Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1819-03-02

The states, moreover, are now efficient
ceuimels OF the constitution, and BY then
vigilance and censorship guard us more
etfectuaily against the encruachmenis TO
WHICH the national executive, supported
as ii is likely 10 sc by lis hundreds of Off
GERS anii thousands of expeotantS, has "A
manifest and almost inviolable tendency.
Public opinion, though very operative
check on all governments, has the great
cs, iniincuce IN countries the most en-
iightened and free, and IL is ihe states "a
lone which can rmbody ~, aud give If
form aud pressure"
Ihereis one Other consideration, fellow
ciiize'is, which, ii,aHgli less obvious than
the preceding, viii have little less effect
III recon, mending ON present system 10
the guardianship aud affections a! every
seaerons mind. BY preserving the pre-
sent qualified sovereignties OF The several
states, spirit OF enilaii0n viii be KEPT
up, which Will afford saiutary excite
meni 10 our faculties, and give more vigor
to the sentiment OF patriotism, so prolific
of exalted virtue.
II we consult the history of man, we
shall ind that no people has ever attain
ed any great height Of national glory ex
cept where This spirit has been nindled
W lNdt. 4NDtnltiS less
has been found sufficient 10 call forth lis
mental or iis moral energies. The Is.
tory of the Grecian repubIics-of Rome
and Carihage-nt France aud England
are iliusirIous examples of the force OF
ibis principle. War, indeed, would also
protect us from that languor wIlcl, may
first mar our greatness and finalIy emdan-
ger our safety. With all lis horrors and
the aggravated niserics ii brings in lis
IRAN, II Often gives birth 10 viriacs by
winch country is at oucc ennobltd and
preserved. But. separated - nC are, by
The wi'ilh nt au ocean, from the civilized
world, we have no enemy that Is fOrmi
dab'e, or can long continue SO and we
cannot have one here, without lisking
tbeioss oil all that is scar TO us. So long,
however, as the local governments re-
man, each state will be the rival of lis
neighbour ln'cOmmerCe, IN lcttersand the
arts, anu us competitor for political in
hnence. In this saiuia.y emulation, the
spirit OF Improvement viii never siagnate,
and we shall have much Of the moral sill
muins which war produces, without It's
calamiies or lis crimes.
The first object at our confederate ge-
vernmenl has been 10 guard against the
evil effects of this rvaIshiD-operi hosiil-
liy and war. Oar neat Should be to rive
IL the most bcntfcial objection. OF the
three great instruments of national glory
arms, lett rs and weallh-ibe first be-
longs exclusively 10 the general govern
meni, and, fortunately for US. Il has lille
theatre TO aci upon but that ocean which
separates MS from the contentious of Tu-
rope. The encouragement of letters,
whose benign influence is without draw.
back or alloy, is perhaps exclusively with
IN the province OF The state governments
In the promotion OF national wealth, both
governments have considerable agency
On this last great object Of pursuit, the
nation requires, perhaps, check rather
than spur. Whilst every facility and
protection are given By the laws 10 agri-
culture, commerce and manufactures
those. kindred sources of national opu-
ience, let IA beware of cherishing TOO
great thirst for riches anon. itdividu-
ais. The desire of wealth TO certain
degree is natural and lamolable but in
whatever breast il reigns fhe master pas
sion, ii soon becomes the canker OF every
public and private virtue. In our coun-
try, where there are no artificial distinc-
tionS, and where The rewards for public
services are altogether peLuniary, The de-
sire of wealIll Is likely to be predominant.
HE paper currency and public debt Ofihe
revolution, and our immense tracts of
waste lands, have further ENCOURAGED a
specializing, irafiicking spirit, and amin
ordinate thirst for gain. A taste for lii
efalure and The haze arts is the only cor
receive of This IgnOble passion. 1t is
within The powers OF the state govern
meniS TO give efficient encoura cement to
tHpSs and N1rrtnfa Il
inslrious example in the establishment
Of an University. The general govern
ment can do mlie mOre TOWARDS control
lug The propensity of which speak than
10 act negative part. But that part ii
shouldperf rmNiIh unrenitiug diligence
| aud The most scrupuIous fidelity. II
should closets watch over all ,iisbmrse-
ments of the public monev-supernir
the public contracts examine The opera
lions of all the monIed institutions under
lis control-and while If rewards the
public officer with liberal, but not la
wish hand, let IL be seen that he mas no in
direct source of profit which is moi re-
co@nlzed by The laws. ii is IN this OBJ.
llque way that corruption makes its ap.
proaches until time ripcns It's abuses into
established usage.
The happy fitness Of This our mixed
government, which as to lew genera
purposes is national, and a. 10 every other
IS d coniederacy of distinct and indrpen-
dent sOverelgnlirs, TO our tastes, our ha-
bits and our wIde spreading dominion
cannot be too often or too strongly imrttl
Gated. Upou the continuance Of tbj>
modified uei0n, so far as human foresishi
can reach, drprnl our peace, our liberty
and what trust viii never be matter al
Indifference, Our national 1realntSs.
II the first object Of every government
be 10 provide i0f lis safety, the creation o.
respectable navy should be iavorile
object of pOlicy Willilhe general goyerA-
mell. MhnneNnr Mn ire lllNnINnA ~ ~ L