Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-01-01

tizens OF this democratic republic, were
reduced 10 nearly one half OF their former
numbers.S From these, and many other
considerations, II is respectfully doubted,
whether. IL would not be as well, To leave
the people TO pursue their ordinary Oc-
cuPalions, and for the representatives ia
perform all their public duties lii the cha
ractcr ofiegislators.
Your Constituent hopes TO be excused
for expressing his respectful doubts con-
corning the merits ofanoiller principle OF
Legislation, which is becoming faslnona-
bic with the General Assembly, but
which would not now be noticed, did IL
not seem 10 be dictated by the same spl-
rlf, which produced the resolution in
question; and were it not made the chief
pillar upon which this siupendous fabric
OF pV5!Sc instructions is made Ia rest for IFS
foundation. Ii is The principle of asking
aims OF tie people by iaw, as well as by
resolniiou; or perhaps rs IL may be more
properly described, as u principle of sell
ing fame 10 the people for their money,
instead of demanding il for all wise aud
nect ssary objects, uuder tie usual obli-
cations et law. This principle will be
seen az large in the following section of
the bill offered Tor the consideration Of
tli. people
XIV. Ind beu farthcr eaacted. That to de-
vCiOpe the resources 81 the commonwealth for
the several objects provided for b. this act !;
the county and corporation courts Within Jhe
same, are authorized aud IeQusied to appoint
at tlietr next March -------- term three or
more commissioners irug anon; he most in
dUSiIicus aud patriotic citizens within lhUir
respective counties and corporations, 10 make
uetsoi al application 20 All ihe inhabitants
thereof Tor SiibScript .Ois towards lie CstuD-
ishment of the primary sChpOis, academns,
colleges ans university PROPOSED, 10 be created
dnder this act. ihc commissioners shall re-
turh the original subscription Isis Ia tl:elrreS-
pecilVe county or corporation courts and a
certified copy theieot 10 the president and di-
rectors Of tie literary fund Who shall cause
their secretary TO make proper abstracts there
nom, showing the amount Subscribed TO each
OF the objects aforesaid, and the na.nes of The
several Subscribers, and the sums respectively
subscribed by them; Il copy OF which abstracts
lie shall transmit TO the boaid of public in
siruction for the information thereof. In the
minutes OF The proceedings of the board OF
pubic instruction., aud OF the trustees of the
several colleges, academies * PRIMARY schools,
the names or The subscribers 10 the foundation
thereof shall be carefully Inscribed with the
sums subscribed by each opposite thereto, as
pelpetuaI memorial OF the persons who sbali
nave contributed 20 promote the diffusion Of
knowledge thrOag hCnt The commonwealth.
The respective merits Of The old and
~ nv tstRANS W IidA Der
hapS be best tested, by simple stale
ment oithe characteristic differences be-
tween them.
IStdiGerence. Under the old mode of
legislation, law is made obligatory upon
The citizen. Law has heretofore been de
scribed TO be a rule OF conduct prescrib-
ed by superior, TO an inferior, COM
nIandiug What is right, and prohibiting
what is wrong. Under the new mode,
law is left optional and voluntary with the
citizen and as law, er NJ ternrimi, implies
obligation and obedience, under the new
mode, II is 10 law all.
I'd diBeTeHcc Under the old mode, the
execution OF the law is placed upon a
principle of compulsory obligation. In
der the new mode, ii rests upon the prin-
ciple OF mendicity. For whether the per-
sons appointed 10 call OH the people for
aims, either for public or private use, be
called commissioners, or pass under any
other appeilaiion, the applicants are men
dlcants. Hence ItresuitS, that according
to the old mode of legislation, the object
OF every law is first determined by tile le-
glsiatnrp, 10 be wise and necessary and
lis execution rendered certain, depend
ing for the means, solely upon the legisla-
tive will. According TO The new mode,
however wise and necessary NAV be The
object of lie law, lis execution is left alto
gether uncertain; depending solely upon
The will of the people.
3ddi9erence. Undcrl lie old mode, the ex-
ecuiOn oft the law is not only rendered Ger.
tain; but all contributions forits execution
| are ioundedup principles of Justice and
equality. Under the new mode, not on
~ Is lis execution altogether uncertain
but nothing is more unequal and unjust.
than its principle OF contribution: and
the offer of a niche the columns of fame
10 the contributor, tends Ia aggravate
rather than 10 receive this Injustice and
inequality. This conclusion NAV per
haps be thought 10 require some EXPLAIN
lion. Laws are chiefly necessary TO di-
rect and control the conduct of all those
who Will not do right without them OF
course, when contributions remain vo-
lnniary, nothing can be expected from
this whole description Of persons. Nher
an offer of fame is added 10 the induce.
ments 10 contribute, it will exert an eli.
clent influence, principally upon the fool
lsll and the MUNICIPALITIES, which gene
rally deprive their unfortunate posseSsor.
| OF the ability TO contribute altogether
whereas the rich, especially the hoarde
ana the mlser, who generally have tht
most ability 10 contribute, will not onl,
be exempt from The influence, but vii
make themselves merry at tie offer o
such unsubstaniial an axiom.
The correctness of these observation.
VIII be fully exempliied, by measure a
dopied by the last General Assembly, TO
tie erection of ii monument TO the memo
ry OF The great, the patriotic, and the be
l0yed WAsHINGToN, resting solely upol
lhis Principle for IFS execution. VoIun
'arX contribution alone, was deemed quit
suilcIent for ibis purpose; aud so an
l-
SAmonest other prcuIiar;,ics ,,,o,,,r;.,