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

c,ous of all moments, 10 suggest dpprOprl-
.ste remedies for iancied evils. Ii Is only
,,ben real evils exist, that proper rene
d;cs. suited 10 such evils, can be applied.
FOR. if YOU first fancy the EVIL, aMd i!ien
,:;ncy tic remedy, is II not more than
probable, that some error. VIII creep
,nto these iauiaslical exercises OF TIE
mind !
Di,trust then for an instant, Your own
theories. Deliberate wen npon them.
Understand them ~ their miGutest bear
;u0s TO the fraction of Il hair. Their iij-
nortance demands at least tins at your
hands. Yonr bold and dangerous enter
trize. which puts al hazard the dearest
rirhts of the people, renders this obliga-
lion iinperous. Ana III the mean time,
nav some decent respect 10 lie voice OF
experience. Why should not experience
beheard upon this, as upon al other en-
ouries after truth?
Politics 81 all other, IS 4 science, the
most Intricate, and lnscrutable; otcourse,
IN politics, where experience can he re-
sorted 10, wise men would cling TO II, per
hops rs the cniy, ceriaieiy as tn, best test OF
irath. Philosophers, have for long
time puzzled themselves, With attempts,
todisco erin tie moral world, some hvaIi-
able and never falling standard, OF test OF
truth. Very Witnessed criterIa, have
heen fixed on 5y some Of them but for
weak moria;s, With very limited uncer
tain powers Of mind, il seems 10 be a.
greed. tint experience IS the best ard
safest resort; and the confidence in lis
results should always be increased, IN
proportion 10 the difficulties attending
the investigation of lhe subject, to which
IT is applied, and the uniformity OF such
results, after frequent trials, and the
long duration of them.
But the human mind Is al ali times de
lighted with INDUCING in theories OF It's
own creating. No occupation l. more
general amongst mankind, none more
delightful in IFS execution, tlIah that,
whichis sometimes iiguratl,elY describ-
cd, as the occupation " of building cas-
Ties III the am" Hence The false theories
which have done so mucii mischief III the
world. None promises 10 add more TO
this general scene, than the political tie
cries now afioat; and perhaps more IN
Virginia, at tins moment, thauany where
else. Theories, however, abound every
where and Ill every thing that appertains
70 human concerns. Look AT the theories
in religion and consider their effects, i'll
sending hecatombs oflnIman victims out
of this world, for not agreeing TO save
their own souls, upon going 10 the next,
according TO lie dogmas prescribed
for them Look AT the false theories of
the physical world-For finding out lon
gitude: perpetual motion; and Redhei-
fers commentary upon the latter. See
the thousand theories i'll the medicinal
art. Consider how many human beings
have been sent out this world within
few years, III consequence of the theory,
that two diseases could not exist in the
human system at The same time and in
terrlng, mat as mercury III sutncent
quantities would certainly produce one
disease, ii would Is certainly destroy the
one pre-eXisting IN thesy stem and then
The disease produced by the mercury,
could itself be destroyed, and thereby
the patientwould be 81, ed buinne times
ont often, the remedy first destroyed the
patient.
The world is at this time awfully ad-
monshed Of the horrible effects Of poliii-
cal theories Republican France disco
,ercd and proclaimed tie pertcctibiity
OF inas,." The rage for amending our
Constitution, is believed, to be one OBJECT
OF that discovery. Ii duly examined, it
will be found 10 be intimately connected
with il in all lis essential consequences.
Both proceed upon fattering, but erro-
neous estimate of human nature. Both
proceed upon The same theory tha4 OF
relaxing the restraints, which the expert
ence of all times, aud of all nations has
demonstrated, to be necessary for curb
ing the iicentious vices of man. What
effects has France experienced from in
dulging In this delightful vision? Pre-
ciseiy what we shall experience by adopt
ingthe same false theory nor will any
difference in the disguise, produce any
difference in the effects.
Is it believed, that the most Jealous
theorst amongst us, is more certain et
the goosl ELECTS of his own visions, than
were the patriotic zealots OF France, in
their grand discovery OF the perfectibIlily
ofmanl 4 conception SO iiattering TO hu-
nan nature, as TO silence the voice of
truth, and frown down every effort of
fair investigations. From pursuing one
false heory after another, what has France
suffered and Ia what is she now redu-
ced Nay, in the very zenith oftle prac-
lice, under this false theory what an
Inconsistent spectacle did Republican
France exhibit TO the world At the
4 sameiime, proclaiming the perfectihility of
i man and daily sending 10 the guiIloline,
4 hundrads of her wiSesi and best citizens,
H for imputed human innperlections under
accusat,onstoO eyidenciug lgreater hui
4 man imperfections Pause reflect. make
assurance doubly sure" before you put
at hazard the best government in the
. world, in the laudable, but vain hope of
4 making ii better. IN the present state Of
the political world, the Virginia C0nsfltu
q ton is believ TO be tie distressing place,