Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-04-20

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OF the productive class tine agriculturalsts till
lors of the earth can hardly be in
any state OF society. proportion to the increase
of their numbers, comparatively with other portions
of community, the neccssares of life become more
abundant and cheaper in price; u. of the
soil are tempted to lay so large IA surface under
cultivation aud jeopardse their health by excess
sve labour; the OF the fields aud the number
oflabourers better proportional TO each other;
and more of the fat OF tue land is returned to- in
the form of ohal, TO eniic its virgin loan. Where
elimination q, this class OF citizens in compare
will. the numbers OF all Others in community,
is followed pfoportionably by fighiul train of Ell
iectS, the very of the above. The quantity
Of products being less ;han the demand, the prices
are enhanced; l1bourcrs excessively worked;
much land is put under tiilage they eau posi-
bly, over with 4 sli hit culture every article
thus Produced, the very dregs Of straw, chu
-cobs and ether Vegetable stems, 20 into the
list of understandable commodities, to secure the pelf
which this inequality in the distribution of productive
iabourers has i'll motion iii this department; and
poor mother cath IS Impoverished and robbed of
her productive qualities which had been arcuniula-
ting Tor ages, instead OF having them farther zurich
cd by the additions of ar, and judicous culture.
1t is also as difficult to multiply, beyond the pro-
per medium, the numbers of the other productive
classes, who iab;icute implements and other
rnodies, to promote tie operations of agriculture,
subscrvc the necessities, the comforts the nno
cent iuxuics of social life. The good sense the
interests of these articers will always teach them
proportion :er numbers 10 the demand for their
wares and wrought commodities.
Those, however, whose productive labours minis
ter to the vices Of society, all supcrnuncrarics
and should - inoi, have the stern but chase hand
Of the law laid upon their operations. But some
politicians make il great ilcuy TO ascertain the
line of dcnarkaion between the artiiccr of i',,tO-
ce't and rictoHs luXntcs BE it SOL shall not pre-
su!ne here 10 settle the question: would take
tunes - Cn Justice 10 the subject in the estimation
OF some, and mathematical demonstration itself
would hardly convince the majority i'll the present
state Of morals, sustained by the present rage to
ape the fashion, Of foreign courts. Bat when shall
thathopeiul or rather hopeless; period arrive! never
but too much fear. if the words of the grand Jury
of Dinwiddie be prophetic, who in their most able
and patriotic presentncnt of the last Legislature,
say, with awful forcbodiug, that revolutions never
go back We have departed from the innocent
manners and plain simplicity of forcia,hcrs---
shall we ncvGf regain them 1t is but justice to
add that the manufacturers of articles oil vicious
luxury are less olameaElc than those who them:
but they must also know, that a true patriot would
sooner till the soil, construct looms and pioughS, or
cobble shoe, than labor the speyluGus and cost
~ ornaments OK dress which corrupt tho heart aud
dcpravc the understanding. 1t must = inferred
however that would so apply the pruning knife CT
reformation as TO eNtirpa;c any entire art. Even
tn t!t OF diving 10 search the bottom of the
cr pears and precious gems, and the al; iashionn
thcmtoo well as all other costly and supcrtluous
articles FOR enhei!ishimg the person III fantaStcal
manner, may yet be practised, but in narrower Ii
mis-, mere objects Of curiosiy-to test our for-
hearauce, TO strength the irnncss of charac-
Ter, and place in full relief the superiority of virgin
rcpuhlicanS:n over the prostituted manners of TO-
reign courts; bat net Tor usc rather let the rcpub
lean finger OF be pointed III scott aud dersion
at him o: her who thus dare corrupt the of
the age by their contagious example.
or the unpyoduc,!ve labourers, ii is sadly tobela-
mcnted, thai every description. the most neces-
sary OF them, nay easily be increased infinitely
Beyond The demand iOr their services; and that far
thr greatest nun3cr, by whole Glasses, and not by
individuals, totally Superfuous For instance
what do we want with the whole corps Of legcrle-
main and slight-ol-iaml performers, vcntTiloousts
ouloonS 3lounicbanhs, and orera-da!cers: they are
al d1ccNcrs and i'lrostors they ilCh the pockets
and dep:avc the lclects, of their ignorant obscrv-
CTS. Nevertheless, these the licensed curse
of the yet Gnc!iascned, sweeping spirit OF toera-
ton-wherc al actual crime Is not the immediate
effect no matter how many and how horrible are
The TeHotc consequence will omit to observe
III justice 10 tla enlightened AMI patriotic Legisla-
ture of Pcisy lyania, that the first introduction
of the masquerade in Philadelp they Indignantly
and promptly put down the monster forever But
let us anaise this class of labourers little mere
closely and little more consecutivey. We have
seen thati is desideraium retrench thc!nproduc-
tive laboarcrs much as possiblc-pcrhaps 10 dis
countenaDcc all that not nccessary-at least all
that are not Innocent.
10 begin then with the officers of government and
Of these with the highest. We will all agree that we
cannot have !eSs than chipf magistrate OH, go
vernon; but how many pEivy counsellors? I would
say not enc a. the public expense. But it is not my
OBJECT nero 20 discuss the merits of the matters which
faH UNDER review OF this head, any more than those
O! the former LEI them ba thoroughly probed by the
convention, II tie decisive will and voice of the
people shall be allowed - entitlc them TO one
Whether the judiciary be over-burthened with
members, do not pretend 20 particulagise an opin.
ION: doGbtets, Supcrnuneraries will be found he-r
also, IL the subject be brought before convention
But, in regard - of the legislative branches i
Is Obvious to the msrc5t infant, that they arc a
least double the number that the plainest reason
would dictate The gist of the argument as III,
lawyers say, amounts briefly to this: if delerat,
two mon with equal powers to transact business fo
me, the one wishing to take course and the othe
tue contrary, their antagousng opinions neutraiis,
each other, and nothing j; done. If however -,
must have just so many representatives 10 axhaus
the overlooking treasury of these thrifty times, i
would be still wiser to double the number of conn
ties, and have member from Ci which is Of itscl
sufficiently ridiculous. Military and naval officers
clerks and other assistants, perhaps sufficient,
Kept under the pruning SYSTEM rs they are subiec
to the yearly inspection of the Leyisa ture WHO :,
long habituated consider themselves lords mar,
mount it is TO be aPpiehended, while they arc deal
ing away the supcrf,ities in oihe departments vii
be reluctant even to- consider themselves amenabl
to the people in the form of a convention.
The services OF churchmcn, lawyers, physicians
schoonen' editos, and other of letters in thci
remote effects OH society," not inferior in utility
me direct operations of men i'll Office Besides dis
charging their professional and indispensable duties