Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-08-01

the prejudices respecting the usury laws.
are now in full force aud vigor. In the
one case, the mists of prejudice are al
ready dissipatcd by the light of truth; in
the other, the light of truth is still ohscur-
ed by the msts of prejudice
| Perhaps these cases may also serve to
| show the present improved condition of
man, and ofsociety. For whilst Mr.. HIS
notable discovery, supported with great
| eloquence and conclusive arguments, has
not honored him with a distinguished
station III one OF The cells of the inquisi-
hon, II has certainly had some influence
IN Withdrawing him, temporarily al least,
\ from the arduous service of empIoyins
his acknowledged talents in the future
| service of his beloved country. But MIR.
| II. may ENJOY the sweet consolation, de-
| rived from the sure and certain hope, that
I'D some future day, perhaps III less than
] TWO centuries, some distinguished orator
In the Nirglnign House of Delegates, NAV
| trIumpbanily introduce his name, If not
| as the first dlscoverer of the mischeis Of
| the laws against usury, at least as the first
adventurous propOser of their total sub
version, with the same respectful venera-
ton, that he himself has done the name
OF Calico, for reviving the great Copern-
can principle ofthe planetary system. As
MT: II. has given many examples of the
iollles and prejudices Of former DAYS, and
avoided all reference to the present tines,
| 1t might be inferred that follies and pre-
| JUDGES have ceased to exist il is there
fore proposed, TO add an example gilmore
recent date, more Immediately at nome,
| and oil course, more within the compass
ct correct recollection, and estima,ion.-
For this purpose the enlightened citizens,
and the more enlightened legislators OF
the Commonwealth of Virginia, shall be
resorted 20. During The STATE Of the CO.
loniai slavery and dependence of Virginia,
/ In the laws for The inspection Of tobacco,
was contained the unprincipled and dcs-
, potic regulation OF requiring all tobacco
! TO be burnt, which was not deemed by
certain public inspectors TO contain all
the necessary qualities to honor it with
passport into the public warehouse-how-
ever lit, or valuable for home consume
ton, ii 1t was thought not TO be in CON
dltion to staud sea voyage to c.. Brit
| aln, 1t was taken from the owner, and
burnt before his face In brick funnel, by
lie public Inspector, under the sanction
Ola public law. A more despotic outrage
upon the rights Of private property, it is
believed, cannot he found in the history
of nations But this act of despotism
4
country, not originally adopted bv The
will, nor for the benefit of the colony.
| Under the influence of this regulation, our
fathers and ourselves were born and our
preIudlces became so Infatuated, and de-
voted TO IT, tlatit required nine and twen-
| ~ years, alter the declaration of indie
pendence, before these preludices could
be overcome by the force of reason. 1t
was not till 1905, that the owner of refuse
tobacco was permitted to dispose of ii for
IFS actual value. II in these enlightened
| days, ii required all the efforts of human
intellect. to conquer prejudice like this,
Is 1t at all 10 be wondered at, that some
time longer would be required TO conquer
a prejudice transmitted from father 10 son
for above three thousand years protect
ed too by the impregnable shield of reli-
Slous fanaticis,n, and supported by the
policy OF powerful governments During
the sessions of the General Assembly OF
l79S---l7G9, an attempt was incidentally
made, TO repeal this obnoxious provision
III the inspection laws; and no person but
an attentive observer at the time, can
form any conception of the CONSERVATION
the proposition produced amongst The to-
blcco planters The repeal would destroy
the character of the staple article of the
country aud in its destruction, would
be involved the destruction of their pri-
vaie fortunes, &c. Why or wherefore
could not be told, nor was il Necessary :;
The practice was sanctitied by the wisdom
OF our fathers touch it not, said thew,
with Your sacriiegious hands (! In vain il
was said, that the regulation was introdu-
ced originally for the benefit of foreign
merchants, and not for the benefit of tire
planter /; that it was the most disgracefil
remaining badge of colonial dependence
that the sale at home of that, which was
unfit tor foreign market, could not af-
feet the quality or reputation of that,
which VAS TT for that purpose; that the
note given by the inspector for passed to-
bacco, was nothing more than a public
pledge OF IFS quality, and Of its being in
condition TO stand sea voyage that sell
ing refuse tobacco by the owner i'm its
true character, could not possibly affect
tlte true character oftIiat, which was wor-
thy OF being received in the public ware
| houses. Besides, the outrage was render
ed peculiarly distressing to tue owner in
| inns case, because great portion of the
| tobacco thus refused, was admitted by
The refusing public inspector, and every
body else, to be of better quality for do
nestle uses, than great portion of that
which was passed, and received into the
public warehouses; the ground of refusal
not being or account of its defective qua
lily, nor any pretended fraud by the own
er, but because of lis being put up too
wet, or TO use the planters phrase, in too
high case, to stand seavoyage, &c. &c.
All these reasons availed nothing. Nei.
Their the pride OF lreemeu Just emancipat-
ed from degraded slavery, nor The clear
est demonstrations of impartial INTEL CT,
could avail any thing against the all-pow-
crtul Influence of prejudice which stuck 10
us at our births. The propositionwas then
compelled To hide its diminished head
from TIN