Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-05-25

we ~. heartily disposed 10 admit, with Cowper,
at the paipit lin the sober Of its Legitimate pc
cul;ac powers,)
Must stand acknowledge, while the world shall
stand,
The most mport,nt and n .ctu,I guard,
Support and ornament u virtues cause.
But it does therefore ,ow tha. i, is the only
one. The TAcare will frequently impress The
iessons OF the preacher with irresistible force aud
in n ,nanaer ia most captivating. The under
standing Is convinced, well through the senses al
by direct appeal 10 reason and authority willis.
the heart q so,.enei and srbiued by the magic in
tuenec oh the authors genius, aRd the players
art The object OF the Theatre and the pi,yi,
(w!th reverence be 1t spoken is o'tcn the same
They both aim at the instruction of rsaaki,d, b.
placing before ther eyes In the mus, so wing
ionrs, the defor,nity and the natsa,;o n of vice
The passioos OF hatred and revenge, of coyetous-
ness, drunkenness, aad exterior of pril., hyro-
crs,, ard ambition, with many others by which
poor human nature 20 disgrac-d, are strapped by
both OF the mask W ch ccnceas tn IT. hl.ots fra-
lures, and ex:osed in ,hir Disgusting nake,inrss To
public execratrn. The sanctions to virtue not,
It IS true, IN either case, always the same. Nor is
II ne ssary thst Il should be M ono VII
tend that, because we haves,he highest motive +,
AVOID vicious condust-,he commands of God him
seit-rone other ought 10 be addressed to the mind.
Even ministers o.the gOspelv,ry frequently pr,
US from the Pulpit with o.her pow erEli motives
inl,ib ion OF a superior power hut they prove the
wisdom and propliety of that inhibition. by shcw-
ing us the TEMPORAL CO.'S querces oti.s Violations
the writer OF plays will seldom On modern times It
least endeavour 20 weak. the Obligations af rcli-
gion-but to fo-tify them by adding 10 its sanctions
other strong ones, derived from the mo I affecting
views oil human III the pursuit Of some riYo-
lOus vicious OH ct.
IL cannot be denied that there plays still
tolerated an the stage, wnose tende' cy is i'm oral,
ID t. Al
human prViuc'ions--Iu every Il partrnent ofitera-
tnre, we meet with he mperfectiuns to which our
nature IS SD isbIe-Ead h0.ks, having direct ten
dency to eneryate anil corrupt, continually issu-
iIS from the press-Srmo7s are delivered from
the pulpit, speeches from the Senate and the Bar,
and conversations every we. c, VII CHI had better ne
yer raach the public ear-Inieceut paintings ami
iascyious tunes mantle tie cheek with the blush of
raodesty, or excite some immoral des re-But are
we therefore 10 sfe the cnnceptions of genius, and
prescribe all The arts ard sciences Shall we read
no books, list IN no toquence, an shut eyes e.
ven "ron tie productions Of the magic pencil of
'ynclds of West /!
Ought we not to endesvor, rather, by all the
means IN Our power to correct the abuses to which
the best things liable, than by sens less deru
tnns, TO 10 nothing but expose our own ignora c.
AMI excite the disgust OF every thinking man2
Considering theatrical representations in the
cond point If r9erv it may be material to remark
that there are many things in themselves evil vi
OF avoiding or lessenng greater evils and more stro-
cions crimes. We are naturally led by prudence
and by wisdom to chuse the least Of two eyils-The
Statesman, the Legislator, the Moraist and the Di-
vine, all act upon this principle. Indeed, without
1t, We could not Justify the punishment of crimes
the asthority Oh governments, the existence OF evil
or " the ways OF God to man'--lts application is
constant, universal and Necessary.
Manypersons believe that aiThcatre viii have the
effect Of drawing the die. the say and the dsso'ute,
frrFr, II.
prsctces infinitely more vicious than any which the
seyerest censor Of that entertainment ascribed
toll. In considerable town, whittier " flows, as TO
common sewer, the dregs and fsculence ofevery
land, 1t is utterly impossible TO expect the whole
CIR even the larger part Gifts population to abstain
altogether from folly and vice
" Rank abundance breeds,
In gross and psmpered cities, sioth, and lust,
And wantonaess and gluttinous excess
which must and will find some yent.--if vou hare
no places OF public amusement, where the plea
sures OF taste and intellect may chasten and correct
the grosser passions you encourage the lowest
suality and iii the gambling houses the taverns anil
the brothels.-I'he man therefore, who wishes well
to morality and to relgion should pause and deeply
consider the consequences of driving large portion
of his fellow beings, to the hauns Of hopeless inf-
my, who might, by being lured to, | will not say
comparatively innocent amusements, be insensbly
reclaimed tn resnectablity.
f1he erection Of "A Theatre in this city is a subj ct
oe''t persons, lDeiiefem tlle
world, can have more respect for the {, eliaes of
those who have much cause tn regret that one
yer existed here, than mary who are anxious To see
the erection Of another-Four wears have however
now elapsed, since the DISASTROUS event which called
forth all our sympathies.-rhe population of Rich
mond has greatly changed, and is ever changing -
Few persons are lett ia it, who we're the immediate
sufferers in that ever-to-be-lamented calamity.
With them, am persuaded, the question is sslekp
one OF right or wrong, and ifthey are convinced ut
Its general good tendency upon either of the grounds
have stated, they will generously sacrifice their
feelings to the public interest-To think otherwise
would be a satire on their motives and characters
AS Tor the pulpit d:nIulciohon to which ailId ed
IN the first part Of this Communication, it might be
ndeeorous and improper 10 exEgess all the feelings
to which 1t gave occasIon.On Observation natural
iy ocears-that the age when denunciation was
powerful weapon in the hands of the clergy, has
passed by-Men may now be argued, but not ter
rified into r. asonable conduct. A Bridane would in
this age and country, WELD the thunders Of the
church, to little efsct-much less the feeble hands
that attempted to launch them.-I wouh, therefore,
humbly and with due reverence, submit to this gem
tieman the propriety eliminating the laudabe exam
pie ot some OF his very respectable brethren x of his
father, IN the church-persuade, advise, exhort and
reason-but leave denunciation to- Lord Peter AID
his followers. He may damn us for ever yet fail to
convince us, that brown Ioafis good mutlon, that
sweetness can be extracted from = lemon, or that
Theatrical Representations are the invention of the
Devil TAI.MA
no THE EDfTon--dcfed
Prince Edward Court House, .1fav con-
he people Of this county, have this dsy rt4ayli-
nousy resolved on addressing Ike Executive of this
af.fa Iii O.