Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-09-02

fall powerless and harmless from the hand
OF government, whilst their policy is less
reconcilable with The local circumstan-
ces, and general policy of the u. States,
than OF any other nation. AS far as has
been observed in The discussions respect
ing the usury laws in Europe, the right
OF the government to enact such laws has
not been questioned, nor could it be ne
cessaiy, as The government is presumed
10 possess all rights. The first animation
10 that effect, will probably be found in
some OF the foregoing numbers ofthis cri-
tlque, nor Is ltreeoiec,ctl, that their gross
injustice III regard 10 their partial pro-
visions IN relation TO the lender aud ne
borrower, has been heretofore critically
examined; ysI ii is believed, the more
those views of The subject shall be consi-
dered, the more immediate and impor-
tant wil be found their hearing against
their continuance, especial, before Yir-
S,iiian legislature, acknowledging all lis
powers 10 10 be derived from the people,
and held IN trust solely for their benefit
Another secondary cause of the CONT
nnance o. HE laws against Usury, may
he ioiind IN another mistaken notion of
the nature and character of government.
IL is, thai ali the wealth and prosperity of
society areproduced by the operations of
government; whereas, they are in fact pro-
duced by tile industry and labor ofindivi-
duals. Government, upon that mistaken
hypothesis, Is made an active machine III
producing The wealth and prosperity of
society ; whereas, in its true character,
IL is rather passive machine.
Labor, upon which alone the wealth
and prosperity of society depends, be-
longs 10 individuals government, under
any form, possesses very little of the pro-
y duciive powers oflabor; it ought, there
fore, to leave the direction Of labor 60
those who own it. They will always MA
mage II better tiIant the government. The
real business and duty of government,
consist III protecting Individuals, in their
persons, iii the application OF labor, and
III the enioyments of It's proceeds. Ii is
believed that nothing could contluce so
much to improving the condition of man
and society, as the discovery ofsome con-
stitutional provision, by which all govern
ments could De compelled 10 confine their
measures 10 these objects alone. But
upon the hypothesis that government is
the sole cause of the wealth and prospect
ty OF The stale and that every benefit TO
individuals, is derived from its wisdom
and energy; after it had declared the
laws against Usury essential to TIER
could be found bold enough to DENY il {?
And If some such adventurous. ccc- nitric
individual should start up, what ciiance
could he have of support from others? In
such state OF things, every measure OF
the government must necessarily be
borne, however injurious 10 society, with
out enquiry, and without murmur-
Hence, the laws against Usury have
been borne, because the wisdom OF the
goyernm MS which enacted them could
not be gu stioned and their practical
evils could not be ascertained. 1t is be-
heved, that most of the mischiefs done TO
society, are produced by the iniudicious
tamperings of governments with the
rights and concerns of individuals; but
the native energies ofsociety are so strong
and active, that although many measures
OF government may produce injurious ef
tirely destroy It's vital principle and ener-
gy. Ii is very easy TO wound, but ex-
tremely difficult to kill society.
Were it not for this inherent principle
of vltaiity and energy, society would Of
ten be completely destroyed, by the in
Iudlcious tamperings OF government
10 illustrate this idea more particularly,
few examples will be given. Tirse
will principally be selected from the cpe-
Tatlons OF the government of the United
States, when administered by Presidents
generally esteemed great and popular
Because, from tie spirit of It's frndamen-
tai institutions, it must be presumed 10
Entiict fewer injuries upon soci ty, than
governments under any other forul-and
never any Intentionally and because
such examples being within our own re.
collection, and their effects actually
known, may be more justly estimated,
and OF course, their influence mast be
more impressive. Let then Mr.. Jefer-
sons administration be first resorted TO.
In the early part of that administration,
Mr.. Jefferson conceived the project of
rendering great service and security TO his
country, and both utility and ornament
toits navy, by an extensive establishment
OF gun-boatS-aud pressed this project
with so much zeal and confidence upon
Congtess, that is whole plan received
the sanction of that body. A great mum
Der OF gun-bOats was accordingly built
IN great haste, and generally with green
timber, TO be in readiness to defend the
country against threatened danger from
abroad. Upon their completion, the
country was thought TO be in great de-
gree secure from the threatened assaults
from foreign enemies, and il was deemed
scarcely necessary TO resort TO any other
more efficient measure for that purpose.
The late war length put this plan of
defence TO the test of fair experiment /;
and what has been The result! 1t was
found ineiiicacious; and is now almost
entirely abandoned.
This project cost society several milli-
ons OF dollars, and the lives o. many va
luabl citizens; precisely to that extegt
has 1t been injurious to SOC ety yet So
ciety has lived oyerit and IFS energies
rot materially impaired by IFS effects.
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