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

by your honorable body, as well as of the
accompanying papers has bestowed on
them all the reelection demanded by the
magnitude OF their contents; and the res
pected and authoritative source FROM which
they emanated. The impressions pro-
duced on his mind by this course OF re-
lection, consist OF serious doubts eOn-a
cernmg It's IuerIis.
- "a citizen, devoted 10 the welfare of
the republic, and acting according 20 the
presumed wishes Ui tae Genera! Assem-
bly,, hc deems II Is his duiy 10 present
these doubts 10 lis Consideration. Al
though our Constituent NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
hedges, that most Oi these doubts, us his
reflections have become malmed, have
also ripened into strong convictions Vet
he Is deferred from presenting them in
that form. The following circumstances,
viii explain his difficulties.
Isl, Notwithstanding the eiencral Assem-
bly, has comieSccudcd 10 sabmit this mo-
n,entous question, 10 the consideration of
all thecitizenso t the commonweaiih, in The
hope and expectation, ii S presumed, ui
becoming iliundned by thcl; opinions and
advice; yet II is apprehpndei, that The :
inlnu OF the General Assentbl itself is
not III that complete .sale of calniess
and inpariialily, which can alone qualify
II 10 receive ali Tie benefits 10 be derived
from such Opinions and advice. That 1T
Is moi precisely ikea slieetofvirgin white
paper, unsuli!ed, unspOttCd aud prepared
with eqaal indifference 10 yield Itself TO
every new impression, according To the
just influence of the. Intrinsic megit of
each but that impressions already exist.
III characters too inde!ibe To be etlactd
by any process of reasoning whatever;s
because the GeneraiAssembly las deem
Ell II proper 10 tell the citizens, tEt tie
bill addressed TO them, Is not now for the
first time the subject OF its dehberation;
that II has heretofore passed the house of
delegates, and has been rejected by the
senate. Ii is understood also from other
sources Oh INFORMATION, that lis passage
IN the house OF delegates WAS sanctioned
by great majority; and that il WAS
merely neuirallZed in the senate by an
equality ofvotes. Notu outstanding these
unavorai,lc prognostics, your cOnsiiiu-
ent ndulges hope, that the General As
semhly, ever alive 10 lis own honor, will
day appreciate the obligation yoluntari-
ly imposed upon itself by its own condo
Scenslon, TO preserve IT'S mind in the best
slate oil preparation TO receive the advice
ot the citizens, when gwen; esp cialiy IL
coucned IN the form of timid doubts
the most respe It,il and inofensive Of all
others, which has occurred TO y9ug con-
stltuent.
I'd. The General Assembly has accom-
panied The sIi!, with several very imposing
documents, tending 10 justify the vote OF
lie majority OF the house of delegates i'm
its favOr.-Ali these are highly respected
and have been considered with ailihe de-
terence, and even vcneration Justly due
TO their authors-bul some fear is enter
tanned, tlat the convictions in favor of
the system recommended, have arisen
more from all easy :; I mistaken faith in
ITS inventors, than from any critical ana
lysIs OF the system Itself: and OF It's prac-
sal application TO The existing STATE of
socieiS.f This fear is much nlagnitied,
from observing The Name OF the highly
learned phIlosophic and patriotic Jeiie,-
son, al the head of the list. SO long has
the public mind been accustomed 10 re-
pose blind, inlmOvable faith III his name
alone that all arguments brought 10 bear
against any measure, which lie is known
To advocate, would with many be unheed-
Ell and unaVaiiing; and To question his
lnfailibiIIy on any pointof politics, would
probably destroy and certainly hazard
The political orthodoxy OF The daring adj
veniurer. Far be ii from your ConsIifu-
ent to question the great natural endow-
men,s, and the still greater acquired ac-
sompllshments of tins highly respected
and admired philosopher He is too well
acquainted with them, moi 10 admit them
III the most unlimited range of philosophy
and of science; bni II is respectfully sub
mitted 10 ihe General Assembly TO deter
nine, whether If is nolaflen seen thatthe
most brilliant and improved minds, IN
dulge IN the greatest and most unac-
conniabie eccentrlcitles: and might il not
naturally be expected, that mind long
distracted FROM the practical world and
delighted with INDUCING itself in IFS own
delicious contempiations, might invent
theories delightful in themselves; and II
the same time, overlook or disregard all
the difficulties attending their practical
execution? Do not philosophers in fact
boast of soaring above the practical world,
and OF having their dwellings and enjoy
| menis i'll Tie mental world; the lascinai-
Ing regions of fancy and ofvIsionE And
might not the General Assembly believe
| il possible, thai Mr.. jefferson, whom A.
mericans at least, esteem the prince of
| philosophers, would be delighted with
ihese philosophical occupations and in
duIgencies? And would not this concep-
ton alone justify so much scepticism as
/ 10 inquire, whether any novel and magni-
| hcent scheme recommended for improy.
ing the condition Of man, lie suited TO
| ----
Upon the trial ofthe impeachment against
| Judge Chase, Luther Martin thought il quite
unreasonable on the part ofthe managers I
| the House OF Representatives TO complain
| that ON the trial Of Calender the mind Of the
Judge should not have been like a sheet of willie
| paper without any impression whatever upon
IL and assigned as his reason, that the Judge
! lad been engaged in a forty years course Of
hard study for the express purpose Of making
| upon II, indclible legal impressions THIS case,
IL IS presumed VIII not apply, to those, who