Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-12-12
CONGRATULATIONS.
FOR THE ENQUIRER.
To the Legislature of Virginia


lous spirit of national pride, is the impulse to
lions which bear the seeming Of gratitude, are but
too often melancholy facts. We need not search
the annals of history to find that close and rigid
parsimonv is the characteristic of most Republics
In such Gov ernments the wealth Of the Treasury
Is considered as private property by each constitu-
eni OF the State, and its disposition is influenced
by those motives, which, under the soothing terms
OF Economy, too often conceal selfish and il
liberal policy. Oae of the best practical prnci-
pies for Government of this kind, is generous
spirit OF reward. This has strong tendency TO
call into active exercise, that moral OF. pa
trotsm which we proud TO believe belongs TO
Virginians. The Grecan citizen had NO higher
ambition than 10 receive the thanks OF hts couairy;
and his brightest dreams of the immortality OF the
soul. were cen,ered in the hope OF being remern-
bered by posierity in Statue, which, while ii
breaihed the skill Of the artist, awoke in the oo-
server patriots affection. Ne have cold aud
sluggish indifference towards such feelings, and
the apathy of neglect is but too often The direct
evidence OF positive refusal.
These feelings insensbly crepi on me, while on
a visit to the neglected grave of the mother OF
General Washington. The vivid recollection Of
several old persons who had known her during life,
and who had followed her corpse to the grave, Ill
rected my footsteps 10 the place, marked by cold
and dIeary desolation. Her grave Is situated about
mile west OF Fredericksburg, on cf, which
is link in the chain OF hills which surround the
town. The spot OF her Interment cannot be
cura,ely traced, fer the mound which sinal
ly raised, has been washed into the regular dec J.
vity oil the hl.--A small white stone, laced there
oy the hand OF Nature, Is but few yards distant
from the grave, where now lies In oblivion, that
Gecayed frame, whose arm once Graded, anu whose
maternal instructions formed into model of yir
tuou' ambition, the Father of his country; inspr-
Ell into an active flame OF patriotism, tia, soul,
which Providence seems kindly 10 have allotted 10
us in the time OF danger. How easily NIGH, she
have bent into vicious depsavity the opening vi
sour oil his mind How easily nigh. she have led
him to aspire IT, Inc character OF The tyrant OF his
country, rather than the benelscioT! She nigh,
have told him that g ory was the dazzlins meteor
which sprung from the daring enterprise OF Ca,a-
line, not from the ignoble inanity oi Doria No,
i Is alone from the precepis of maternal endea,
meH,s, that the mind is impressed with ,ha, stamp
OF virtue. which bears in every cline its sterling
worth. 1t was this, which the Grscchi inIbitci
from the milk OF CorEeia, and when the People
recoliected, With painful regret, their intrepid ad
vocaes, tEey were remembered as The treasures OF
Cornelia and she, tie friend and beaefaciress OF
her country
Il may he ended, that the simple grave is
better than al the gorgeous pOmp and crcum-
stance OF the msusoeum; that pride deems
the latter TIE and lying record of in
tesrity and virtue, while the former copceals in
honorable torgetiulness, all that could grace life
and dga!y human nature. True, il is, that Gen
WashinSton's grave Is surnoun.ed with no monu
ment OF national gratitude; yet Mopa, Vernon is
hallow ed by bis mortal remains and our much loved
institutions are his eptaph. She who gave him
bIrh and who, for that, ought TO be in our politi-
cal religion, holy Madonna, has fallen unno-
,iced aud neglected, to that grave which has no
stone 10 mark It's place, and no monument TO show
States affection.
10 you, Gentlemen os the Legislature OF Viz
ginia, this subject should be matter of serious
consideration Tie expense OF erecting moDu-
ment would be trifling. While we were Colony,
our complimentary feelings were not stamped by
pecuniary considerations. You will find in your
records, public acts for the erection OF tomb stones
and statues TO those, whose birth gave them nobI-
ity, and who were esteemed, because they were
passivey good, not by the active practice OF moral
rectude. The fifth part OF the expence, even in
preparing the golden ring, with which, like the
Venetian Doge, you annually wed the James River
Canal and an economical retrenchueni in any
part of the tardy wheels of Legislation, would
produce this end, which would be honourabe to
yourselves, and agreeable to your constituents.
NEOS.
To the Editors Of the Enquiaer.
Gentlemen Il have pernsed the communication
in your paper of the LIST instant, signed Fidelity
| and know not whether to smile at the folly, or
10 be offended at tile presumption OF its author II
is not ny intention to examine the preensi ms OF
Mr.. Talaferro to the Office which he fills, or INV
wish TO induce the belief, that the people Of the
Northern Neck are entirely satisfied with the
course which he has pursued. Such is not the fact
The split of inquiry is abroad and the public voice
impeTatively demands full and candid exposition
OF his political opinions. But the people Of the
District are independent and msgnaniinous in their
views, and will not ALLOW their representative 10
compromt the dignity of his station, by enlisting
under the banner OF any individual They do not
ask him TO abuse Mr.. Adams or 10 fdtter Gen.
Jackson. They require him to maintain the prn-
ciples OF 90--to defend the true doctrines Of the
Constitution, and 10 sustain the digHity OF Virgil
MIA.
II is degrading 10 the Congress OF the y. States,
tba, its members should be the mere personal par
tiZans of the various candidates for the Presiden
cy: And il is equally degrading to the people who
elect them, that particular opinions 10 men,
should constitute passport to- Office. But what
ever may be the opinions Of the people Of the
Northern Neck, as TO the merits OF Gen. Jackson
or the political sins of Mr.. Adams, or however
great their objections TO their present representa-
tve---tbey a moral, religious, and re-
fleciing people, and they cannot accept the prof
iered services of Henry Lee. They cannot be
sed1ced from the path OF virtue by the most en-
iicing allurements; not even by the offer of The
public services OF an individual, justly eminent for
bis atainmens and distinguished for his talents
90 Fidelity" has mistaken both the moral and in
,ellectusl character OF the people whom he ed
dresses They are not ignorant TO be inAu-
enced by his dictdttOn--nor so corrupt as TO have
abandoned all OF moral propriety. They
still retain the spirit OF their ancestors and will
never eondescend to be represented by man who,
a