Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1821-11-16

1t was but the other day, that Philadelphia paper
announced the arrival AT Washington of Ills Exnel
lency the Post Master General !" Away with su.b
nummery. IL Is Il custom, more honorcd in the
breach than observance
FOR TuE ENQUIRER.
.AuERfC.iT COSTUME i. TITLES
.'ieSsrS. Ediiors-Some time since, Il pliiio-
sophie foreigner of some distinction who was
on IA visit 10 this country, was introduced To
my acquaintance and although he was the
owner oil Il real TILE, yet he likewise possess
ell (what most OF our officers have lost or dis
cardedl spirit sufficiently republican to des-
ptSe all t,ueS. AS lie was anxious for inlurma-
ton relative To every thing concerning the
American people and their government, did
not permit my zeal in favor of our own coun-
try, 10 sleep on tins occasion but enumerated
an hundred blessings and advantages which
our independence and our republican institu-
tons gave us over every other nation He was
desrous of abandoning his title and his coun-
try, and of finding pura and simple republic
for his future residence, ii sucha one could be
found ON this globe. And the high encomi,,.ns
ne had heard in favor of our republic, induced
him To- cross the Atlantic, and investigate orr
claims to republican simplicity himself And
The result thus far was, that he had been mis-
informed on some of the most important
points.
dc denied that we We're INDEPENDENT IN
lJdcf, but only IN name. Fur Notwithstanding
| that we had shaken off the shackles of British
legislation, Yet Great Britain still held IT'S in
voluntary bondage by the influence of her
manufactures, and more especially by her
fashions! Your very knires and forks prove
ihat you are dependent upon her nj least three
lmes every day: and your JiGntets testify the
same thing at night. Nay, says he, have
'lsited Washington your national capitol, and
many OF your state caritOls, the centres of
| your republican virtues, and there find still
stronger evidence of your dependence ON
Great Britain FOR yonr President, your Go
'ernors, your Senators, your congressman
| aud your Assemhlymen* all wear the badge of
dependence on Great Britain either in pre-
tcrrIng her cloths, or what is thousand times
worse, using her fashions ard thereby rem
uernS your country tributary to British Tai
| Tors and BRITISH .HLinerS!!! Has any nation
a right to boast of their independence, who
| are sill dependent on another for the very cut
| of their coats?
informed him, that some wears ago, ! had
| anticipated all his remarks, and committed
them to the press. And that had even gone
50 tar as to proposctha congress should either
| appoint regular committee to enquire into
tn: proprieiy ofrecommending the introduc-
ton OF permanent American costume: or
they might meet as private individuals at
" anu utNlSlf1S proper cos
tune, recommend its adoption to their fellow
citizens. | would stake my life, that such
recommendation would be received with &C
cidndt'on by the American people and that
step once gained, would go far towards COM
pleting our national character. MY plan in
Guided likewise another: that was for the la
dies OF Washington TO have general meet
Ing for the same purpose and after renoun, inr
adhesion to France and England to strike OUT
| r;Ito !, He,c sphere of their own.
| The next, and most indetcnsible objection of
this worthy aud enlightened foreigner, was,
our national hGnkering after despicable titles.
He was astonished and COMPOUNDED, at the
great falling off OF our people from their first
sound principles: Instead of finding one Pre-
| sldent IN Mr.. Monroe, he was continually hear
ing and reading of President Adams, President
Jefferson and President Madison. Instead of
| one Governor IN each state, he found generally
hall DOZEN who notwithstanding they re-
| celved Il half dozen doses of " YoUR EXCEL
LENcY" at every corner ofthe street, or room
where they happened TO be, still snulfed the
tainted breeze of ilattery, with all the impor-
lance and complacency, that have seen one
ragged nobleman in Italy address another of
no better plight. Your Judges, your Secreta-
RES, and your Congressman are all titled
" The Honorable" both IN Office and out And
have often smiled to see your Asscmblymen
Initiating your Congressman, who again ini-
tate the British Parliamentmen i'll bandying
| about the honorable" titles, like shuttle
cocks to one another
4 But when see the multitude of Esqtires,
who like "crows in cornficld'' already be-
gin TO swarm over this republic, and who are as
tenacious of this distinction in their intercourse
with each other; as your Presidents and Gorern-
ors are of their ErceIlenieS'': cannot HELM
but exclaiming, God help the republic for
the Devil has been sowing the tqres of arisfo.
cracB while the republicans slept | plainly
see the seeds of formidable aristocracy spring
ing up amongst you, in the shape of your Err
ceitencies, your HonourabieS, and your " Es-
l quireS"! The favourable Impressions had
lmbibed, respecting the republican simp-
I city of your manners and customs, have re-
ceved a powerful check. And although adj
nit that you are still the happiest nation on
earth, yet that is not sufficient encourage
ment to a man Of philosophical turn of
mind, who is about seeking for permanent
resting place for himself and his poster
lty, under the wings of pure and simple
republic: And who in looking over the page
OF history finds no instance of any permanent
republic and aItb ough Inc was led TO expect
such one in the u. S. yet he feared that we
were advancing with rapid strides towards es-
tabllshing. titled GriStOcracy. If MOCK titles
were priced so highly by all our o6icers Of go
UernmCnt, he had better remain in Europe, and
there enjoy the benefits to be derived from the
possession of real tile for Inc was sufficient
ly versed in the machinery Of governments to
know, that such Gnti-repubtican principles
never could have attained theirpresent growth,
unless they had been secret cherished al
HEAD QUARTERS
This liberal minded foreigner expressed my
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