Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-12-18

L.
'nr themselves, 10 reason on the nature of
ehsets and the operation Of causes, and there
IS no SUBJECT on which greater light has beeo
iehected Than government. Ii is now BECOME
least ID theory what it Away should have
oeen IN practice, voluntary covenant az
mankind for the preservation of their natural
ana sncia! rights. in which as all particpa,.
ooth the burdens and benefits, so aV ara ina
sinpd likewise Ia share in the administration
""u coh'roui. fhen, since government is n
voluntary association for The mutual ben. IN ef
an VINO contribute 10 its maintenance. and
since IFS destinies are inseparably united Win
| those ofthe people, it is not merely the right
out u Is The duty OF each individual TO poini
OUT the means by which evil may be avoided.
anu good attained. There is a distinction
anu wide one ton, between political error &
political wrong. Political error can he amend
sd-but political wrong must be rearessed. -
me one Is an ineonvenIancp, the other an evil
aau oPpressien. In curing the first, self inter
10 We" as patriotism demands, that in the
sp"'' VI 'neeknrss and moderation, we should
. u"'e our aia ana COUNSEL, first Ia devise and
.hen 10 apply the means by which a cure is
90 20 he elected; that with the camness of de-
"oeration, we should read the lessons of cx
Pr.'ence which other nations and other ages
ah"ru that we should with the utmost i'm
"'.,a"y' prepare our minds for entering up-
On me TASK, with that dignity and fairness
w"ch becomes lis as men, and which best fits
Us 10 appreciate the measure of il. that is
complained OF, and of probable good which is
souen' auer. But, when the sting Of oppres-
s'on Is ieh when the lash of. persecution ag-
sra'a.es an the evils which tyranny can in0ct,
u Is IN vain to demonstrate the ,uic. of r-a
son IS either siIenced forever. or ifs cries ar.
unheedtd by ears deafened with the CON
seriousness of power. Fortunately for our
serves aru our country,we ceased 10 complain
w e.!s IKE these, when the rapacity of a
BRUSH court convinced us, that more furci
oie appear was necessary and the success of
TIM appeal when made, has obviatpd. ! tr,,s,
forever, the necessity of again rpsorting to ,ts
a'd. Ii were idle To excite In the minds of
others, or to cherish in our. own. discooteu,s
aSh'f5t government, when serious. practical
e'hs are iei', Decauee they ale never inlcted
out wheTe power has the ascendancy over
| r'gh!. Iyranfs tread on worms oplv-tbey
ny from the adder. The d.fenceIrss' yassais
oi Europe, who sensible Of these {" se-
| r,ous, practical evils" only strengthen IN.
chorus OF their bondage, by every elIuIt " hch
! they make to be free.
NO man, then, desires Convention. either
win view to his own personal agg, andisemen,
or To the elevation of any one class of society
10 me prejudice Of another 1t is measure
winch originated in the sober judgements of
men, VINO love their country, and venerate
us laws. Inc spirit ofthose lave, thank hen :
ven IL yet too pure to cuuntenapce the sus.
picion, that Q convention is soush, from, ~"
ives OF hostility 10 existing institutions ar If
private ambition. Demagngues have never
risen 10 influence by resistance TO popular SEN
S'hent. III Is an invidiuus and thankiess office
to tell mankind Of their own faults mr. the
faults OF their Institutions. Men patu aIlv
'o'e their own conceits 1--WE sometimes love
.he"', simply because they are ours. ere we
investigate their claims to our attachment
ms io'e, which is too nearly assimilaird lo
in'e' 10 oe always correct, extends itself
through all The various come xiops of soci.tv
To the government under which we ,,.,
chance To live, or the religion which our most
remote ancestry may have professed. Tn the
rites ana customs, however ridiculous. which
'nry nave praciiced, and to the olrinions they
aaoPted, however crude and absurd 7, Is
ms love, which weds mankind 10 I'M. n,cul;,r
fashions and tenets ofihe age or country .hey
I'VE IN, and which forbids them with the Stern
dictates OF habit, as well to abolish th,i, own
| abuses as 10 adept the Improvements of Others.
10 '''iS io'e winch has ever scowled with
Jealous disapprobatiou upon The snr,t of inv,
provement both 10 the natural ard ;n,aIlec,,,al
word which in "its pride Of placen has
.eh'ureu 10 denounce all that surpassed
US seF'ne conceptions, as " sacrilecen or
"eason. FhIs, like all other passions. il
conducive TO good, so long az il is kent in pro-
per osunas and directed 10 proper objects.
IL should teach us to encroach with c.,u,;ous
crcumspection on all established usaees moi 10
,tetra them as entirely perfect 10 look A.
oroaa Beyond the narrow sphere of our own
experience, 81 graft into our own stock of wis
uo" Whatever principles may have proven
,'':.'u usein' mol to close our eyes in the
onudness ofarrogapce upon the opinion. &, in
siitutions of the world. Thus far do the fr;.nds
o. convention agree with The author of 50 -
substitute, and thus far they consent 10 be go
rerneu ny the caution which reverence for
tneir own age and country inspires. Bin, when
mat gentleman goes farther, and bs,,ows an
lndiscrlminate eulogy on all institutions Is hicb
nave acquired the sanction of fine though
u may suffice for him, that they hay.
existed Tor few centuries 0r "A few years
we would enquire Into their origin and
'nen nature, ere we yield our unlimited
appreciation and make them perpe,,at-
! we owe as much TO ourselves and nos.
terity, as we owe to ages past--and we v m
never cancel the obligation lill reason assures ~
v IS discharged. So far rs considerations al
this chsracter.weigh, the Sales.--future is an
ADLER defence Of mOnsrchical or ecclesiastical
| tyranny, than Of republican egnality for. ~.
ranny is OF much earlier date and of much
longer dgratioD than freedom. lis argument.
tend equally 10 sustain the authority OF a Turk.
lsh diadem or Catholic inqiistion.
/ DEMOCRITUS.
Foa THE ENQUIRER.
No. Ill
CONVENTION.
} RicbRond Memorial e. Mr.. I,eigb's substifute
RIGHT OF SUFFRAGE