Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-12-21

tanned, or that all which he most values as
good, will not be abo shed How can auv
man know, how can he feel any confident as.
surance, thati il the very amendments he him
sell thinks advisable, should be made Tex
aciiy and no more) such reform in practical
operation, will work good or evil 2" Does
the wise man knoio, that the sun which sets
to-day, will rise tomorrow ? Does the navi-
gaior knoic, that the needle will point to the
pole! Does the husbandnan kno,c, does he
Jeei any cOnfdenf assurance, when ha tills and
SONS, that he will ever reap? And vet with
out This certainly, mankind are mad enosch
to hazard experiments, and to expect results,
me stream of human opinion flows on
WIN constant, though sometimes an TN.
steady current; Its SOURCES are Ted by the per.
petual fountains Of hUmurf wisdom and expe-
Renee its channels are marked by the peces-
SHY and aptitude of things. We feel no other
assurance IN the success of the most ordInary
experiment, than is derived from our expe-
rience. Human life is an Experimentation
verhment Is an experimeDt--every. thing in
line Is an experiment, either tried or untred.
certainty Is noi one OF the attributes, either Of
human Knowledge or of human conduct
Providence, IN mercy to mankind, has hidden
The future from our eyes, and deigued only To
shadow out its first resemhlsnces in what tyf
khow at the past. Probability is our utmost
certainty -conJt cture the strongest assurance
we can OBTAIN. But To minds which rpasnn
on ordinary principles, and WHICH, are content
Win ordinary results, here is certainty enough.
There Is IN the must apparen, incongruili.s of
sentiment, habit and disposition auIope' men.
4 surprising degree of consistency There ia
"o s"nl'ci, perhaps, on which there is more
apparent and real difference of ouininn than
politics, and yet there is "a constant tendency
among men, To harmonize and mingle togeihrr
'Iier various sentiments, till, by contrast and
comparison, they settle down to one steady
uo'iorm course of principles. Freodom
OF uiscnsslon constitutes the chief security of
hem"crailcal Institutions The ease with
winch The opinions of all men. on all sub :
Jecis' are brought together, serves to concen-
uate me iorce OF public sentiment 10 detect
an" expose error, ard render truth, more con-
sp'cuouS and permapan. individuals NAV
err, nut all experience testifes that public o.
pin'on Is generally correct. TO say then.
tha' no one can tell precisely, what will be
the result of any public deliberaiion, furnishes
no argument against convention because il
this reason operate at all, il operates euuauv
10 az cases where any matter is 10 be settled
ny gwen body of Individuals. The first and
ia'?f'e policy of free government, will al
ways ne, t9 Lender the people familiar with
'he spirit OF lis regulations, by close and
constant investigation of lis structure and adj
n'nisiration, to invite the public scrutiny 10
us fundamental reasons well as IFS daily
operations. Then, let it not be attemnied tn
avert me .puOiic attention from the real subject
before us. Ii Is enough for every lover of his
country, tn know that there are defectsv
ana " vices" in our constitution, and the uni-
form and undertaking correctness of public a.
pinion on all subjects of national interest is =,
snlhcient guarantee for the reform Of whatever
ABUSES, and the perpeiuaton OF whatever
vantages may exist.
There are but two methods. by which do.
'ec's IN The original plan of government.
can oe reformed ;-a re. Oluion and a couypn
uoh. When, blythe abuse of powers ceded-
or the.assumption of powers not coded. The adj
tnl"istraiion of government becomes desfruc-.
1--WE 10 any Of the cardinal rights or liberties
VI men, they seek redress where alone il is IN
pe io"hd 10 an appeal TO arms. Most mo-
dern governments, whatever may be their do
nomination or their practical forms. profes, IN
nave some great land marks, by WHICH mon
may discrIml nate between the bounds az
'ts''ha'e ana usurped authority. Perhaps
an governments ~ their origin were pure
oelnS strongly marked in their outlines he ,he,
character of the people who formed then,
ana adapted by expedency to the necessi,;es
0' me tunes 10 which they were formed
out as mankind grow older, :hcy also grow
WISER, I'd tne knowledge both of good and g.
Al - N"'uro hSctSSafy 10 strengthen
the reins by which their iicen:ousness i,
cuFoed, and 20 multiply restraints upon ali
their conduct Thus as the structure of eo-
vernment becomes daily more complex. and
us "u'n'"'stralon more corrupt, the necessity
'ncFeases, OF guarding with rigour against the
uanSer OF encroachment and abuse. Lines
%n'ch al hrst Appeared plain and obvious on
'he chart OF government, may be eTaced by
tlinP, or ObiIterated by the rude hand oC am,
o''on virtues which were once understood
anu appreciated, may come 10 be overlooked
anu forgotten amid the increasing corruption
VI Ddd ministry, while vices" and de-
reefs" are sure TO grow with the erer-rroUinc
propenslIies Of men to error and usuroa.
ton.
The author Of the " Substitute" saws true
when he tell us the government of Virginia has
Dten wen administered. Ii is Justly entitled To-
the eloquent rhapsody which has been pro
nounced on it. But, would go farther han
even that gentleman has gone, in The extraya-
gance OF his admiration. | would saw. that
our government must have been well admin
lsit I'd, though the constitution had been I,
thousand times more defective than il is ar
indeed, though there bad been none. Our moo.
pie are ylriuous-they. are enlighteDed--tbev
are proud iof freedom and attached IN ;fs
dressings such people,who have learned TO
rove freedom by ITS contrast with oppression
WIN but few incentives 90 good &. but Iiule re.
sualnt ron evil, almost without the exffios;c
a'u OF any government, would chalk ont their
OVID course to happiness. THE KNOWLEDGE of
| Ia'.oDai F'5Dt mas been infused into the peopje
OF Tg'hla' by the experience of wrongs ~ hich
eney pave suffered, not by the excellence ola
.orm OF government on Paper. The people
/ A. Uf A A..