Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1822-03-29
RICHMOND, MARCH %. 1899.
FOR THr ENQUIRER.
= FVK TIE EN0UIKER.
ror have neither wit, nor words nor works
ACTON or utterance, nor the power fspeech
To stir mems blood I only speak right on

Ridge, in which the author Undertakes to nrnyo ,h,,
| me GOOD people oil tins commonwealth ought forth
wih 10 remove their seat of government from Rich
| mond, 10 some more secure and cent,a al po,-I did
expect, from the manner in which our western bro
ther ushercd ~ his project, that inconoverti-
ble arguments were TO follow bat IL have been dis
appointed lac will pardon me for dissenting from his
uncanonicai creed.
Governments have not unfrequenily been likencd
10 machnes--to carry the comparison litle farther
II may he said, that of all politica machinery repub
hes are the most complex and unwieldy ihey are
| moved by such multitude OF wheels and pullies
screws and levers, that extreme vigilance alone can
keep them from becoming derlnged and enanpled So
| exact concert must he preserved between all the
parts oil these moral structures, thai single chord
| misplaced or the smallest pin broken sometimes
arrests the operations OF the whole fabric. I'm at!di-
| uon TO these difficulties which serve greatly TO inn
peue me progress, and interrupt the harmony of free
governments the nconsIderate zeal with which our
pohucal architects persevere in ereciinr altering
repairing and demoshng the work of their own
hands, rs an nsuperable bar TO Improvement or uui.
| ~. NO system OF jurisprudence can ever aais to
any thng IKE human perfection, while il IS perpetus-
~ undergoing changes and mutations mo- conf.
dence can be reposcd in decisions OF the ablest trbu
mas, while the rules on which those decisions rest
are forever shifting. Innovations schemes and
projects are the alloy by which liberty is Jebosrd
ihey are weeds which spring up and flourish among
the sacred plants of freedom md cons iiutionL RIGHT
They cannot he rooted aog ether witnout des,roy
ing liberty; but that they should be watched and mo-,
suffered to spread their influence too far il, ndispen
san'e 10 lis preservation In Virginia we are ali le-
Ss'a'ors. Every village gazette teens with hypo-
'neses anu structures and Criticisms every countr,
cun sunmonses 10 its tribunal all the princpalties
IN Chrislendom, and ccnsures OF approves
WIN ine same fearless intrepidy, IL not lhe same
oeiiberation and wisdom, Jewish sanhedrin, or
Saxon wenagemote, all the measures of noten,,tes
anu MINISTER'S All tins Is WE'LL would not abrdsc
.hiS concerted competence for the price of my ber
w. am content 10 or three hundred citizens
assemble yearly aud take IN winter quarters in ,,e
capitol, and make speeches TO hear cectioneering
:e"es, anu 10 see the treasury of my country
wasuhs away But 1t we ever look lor uniformity in
ou' government (wIth out which never can secure
our own rights, and those of posterity) we must he
'o"siuerae ana metlIodical in proceedings. We
onSh 10 recoect IN our legislative halls that every
ACT OF The tongue sanctioned by the pryiy of The
NINA. Scion would think thrice, ere he s,,ste once
u' many oil our aw-givers speak thrice, whodt hav-
ing thought once.
hope the people of Virginia will not take an ILL
ADVISED step and comfort themselves by the assurance
MAI their laws are not like those of the Mcdes and
erslans, rievocabe. IL rs easier prevent twenty
e''is, Than TO provide remedy for one Let us see
ana S'oio, that the counsel of our oracle from the
west, VINO comes like another Psistratus from the
mountains, and would have old things pass away.
and all become new, is correct
The Western Citizen" who take it for granted |
" sees as through glass darky', has deserted an A.
farming storm that is to be, but which, as vet is no
nlseeI man small speck eniertain no small hope |
that tins speck is in verify beam in NV hrolher's
own eye, and nor tempest in embryo that must one
day overshadow this land with desolaon
ms ndee'i true that the greater part of our terri
u
the people who will one day inhab that territory |
must form majority of free population. BIZ,
what then does it follow &c the night the da, -
lnat the capitol too ought be west of the Blne
Ridge 1t were Indispensable to the glory or wei.
lare oil our siaie that the symmetry OF lis georrphi
Cal feature should be preserved, would say that be
cause nature has placed every mans nose al or near
the centre oil his face, the capitol of Virginia should
s'ahu ON me centre OF that state. But the contour of
our map VIII Ire as good with the capitol a, Richmond
as on the summit of the North mountains
But this subject 4 n Hvflr.t ba., "A ii
announcer rises says our western brother, out OF 203
representatives, l05 elected by the inlabitant of
CHS Alpine Virginia. Here have a majority of one |
over our brethren OF the west-and if property and
persons are represented, are entitled to "A much
larger majority. But how do we find that this mon
strous dIsproporon would be cured nv ecating our
capitol on the other side The ridge The eispropor
ton, is caused by the greater number of boroushs
and counties on this side the mountains and every
session ofour legislature lessons that evil Of such il
be) by marking new counties on the mixer eide
the Blue Ridge.
Then says the "Western Citizen the seat of govern
ment should he beyond daoger's reach-so say but
where will that be, unless make it portable and
near 1t trIumphany IN camps the IsraeIites did
the tabernacle of the Lord? Some NAV think there
Us less danger on the western than OH the eastern
side OF the mounlains-but of this am not convnc- |
ed. lhe myrmidons of the are deemed irwin |
cibIes when they have opportunity of ensconcine
themselves among the Businesses of their mountains
Venerate the proves OF these marksmen too much
To deny that with their hunting shirts and rifles iev
make sad havoc with the beasts of their forests but
ii an opportunity should occur il will be learned that
my Lord Wellington and these beasts wage war on
altogether different principles. An open champaign
country rs preferable for the operations of artillery
and heavy armed troops, and with such arms and
troops we must fight our battles. Marlborough won |
all his laurels with such Marengo and Waterloo
bear witness 10 The superiority of such over lipb
armed troops. The hong knife and tomabo,vk arc |
no longer weapons of they have given place TO
The bayonet and Cannon. But here am reminded |
that in despite Of great guns and men of war an
tho
trylt - too true-history has recorded the stigma
anu the conlf'on oil ages can blot it out. The
footsteps oil an invader are ndeiibIy imprinted the
graves OF our lore'athers. But this was done nj n
time, when our warriors had forsaken their homes
and their household gods, when they had hidden their
wives, their mothers and their infants in the wilder
ness, and gone themselves TO leave their naked bo-
dies on the field Of battle. virginia was then con.
vnlsed with what many thought her dying agony-but
she IS now strong in her majesty and her foes nust
tremble when she is grit with the sword for battle
But does not our western friend urge this subject
premalurely DO the people on the western side |
me rldge wish Tor removal 1t is true, that some
liant whispers have been heard but nolIing like a |
general voice has yet spoken We have heard of
caucuses and cross-rOad committees but the soye-
reign people have sgnihed no will on this subject |
Then, this fearful hurricane conjured up 10y The |
western Citizen subsidies into the light rpple that
plays on The bosom Of 81 summers lake.
Numberless objections might be urged against this |
proposed measure, hui az they are such will natu-
ray present themselves 10 the public will moi now
adopting any necessary expedient by its expense is
an idea which the " Western CITIZEN" would LAUGH to
scorn. lf indeed the people think removal of the |
seat OF government necessary my avarice shall mn,
cavil on The ninth part Of hair" But it should |
he demonstrated to them that this measure is a sound
one, ere they think of casting shilling away Mo-
aern governments are too prodga Of public treasure
Needless Hnd inconsiderate expenditure has become
the eselting sin Of every government in tie known
world and national bankruptcy loss Of public faith
must be the aiOnement.
4 tyuett Istftca 4 .e