Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-09-29

ie'ter nom the late President ErFERsoN in renlv
70 Inquiries proposed to him, which the answer
su.hcien,ly explains. The frankness and virour of
;"in production are only equalled by the vrtuous
,hueha''on to which the abuses of the rress, which
NC" Prevailed gave rise in his mind. Though the
'''ne ABUSES exist at this day 10 some extent. a
nianiiest Improvement has taken MAGE in the cha
rac'er and conduct of American newspapers. Still
'ne ie''er In both branches of its subjects NAV be
feao WIN proht, and is characteristic of its illustr
Gus writer.
- dshington, June IL, 1907.
80 I0ur letter OF May 9, has been duly re-.
ceNeu The subjects it proposes would require
time and space for even moderate deyelopemen,
MY occupations limit me TO very short notice of
uielh- think there does not exist a good elemen-
'ary WORK on the organization of society into civil
government: mean work which presents, in one
iuiI and comprehensive view, the system of prin-
cipies on which such organization should be
founded according 10 the rights OF nature Fer
want oil single work of that character | should
recommend Locke on Government. Si1nev-
Fiies'iey's Essay on the first Principles OF Co.
vernment, Chapman's Principles of Government
ana 'he federai'st: adding perhaps, Beccaria on
Crimes and Punishments, because of the demons,ra-
i've manner In which he has treated that branch of
INC SUBJECT. III your views of political inquiry go
further, 20 the subjects of money and commerce.
Smiths Wealth of Nations, is the best book to he
read unless Says Political Economy can be lad,
winch treats the same subjects the same princi-
pIes' out IN shorter compass and more lucid mar
ner. But believe this work has not been transla,
ed into our language.
history In general only informs us what bad 90
vernment isl But as we have EMPLOYED some of
the best materials of the British constitution in the
construction OF our government, knowledge of
BRUSH history becomes useful TO the American DO
ii'ician. There is, however, general history of
mat country which can be recommended The
elegant one OF Hume seems intended 10 disguise
and discredt the good principles ofthe government,
ana Is so plausible and pleasing in its style and
manner, as to inst its errors and heresies insens
bly, INTO the minds of unwary readers Baxte, has
performed good operation on it. He has taken
Inc text OF Hume az his ground work, abridsine IT
oy me omission OF some details of little interest
and wherever he has found him endeavouring to-
h'sie' q, by either The suppression of truth, or
giving II false colouring, he has changed the text
10 what II should be; so that we may properly call
IT Hume's History republicanised Heha moreo
yer, continued the history, but ind,tferen,Iv from
where Hume left il. to the year 1900. The work
is no' popular IN England, because it is republican,
ana Dut lew copies have ever reached America
II - single quaTto volume. Adding 10 this Lud-
lows Memoirs, Mrs. Macauey's and Belknap's
histories, a sufficient view will be presented of
the principles of Tie English constitution.
10 your request OF my opinion of the matter in
fG,
be most useful, should answer, by restraining
u 20 true iacis and sound principles only" Yet
lear such a paper would fnd few subscrjbers.-
~ Is = melancholy truth, that suppression of the
press cooid not more completely deprive the ma
40" % lis dement's, than Is done by its abandon-
{" prostitution TO ialsehood Nothing can now
Ne believed that is seen in a newspaper. Truth
tsei becomes suspicious by being nm, into hat
Poiluied vehicle. The real extent of This state of
n'sihIoimauon Is known only to those who are in a
'tu"uoh 10 confront facts within their knowledge
WIN the Hes OF The day. really look with com
"'ssera'lon over the great body o. nay fellow citi-
lehs' VINO, reading newspapers, live and die in the
, e'i 'i't 'Hey nave known something of what
mas been passing in their time; whereas the ac-
counts they have read are lust as tru. historv rs
any olher period of the world as of the nre.en,
SAceP luat The real names of the DAY are affixed IN
'ner l"oIIcs General facts may indeed he collect
ca rom them; such as that Europe is now az war
'hat BonspaIte has been a successful warrior and
,iia ne mas SUBJECTED great portion of Europe to
MS WI on no details can be relied on | will
anu 'n"t Ihe man who never looks into newsoa
per Is better informed than he who reads Them IN
"suuch as he who knows nothing is nearer IN
Uuth Than he whose mini Is filed with fs!seboods
anu errors lie who reads nothing will still learn
The great facts, and the details are almost all false
Perhaps an Editor might begin reformation in
some 'uch way IS this: Divide his paper into four
'f - l'"uHS tie Isl, Truths; I'd PTobabili-
ties; 3D. Possibilities: 4ih, Lies The first chan
ter would be very Short as il would contain Ii,tI
more tban authentic papers, and information from
snch sources a. The Editor would be willing % ris,r
his own reputation for their truth The second
" 'uId contain what, from mature consideration
OF al circumstances, bis judgment should conclude
10 be probably true. The third and fourth sbou,d
De Pofessediy Tor those readers who v ouId rather
nave lIe- Tor their money than the blank paper thew
would occupy
such an Editor too would have 10 SGT his Csce
against The demoral sing practice Of feeding tho
puhlc mind haJtnally on SANDER, ard the ,lenYavi
" 81 taste which this nauscous alinent induce.
TERMINATION Is becoming necessary OF life: inso-
nUc" 'l'"l dlsh ~ tea. IN The morning or evening
Cf'"o' ne ulgesied without this siimulant Eyen
'"",o WHO 90 NOT believe these denominations still
teaO 'heiu with complacence 10 their auditors; and
instead Of the abhorrence and ioJigo,,ion ,bio,'
s"ood hil vntoous mind, betray a secret pleasure
IN the possibility that some may believe tLe,n
'.ongh ihey do not themselves II seems 10 escape
men, that - IL not he who prints but he who
pays Tor printing, SANDER, who Is its real author
Tender sou my salJiations and best wishes for
you, S'c'esS u; JEFF ERSON.
Mr.. JOHN NoRvELL, D0nUHle, Kenfucky.
]ir. JCHyson's COrTcSpOndence 49,. The edao-
oil tbe Aurora has Inadvertently published Ie,,e,
rom ihe venerable Jefferson CONTAINING bia onin;o,
oil iho press, evidently written under those feeli,g,
""'h we we caumnIes published agsir.t him bsd
W'u''gU hey were opinions undoubtedly erro-
u'ousi ou' - The greatest Of men are liable 10 err
,''"' 'e''s'' rom one Of the g5eaie,t our country
mas ever produced, should have been ,,,;,ttti
particularly as it gave rise 10 borst from lie aI5
I"hucal IRE, which il but ssuothered The folloyy-
luy letter from Mr. Je0erso, 80. III