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

Richmond and Manchester alone. II
mas added greatly 10 the wealth of indivi-
duais, aud the prosperity of the State
Refuse Tobacco, probably in some degree
produced by other causes, has since sold
Tor two or three times the price which
had ever before been obtained for pass
ea tobacco /; and passed tobacco has i'm
proved IN us prices beyond all anticipate
ons, from the most sanguine calculation.
How different these results from those
fears pressed upon us by our prcjudicesl
How much better the security afforded 10
the individual Tor the exclusive enloy-
ment at his unatienabic rights to his own
property! How strange The inla,ua,ion
OF our preiutices, which could induce US
TO acknowledge the right, and applaud
the wisdom otthe government, for indul-
ging US III the glorious privilege of hav-
ing. our property burnt before our faces,
WI bout the iinpntatien of any offence,
without further trial or ceremony, than
the nat of capricious public inspector
Yet all these things we have Witnessed,
and ofreccnt date. Yes, this eNtrsordi-
nary principle was recommended and en-
acted, at the Session of The General As
sembly of 1891 after the whole code OF
laws Lad undergone the revision of James
Mercer, Henry IdzeweH. Joseph Prentis,
SaiSt George Tucker, Edmund Raaioiph.
James lines, Jchn Taylor, and Jokm Ma,-
shat, ESq'rs, with power, amongst others,
TO report, what laws, or paris of laws,
arc either unfit 30 be- continued in force.
&c." and a like revision previously made
by George Vythe, Thomas Jefferson and
Edmund IDe'idletom, Esquires. in conse-
quence OF an appointment III the Year
l77G.
Here LET The rejecting mind pause,
take careful retrospect. and then ask IL
sels-How much property has been'r lun
dered from individuals, and how much
wealth lost to the State, under the .irtiu-
ence of this prejudice Upon such re-
view, will II not wonder, that evils now so
PLAN, so great. and so destitute Of princi-
pie, should have been borne SO longun
redressed l.? And will il not then cease TO
wonder, that the evils oftile laws against
Usury should still be borne The evils
III the one case RON seem too obvious, CIV
er TO have been doubted in the other. II
is admitted that some little, but very lit
lie. effort of impartiaiintcllect, is necessa-
ny to discover the evils.
In case of the repeal ofthe acts against
Usury, more unprincipled in themselves,
and infinitely more extensive in mischief
than the regulation for burning tobacco :;
II requires not the spirit ofprophecy 10
say that in less than twenty years, upon
a REVIEW OF the system our wonder will
be more excited atthe evils so long endu-
red under It's provisions, than il now is
upon review of the burning act, and the
evils borne under It's operations. Anoth-
er example OF the unaccoHhtabe effects
OF preludices attached to US from our
tx.YH har 81 A.
Duicli custom. Its said, thatiu Holland
from time immemorial, it has been the
custom OF most families of farmers, TO
preserve and transmit from one generate
OH To another, a skipple stone. This
skipple stone is viewed with all the rever-
ence due TO one of their household gods.
Its use Is, to balance the grain, which il
becomes necessary to remove in a bag
from one place TO another. +" A notable
discovery" has long since been made in
other Countries, and perhaps by som
people In Holland, thai by dispensing
with the skipple stone, the grain might be
made with more convenience TO the rider
and the horse TO balance itself; and that
double the quantity could be removed
with easier labor, than with the aid of the
sklpple stone. Yet, it is said, that this
| notable discovery" has been resisted bv
Dutch prejudiGes for Centuries, and the
skipple stone ilistoufly holds his ground
in many families in Holland. When they
have been told to reason upon the sub
ject, and to make the experiment, and
they would then find the result against
the use of the skipple stone-So far thew
have hesltatingly consented TO go; and
after making such experiment, anu devo-
ting to 1t the most profound considerati-
en-, have also yielded hepoint so far as TO
admit that the result was plausible in APP
pearance, but it was not possible 10 be
correct III practice; because, lift were,
thertathers or grand-lathers must have
found 1t out (; and under this blind
confidence, reinStated the skipple stone
! TO all IFS former services, and hereditary
honors.t Here then is case of the tri-
umph of prejudice for Centuries, not only
| over the evidence of reason, but the evi-
dence OF sense; in case, too, not back
| cd by religious fanatlcism, nor govern
mental folly and too humble in It's cha
racter to call forth the envy or jealousy
OF any, to bear upon VI IN any way whate-
yer. Although the foregoing cases, as
well OF modern, as OF ancient date, would
Justify tie conclusion, that any results,
however stupid, prepoStcrous, or absurd,
may be Justly ascrIbed 10 the effects of
liabiiual prejudices and, therefore, Mr..
II. might be in some degree warranted in
placing the continuation Of the laws a.
galnst Usury for so longa time, upon that
ground aioue; yet, an attempt will be
made to give some further explanations
upon that pointby subjoining IA few adj
dItional considerations of a different
character, drawn from other cooperating
causes.
Ertrdct from the Burning Law ofI792, S17.-
And the inspectors shall cause the toDaccO
which shall by them be judged unfit TO pass, to
be burnt IN the brick funnel erected, or 10 he
erected. at such ware hcnse, under the penal
~ Of seven dollars to the iuloimeT," &c.--Er.
tract from The HcnenLing dck Of lSO5 s - Re