Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-03-18

y, " ''. II NOT NC plft To lliterr.Dt
,n's worthy, happy man, IN the midst ot
TVS ehlos heh'S, ny converting him into a
Constitutions maker! Let us now view hin,
'ii Ills new character add occupation, with
horn-booA in lis hand, reading the Viz
s"i'a" consultation, aud reasoning ulpp
it, n prio,i, hooking for its defccts AMI
pointing out the appropriate remedies.
Would Gentlemen expect that he wnulJ
be able TO hammer out q Con.,;t,,;on
with as much drNterityas he would ham
mer out d broad-axe ? And what wouM
be the inevitable effects ofthis change az
occupation, upon himself, his family and
his country! Instead of The enioy,neu;s
naturally flowing from accomplishiuc all
his objects in his old calling. he wonld le
filled with chagrina and modification. from
his iacapaclty, and disappointment in not
accomplishing amy thing in his new one.
he would besfripped ofalllis honest ear
nlngs, which gave him all his domestic
comforts. Instead of meeting, uron his
return from labor, with happy and CRATE
tui family, lie would meet his wretched
Wifc and children crying for bread, and
hnd himself destitute of the means of
relieving theif wants: and instead ofcon-
tributing hyhls progressive fortune TO the
wealth. and prosperity of his country, ne
might finally terminate tile wild career of
the politician, in the wretched pauper.
burthened upon the rest of the commu-
nifty. Some of these visionary rei;ners
who would convert every blacksmith, i'm
the nation into politicians, and expec,
great Improvement to their country in so
doing, would themselves revolt at recon
mending the misapplication of their TAI
ents and requirements i'm any other way
They could not without smile behold
the folly of such blacksmith, WHOM
throw off the labilincnts and imp,e-
mcnts of his calling, and proclaim him
selfProfessor Of mathematics or of Music :
who would take up the calling of . Dan
cingMaSter, a Ia made Francois. aiDia.,an
Singer, or of Lady's Frseur, without
any previous preparation for either. Yet
the metamorphosis would not be more ri
dIcu!ous in either oftbose cases than in
the case o!the politician, especially ofthe
mostpro!oand cast of the sect. the Con-
sihuiion makers by reasoning priori.-
( Indeed, IT is wonderful, That in tie sci
ence of politics, which ~, 0fali Others. the
most intricate and inscruta'lc, requiring
the deepest reflection and the most pro-
found thought, together with the most
extensive knowledge Of facts. as the rudi-
tyis thought TO be proficient, without
any previous preparation; while, in eve
~ other ART and science, much prepara-
ton is deemed Indispensable necessary.
This tIoaShtess inconsistency can only
be accounted for by the error before ey-
planned, 10 wit {: that mankind in general
are enormously supposed 10 act bv rea
soning in anticipation, in the exercise Of
their olitIcaifunctions; whereas, in fact,
tlIev can ONLY act UNDERSTANDABLE by ex-
pertinent and feeling. Their competence
TO act in this mode is admitted in its full
extent. Every man knows best where
his Gown shoe pinches," and can. of
course, point out the best remedy. -
These reflections naturally prepare the
mind for considering the mistaken impress
sions which, il is believed. exist, in form
ing an estimate OF the different degrees
of responsibility attached TO different
conditions and occupations Of man in So
cial life. Superficial retincrs seem TO la
Dor under the mistaken impression, tina.
the laboring portion of mankind is placed
III degraded condition in society. and
that it would be great Improvement to
the condition of laborers, TO convert them
into politicians.-Upona more thorough
examination, it will he found that no one
description Of men is more happy. more
useful or,more respectable, than the no.
nest Iaborers III every calling. Bv apply
ing the faithful description Just before gi-
ven ofOne ofthem 10 the whole class. the
foregoing conclusion would be inevitable.
Whilst every honest, industrious laborer
is enjoying thc best of blessings allotted
to man i'll this lower world, he is adding
TO his own wealth and prosperity, and
TINS adds 70 the general stock of the
wealth and prosperity Of his countrv.-
What condition can be more rcspec-
table than hisl None, in the eyes ofwise.
rejecting men. Compare The condition
of professed Constitution makers with
his, aud surely lie will not suffer in the
comparison. The contrast vii, not be
attempted in all lis various bearings. be-
cause ii might be supposed nv some to
SAVIOR ofinvidious feelings, which can ne
yer be INDUCED OH any occasion, nor to-
wards any description Of men. Suffice
it. then. in general, to say, that whilst the
iaborer is enjoying ailthe pleasures CON
tinuallv flowing from the successful ac-
complishmcnt of all the objects of his
calling, the Constitution maker is perpet-
ualy laborlng under the modification
and disappointment. from his incapacity
10 accomplish any thing. Constitutions
are seldom made perhaps not one in a
century If but rarely happens during a
life-time.-And If, after all the turmoil
and trouble which necessarily precede it,
he should at length succeed in calling a
Convention for the purpose his morlifica-
ton aud disappointment are generally
doubled, when he finds to his astonish-
tDf ne OF l.. l.