The D,OrrefOpS of psi estate who ~ ,.as-,,,
| are alone competent 60 the management Of poll
teal affairs are generally honest aud irdsren-
lent, aud it would be vain and hazardous IN any.
cardidate for popular favor, to endeavour to d.
rect the Suiirages of such men through the in
! siTmentality Of bribery and crrcuption There
is repeat, an honest independence in this order
of men winch overawes and p-os.rstss corrtip-
ton But once extend the right of .uff.are 10
| al clasFeg Of the community. and you give dam
| ger7us innlence to every man of ambition and
opuence bv enabling him % direct the suffrage
nf hose who are dependent upon hun. For, in
! every community there are to be found nun
| her Pillow bred and u7prncipled dependents IN
on opuent patrons and employers, who tljnl. the
surrender their political rights and privileges.
| the cheapest price which could possibly be pad
| for the retention of their places ard who could
regard it rs fcl!y and maduess to excite The dis
| pleasure OF their employer by DENYING him the
! disposal of their suilrages. For insia nce, the
| wealthy owner ola large tannerv. or stemmary of
| tobacco the undertake. Of q bridge. canal. or
| turnpike road, usually las number of these de.
pcndents who look upon him for emu ovment ana
| support, and who easilv trainCd tn practise
every conformity to his wishes. st eve-v election
| then this wealthy and Influential D ron might
| lead TN his band of hired and prosecuted voter.
| tn the polls snd readily dec de the c1n,est-And
LEI mt gentlemen suppos" that i; is scarcely ros
s;ble for this tn happen; that give an exap- ra-o
tod ~ mo iIa tiattt
mar nature. fea" hat corruption & her hdeotis G.
democrats 'nr g-oHp are the natural consequences
| OFT opulenrc of any cnuntrY. Look at England
| where the p~evaiencv Gf bribery and cor,rpf ION
| has - tended 10 destroy all sense of ,her cri.
| miualty, that evcry imporrn election exhibits
a grand mart az which, place and power &C or
dinarilv sold, IN nper dav. % the highest oder
pnd there are recorded instances of tes,amentarv
lcgac'eS avowedy bequeatled by parsonage, of
| the 8, consideration 10 purchase up seats in the
! n:itish Parliament THIS does really seem 10
Indicate ta' abholred miserable stage of society
| IN Which crimes cease IN be Infamous from the
| frequency of their occurrence, and where public
vr,uc is deenriled Of her strongest barrier IN thu
u.,er ex incGoH Of ell honorable shame Should
We ever lp,ls with calm indifference upon such
sccnrs ofav0wed national corruption; should the
! morals Ct Cur society ever become so tainted m
| the very what's b. .ucl shameful such p-ni,ir,fa
venqltv. that rnor2eni, corrupt and cprrupt,np.
! 1'nb.r'cD, that restless and fsrnci0iIs mgnst sr
| which ~ country Ike ours, founded unon the
| moral force Of pui'l.c opinion, thing but The
! waEefli vigilance o. viriu0,,s people can hum
be aud subluc, viii begin 20 stir, rcqr her snaky
crest. PIT forth the omn potercc Of her horrid
| a'rcrgth wran her coils :ounl Tie arc of r,lr co.
verant, crurJe = 10 dus', 0uG nit he gIiJ'e AMI
f~nt"i7ps Of her hiiont s5oiis, eif2s trgysk fSs
comTNiY foe9rg mr. ht7ce G',d Hbe,fyin NE air -
Above ait let Us guard against the deprsvity OF
| moral aud the dPEenerecy of public vrtne-
These the lirnest pillars of soc,al happiness ;
re very ground work upon which tie stability of
or free and glorious institutions must ever de
! pend.
II is asked il any thing can he more unjust an 4
! ini4utOnq than TO compel those, who have no
voice in the p"blc counc S--io paw taxes. repair
roads 10 Pa,role for the public security, perform
militia service, and in tire hour re trial and of
difficulty, 10 fight lie battles Of their country
II m Ebt be asmfIicient answerto this enquiry, to
| rotor; the question: and To ask Nv turn If any
thing could be more unjust cad iniqp, tous, than
! 20 permit men, who arc capable Of perfrm,ng an
these various duties Of The tizen, 10 remain a.
morg va, 20 pay no taxes. perform no services ;
10 c''iOy the fullest benefit fall the laws and 60
he bound by none fought fIcy to be pro. cted
BIZ the government and laws 70 which they think IL
fair and honest to refuse their obedierre and To
the enactment 2 adm nstration Of when they fail
~ contrbute' With what face can they COMPLAIN
lnfapriyilegcd order socisty, when they think +,
Just and proper that hey Themselves should be in
the exercise % privilege winch would defeat he
very ends and institutions oftbe government under