Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-06-24
[FOR THE ENQUIRER.
NO. 1.
a CRITICIZE

taS pFetCui0H or CSutV-
AT a period, when the spirit of party is
Welding its baDesnl influence, TO the be-
| nign influence of the spirit Of free and IL
beral enquiry after political truths; it
| wa TO have been expected from the no
ve.ty and popularity of the contents of
Mr.. Hays speech, in favor of propo-
sition for repeating all existing laws for
the prevention Of U>ury, especially when
considered as the exposition of AN impor-
taat Legislative measure then offered for
actual adoption; that more notice w0;ld
have been taken of it in the public prints,
than can be found I'm two or three fugi-
tive editorial plaa;its.
Independently of the extensive read
ing and crudition, displayed in this
speech; and the profound and logical ar
gumemis in support of the proposition
Immediately under discussion, which a.
lone are calculated to attract The most
earnest attention oftlle reader il abounds
with sound political axioms, applicable
as well TO other points of political eco
nomy, as to il; and in this respect, is
entitled TO additional consideration. The
first effort, however great, TO eradicate
preiudices of more than three thousand
years standing, by the mere force of rea-
son, unaided by any present political oc-
sure, is certainly bold & hazardous; g. con-
siiering the nature of man in his most iibe-
ialiZed state of mind, could not be expect
ed TO comm and success in moment
More hopelessstill would be tleeXperiment
iii the first instance; when ii is recol-
lec,ed. that the particular prejudlices to
! be coinl,atted, and overcome, was origi-
nally introduced by the bigotry and fol-
| ~ of fanatical priesthood and after
wards supported aud continued by the
cemented interests OF the Who'll corps, of
| whatever sect, denomination or country.
"A body OF men SO formidable, cspcci-
ally IN days OF ignorance and superstition,
as 10, be able not only to enforce their
J own dosnias, however absurd, cruel or
caprilious upon their blind votaries
| but 10 convert every reluctant, as well
as willing politician into an instrument
forrivetting iais despotic dominion, both
over their minds, as wellas their purses
As was to have been expected, this first
effort failed, even before the enlightened
| House Of Virginia Delegatcs-But Mr..
fiay'iS certainly entitlc- 10 the credit of
being the first 10 encounter this formi-
| dable prejudice; and 10 the still greater
credit Of encountering it with force of
| reasoning, which it il thought, has left
the other side OF The question, nothing
but the prejudice itself for its own sup,
port; although Mr.. Hay himself, NAV
not have escaped from the conflict with
out receiving some honorable political
scars. Relieving that this speech pre-
SCENTS favorable opportunity for calling
the attention of the virgin.an people, to
important points cf political economy.
intimately connected with their best in
terests and wishing TO see truth investi-
gated and discovered, solely for its own
sake, prefering its beneficial effects on So
ciety generally TO any effects which its
development may produce on particular
men, or particular measures; the writer
proposes critically TO examine if, as well
in regard to the language, and style of
fhe composition, as III regard to the me-
rif OF she argument; connected with the
! policy OF the measure recommended bv
r.-Perhaps 1t may be thought, that this
undertaking is also bold and hazardous
effort; and vii subject the writer to just
criticism. AlltlIis is readily in his turn
admitted but the writer is willing To-
subject himself to all the risk, and deli
cacy attending IFS execution (eyen If his
name should be disclosed to the publick.
which Is not intended y because he is
| more emulous ofavailing himself OF every
fair opportunity OF attempting to render
service to his country than he is OF his
own literary or political fame and his
Inducements 10 this undertaking are not
d little increased by the pleasure he ex-
poets TO receive in tile performance of
the task, assigned to himself, in consc-
| quence ofseeing in the subject offered for
criticism, 81 much TO applaud and admire
and so little, requiring censurc or corrcc-
tion.-ihe language OF this speech is in
general unusually cbaste, correct. and
grammatical /; but perhaps not altogether
exempt from just criticisms In these re-
spects.-IIhe following sentence is Sc
iecieh, as an example of incorrect, If not
icalcomposifion:
The same historian informs us. that Horny
Itn, nor only enacted laws against interest, but
against all profit on bills of exchange. hi.
needless, he says. TO remark, that these laws
could not be executed. What Sir. moi ex
| ecuted by Henry 7th,a mser, as well as ~
rant whose agents we're active and eager i'm
pursuit OF penalties, aud alike yeyardIess
OF the means, as well as miscbiefs of e8tnrti,,g
them?
In the formation of this sentence the
Term "a ike) and las well ash are nm.
nece 'sary and improper-each of these
terms, comprehends in itseIfa comnlrtc
comporlson.-Both of them. form a don
bic comprehension strict exami,,a-
tlon OF the whole contents of this specch
1t is evident; that Mr.. Hay has employ,
ed,great study in the selection of words
and IN their collocation and possesses
an ear of extreme delicacy in relation to
composition; and that his love of the
melody OF language has driven him in
10 an extreme, on several occasions. in
searching tor harmonious sounds by de-
VerslIying Ills representative not this
error De properly attributed to this de-
ncacy upon the exclusion of the term,
las well as) it would have become neres'
sary to supply its place with the connla.
tive lanll.-.Elis ,onuId h...... ...-.-.I- l.