The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1823-07-15


every thing they say respecting tlem.--
The parish is valuable cash customer !
the number of poer is constantly and rapid
Iy incrt asing agood estate ueal poor
house has III hand a market for prepOr-
lion OF the surplus grain ; a merchant va
lual,ae customer ard others have an inter
est in such establishments. These consi-
deratiOns can never induce a good man to
state any thing IN relation 10 them that lac
DOES not believe TO be true, but tire best
are sometimes Influenced in their delibe-
rate judgment aud opinions by their inte-
resi-.
The immediate saving rs derived in some
measure, III not chiefly, from the expulsion
ri the most respectable paupers from the
list. Those who have some remaining
spirit 0f Independence Or respectable con
nections, reject that relief which is coupled
with public exhibition of their poverty
and degradation which condemns them to
the modification Of being the companions
oil neaBness and filth, and every thing THAT
isreyolting 10 spirit not totally subdued
aud brokcn. Those who accept this modi-
licatton of public bounty in a country like
this, where tie road to competency is open
10 all who pnssesst their faculties, must be the
refuse Of the creation, ard so in fact
they are. Supposinp the number of pau
pers Ia remain the same, with or without
poor house which method OF main-
taining them, would be the cheapest,
leave 10 others to examine, being fully per-
saaded myself, that such institutions tend
directly aud nanifestIy, to subyert every
principle Of sound policy IN relation TO the
poor
We have already abrogated part Of the
law of nature, by enaeting that man shall
look to the labor Of others for his mainte-
nance instead of eating bread IN the sweat
of his own face.
And by these institutions we seek 20 a
boish the only provision made by nature,
for the sustenance, tiie consolation, and
the .espeefabiiiy nf the poor and impo-
,ent, the ties of kindred and natural aGec
ton.
Nature has ordcined that the parent sholl
| afford nurture, maintenance asd protection
TO his offspring. Yon ordain that the pa
rish shall do il in return for the pain, tee
care, the toll and pfivaton which the pa
rent sustains for the child during the period
of impotence and ndiscretion. The child
is bound by every tie of duty and affection
to cherish and comfort the parent in old
age, disease aud sorrow. You transfer tlris
obligation, also, to the parish. Instead of
making these natural detes and affections
snbservieut 10 the purposes Of government,
you explode and Danish them, and in their
place substitute artificial regulations, pos
sessing neither their grace nor efficacy
r.
| falaclous, when land and all its products
become dear, when these Institutions,
| over which superintendent, at good wa
yes, must always be placed, get to be in
cunhered with physicians and nurses,
! and attendants, and all the train of necessary
| and ID e menials who crowd into every cs-
adjustment whcre they can live at the cx-
pense of the public-Abut di5carding every
| consideration Of expense and abuse, with
the best management, tlIey viii become
burihcnsome beyond bearing. The lame
| aud the blind will breed paupers within the
establishment F; the numerous infants who
will be carried there to be nursed aud
maintained durin5 their tender years, will
be contaminated by the pollution of the
place, and il will become Il perfect nursery
Of begSaIs. They and their offspring too
VIII end their days in the institution ; eve
~ motive Of pride and shame, being as to
them, entirely cxtinguished. The imne-
diate vicinity, familiar to the wee aud
wretchedness aud filth which reign amongst
herd of paupers, will first give way to the
temptations of Incidence by yielding their.
kindred up to this grave OF Industry, mo-
ralty, virtue and religion. The circle of
tfg :,
reaches the limits Of the parish Tire in
stitu,ion VIII be lIled with paupers, aud
leave many uupro,ided, clamourng for
bread, and living upon private charity, or
starving. This is the present condition Of
England where they hayereduced the lower
class of laboring people, almost II the con
ditlon OF bcggaIs, 10 support the poor, and
have as maAy nnproyidpd for as before and
the lcvies for their maintenance, reducing
them with bare naked subsistence. puts
them on the footing OF paupers, after a
life of unremitted labour, we ought to
pursue with caution, a system frsught with
such consequences ; or ought we not at
once TO abolish il {? Unless abstract rea-
soning avais more in matters of policy
than actual experience. We deceive our
selves grossly, If We expect TO manage this
system with greater wisdom er economy
than the people Of England. They are ii
wise and prudent people the results ex-
perienced there, are the effect neither of
error nor abuse, bat the inevitable conse-
queoces of The system itself and il We per-
severe, our children Will live to be assured of
il But Il neither contracts nor poor houses
will do, what course shall we pursue p
I his may be a matter of considerable diff
iieu!ty. The Quakers maintain their poor |
themselves whether by contribution from
the community, OF by the industry and |
should be ascertained certain it is, that
,l,,xy .rn ,,.,s,r do,,r,,IaI to tb. cnnI;t;,,,