Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-02-15

enturies, and sill holds lis head erect
More erect M ihecSiimation of many wise
aud rejecting men now, than at its origin
Such Il py'ejaf;rc as this would seem, al
first sight, 10 have something of principle
init. Let il be wei! examined then: lei
US see, whether this first impression be
true or false. But, first, what is it you
propose To do with this uncomfortable
prejudice Why, conquer the conqueror
10 be sure ; and then boast the honour of
the triumph, like true Americans i'm war,
conquering the conquerors of Europe
And how Is This to be done! By substi-
tuting it with another prejudice of AN OPP
poslie character-one quite cphemeral,
one that would be fortunate indeed, If it
withstood The shocks ofhaifa century uil-
der the llappiest auspices, aud which pro-
baby could not survive one general
internal connection, nor one disastrous
foreign war. Take care, gentlemen, how
you make this exchange of prejudioes.--
But tits OF feudaI origin. II has for cen
Barons." As long as we have tried it, it
has served us weil-And would YOU reject
it, because ii serves all well, who have
serves us well, would YOU reject ii, be-
cause it is called feudal, and served well
the ieudal Barons The prejudice, il
would be most honorable TO conquer, is
the prejudice OF names. 1t is imn,aierial,
whether it be called feudal or allodial, le-
ultimate orjacobInic2i, or even federal,
provided the thing itseif be right proyid-
ed upon experiment, it answers all lis
objects.
But may there mol be some mistake in
tins derlvatIony Nav we not find IFS ori-
gin IN still higher source In the reason
and nature of things? Ii SO, il might then
be digHiiied with the name of pufncipie
and thus exonerated from the injurious
imputation thrown upon it under the
name of prejndice.
Ii might not be an Improbable enqui-
~, 80 trace the nature and character of
the conneNion between the earth or soil
and the inhabitants, who owe their exist
ence to it, and draw their subsistence
from Il; and low far, and in what mode,
this conneXlon ought TO enter into the
consideration of society In the formation
OF government outuf the social com
pact. But this enquiry might lead into
reiinementS not necessary III The present
discussion, aud which would greatly eX-
cced lie bounds of these general refiectI-
ons. Suffice il TO say, that there does ex-
lsta strong and indiSsoluble connexion
between them, aud that it ought to have
. Just influence iii the formation OF every
free government. The opposers of the
freehold right Of suffrage appear TO labour
under an unconscious impression of tile
necessary influence oftlis connection, but
not 10 have analized il with sufficient at
tentlon. Hence, we find reproaches cast
upon our mother earth, without giving
them any direct bearing on the subject,
ordlstlnctly explaining TO us the object Of
such reproaches. "What, (says one, con-
temptnously,) shall we regard the earth
upon which we tread q What, (says
another,) shall we regard the freeholder,
with his fifty dirty acres % Yes, gentle
men 1t is true, we tread upon mother
earth, and she sustains our footsteps; we
dig into her bowels, and they afford us
food we ransack her, and plumber her of
her beautiful! AID variegated ornaments,
and they furnish us with all the necessa-
RES, comforts, conveniences, elcgancies
and luxuries of life. Every thing, from
the most brilliant gem that decks the
gaudlest princess of the east down TO
the common pabulum of life, is drawn
from the earth under various modiicati-
ons. Is it wonderful, then, that this earth
should be takeninto some little account
In the political concerns of man? And
may not this freehold right of suffrage,
this stubborn prejudice of so many cen
turtles standing, have grown out of this
connexlon2 And may motifs origin, then,
be found III therca and nature of
things, even anteccdcnt 10 the fcudal sys-
tem!
Let us present this connection in anotli-
er point Of view. When We speak OF
state, or commonweaith-th GEM
monMealih OF Virginia, for instance
what Impressions production our minds
by the conception ; and what impression
do we intend TO make on the mind of an
other by the expressioni Dove mean the
people OF Virginia, separate and distinct
from the land OF Virginia, or the land OF
Virginia separate and distinct from the
Vlrginian people! Or, do we mean the
people and the land taken collectively =
Certainly the idea comprehcnds bothland
and people. BY the commonwealth of
Virginia, IS meant certain territory
bounded by certain geographical limits,
over which the people OF Virginia eAer-
else jurisdiction.
This view of the subject suggests a
PLAIN and obvious question TO the mimi.
Is Il not more likely that those who are
owners OF the soil, and feel d deep inter
est IN 1t, would make good and wholesome
rules Of conduct to be observed bV all
who I've upon Is and draw their suDsst
ence from It, than those who have no inte-
rest III IT, and may change their residence
without inconvenience 1T would seem.
that on d proposition SO plain, all man
kind would answer in The affirmative.
'Inis fAgB the frtse ofiorf r. e.,