Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-04-20
LIBRARY SYSTEM.
ahs multiplication Of Libraries. The eieapcs. mode
81 Charlottesville anii9ote TO pop,.iar ig7lorGscc
tile permanent security or freedom.
NO. w.


mon usage to premise the fundamental truths touch
ing the subject of enqC.y, whether they be such
have been affirmed By the experience and consen
of the learned such obvious TO the common
sense of every one, mixture of both. Ii would
be great improvement of this usage. were the ca
taiogue of fundamental propositions extended ty ci
ting few of the radical errors also, touching the
subject OF research.
Incomparabiy more benefit would result 10 the
>Eeneral efficacy OF truth, by detecting and exposing
IT'S councraciing or aiitago,iisng errors, than
otherwise arise ou. OF pIotracteG concentration OF
deductions from the sublimest principles in any spc-
culatve science and the is deducible from
this simple fact, that radical is, like stag
nan pool, the spontaneous parent OF an 0ncounable
progeny Of deadly evils, while each truth, like the
sublime objects OF crcGton rev1lves alooi in lis pc
culiar sphere, and admits but few eternal innuta-
ole connections, which require ages to discover to
approve, and 20 apply with efficacy, to defend US
against all the countless swarms OF contagious cr-
rcrs Truths are bat few, aud their connections
of delicate texture, di;cult to he diSccrnci ;
but their mock limitations and DISCUSSES with
out number, and swell the ENORMOUS list If tine al
ready too prolific phalanx Of error. To detect
6ical antagoiisg error, them is rot less imper.an,
than to discover fundamental truth shall there
fore endeavon keep in fsSs4ey this antagonisins
principle between truth e.rcE, III. lie course Of
: this enquiry.
Is it truth universally conceded by republican
classes Of &c comisuaiy Is the best safeguard 10 tie
Tigks Of te reop,e SO is TIE hdicf in the sucien-
cy of colleges and universities for this object of
jis principal antasonisug ertols, which rctord the
fulhment of its Indication. =
Is it truth founded in the com,noh sense and ma
Sural arithuatc OF every one. ifnt tie cteapsf
plcn,s for obtoiitins good fna c'eteris paribus,
ought 10 be preferred 10 The more. eres1tscet So is
the belief that colleges and universities cheaper
than other means FOR diifusns knowledge of the
principal antaSonising eros which retard the fl-
flment OF this truth as il applies TO this object
But before entering upon this discussion it will be
proper TO consider the members of accommunity uu-
der these three heads-producticel abourers, tnpro
cctfce labourers, and idl.s; for tits very
that our present system Of education in colleges and
universities has great effect, both d5torting the
just balance between the necessary occupations Of
society, and in giving rise others which most
grevous nusances, as well as increasing the last OF
those who have a natural propensity to idlencss.
Productive labourers are those cijoSe ia6our con-
tributes TO the production Or rae E.Tierict, and the
preparation Of those materials for CONSUMPTION or
aese. These consist of ag.icutI.ists, mechanics,
manufacturers and artists, in all the iunc,i-
of the minute branches OF those great division,
of industry.
Unproductivc labourers are those, cllvSe 0ccupn-
lions neither produce any thing nor increase The cG-
Inc Of any thing, by prepariag ii for They
sist Of the officers of governmeut-egis!atiyc
cutive and judiciary, military and naval officers.
clerks and ctl3f assistants; church-lnen, LAWYERS
physicians, school-men, editors, anu otter men OF
fetters; banking officers, merchants, sailors,
men, porters and other tfansportcrs; players but
foons, musicians opcra-singers oncra-dancers, me-
NAL servants and gamblers.
Idlers are drones .co 30 ,,0A.ino biz cssasap,e he
products Of otitsr peoples iabol.r. OF these, in the
perfect sense Of the telrn, perhaps there few
none in society the nearest approach to this state
Cfi ord i E,,l; !, AL.
life fell sacrifice TO the Guten OF ilirnesg which
he very appropriately expressed By saying I" hc was
tired with dressing and undressing himself" There
are mauy, however, in slave holding states and
psinceiy governments, who approach very near to
this perfection OF idcncss, doing almost every thing
by the proxy OF Stewards ovclseerS, clerks and me
Idal servants, not concerning themselves with
the unproductTe employment of literature or chari-
y, nor patronisng the productive labour OF others
i,1t Tor their Own consumption. In this class are
those paupers who, unable To labour for their sup
port aye maintained III iilcncss al tie public charge.
In tne simple, incipieat stages of human society
every hunter, She plerd, Il hGS6a nllaan;
manufacturer, warrior, statesman; in fine every
man did, capable Of doing ar,cs. every thing
which any other maa did or was capable of coing:
and though he possessed no; high degree of skill in
any thing yet he possessed that which was sufficient
9or conducting his limited affairs, private and social
all were productive iabourers There were no
idlefs bu the infant and the aged.
But in process OF time, the simultaneously 3yo-
gressge Improvement of agriculture, manufacture
arts, commerce, and civilization, gradually introdu-
ced and extended the division of labour so that net
only person performs such plurality Of
functions in this, III the rude state of society but
running into the other extreme, hardly any complete
craft centers in any Individual. The various pro-
ductive operations are divided among different peg.
sons; and their profits enable them finally 70 hire
agents who employ themselves exclusively i'll super
Intending, managing, and performing, many OF the
Unp oductive functions designated above. Thus UNI
productive labourers of certain descriptions are in
sepaIable and necessary attendants any advance
mcnt IN arts and civilization. But DO nct believe
50 much can be said for dlers, who whether in the
extremes of wealth poverty may perhaps be era
dictated from we'll ordered conmunty-at least
education may remedy the former, ana Il speedy
dissolution viii naturally dispose of the latter when
the decipe!ude is such that the sautary measures
for the prevention Of pauperisn cannot engage them
y, profitable iabouf.
1t also follows That ali classes of society," whether
productive labourers uDproducive labours or dIers
are supported by the various fruits of the productive
]abourcrs, directly applied exchanged for the pro-
ducts OF othcs societies by commerce. And great
pa-: oil this class, again, depend that portion of
them who called growers agricuturists, for
supply OF tue products and raw materials required
for their several eupoyments and uses except what
arc derived f,om tbs spontaneous bounty of nature
Hence it is evident TOO, tina, nation is prosperous
the aggregate ratio that her productive abourers
are numerous skiiful, Industrious, economical and
her oilers and unproduciivc abourcrs are few, and
InoIs.atc in their salaries and their cravings.
But wh:ic it is true that some unproductive Ia.
1cu:ers necessary 10 improved state of soce-
". IL Is equally true that many both of the produc-
tive and unP.oduc.;vc labourcrs, most grevou.
Il IL -. IL.