Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-06-19

"
that historians and superficial Statesmen mislead
their readers and their hearers. An instance is be-
lore US OF either ignorsnce sorhis:ry or dec-p-
uon: There IL instance in history OF
Chief Executive Magistrate elected by small
body OF men, where the most gross and undisguis-
ed corruption has not ehsued. We have seen the
hardy cirtucs OF Rome sink under the expert
ment. In the same city in which the first Brutus
swore bJ the reeking blood OF the violated l.ucre
TIA, to exterminae every vestige of monarchy
rom Rome, we have seen Infamous band OF
Fre'orlan Cohorts rush 10 the ramparts, and pro-
claim that the Empire of the World would be sold
al auction for money"
/ But. to return to our ohject, LEI IL zee who and
what was Percles, the Orator and Rhetorician As
I he is described by Goldsmith.
lie hourished ia the iuierval belws cen the peace
OF Persia and that of Nicias when a. hens being
Hee nom It's iear OF a foreign enemy, {" cherished
intestine anmo.lies, anj its citizens l5boured to
suppiant each other In shining at places OF trust
and authority" In plain English, they all BECAME
olice-hunteis.
Cimon was appointed General by common con.
SENT to Others were entrusted the domestic affairs
| oil The State
| The descent of Pericles from distinguished men
gave him consequence. Z" He studied politics;
particularly devoted himself to eloquence, which
mot wisdom or integrity he considered as the
fountain Of all promotion ia a popular State"
In the latter study he perfectly succeeded. He
was wealthy and highly CONNECTED. lie did no,
come from the lowest orders oil society," as Air.
| M'D. world say.
." lh- death OF Arls,ides, the Punishment of
ihsmIs'ocles, (who, though sasaciru-, clog ient
and brave, wac unprincped. aItiul and mercena-
ry; Tor such are The prominent features of the
Greek chdrGcterD' ~ the absence of Cimon gave
opportunities to the growing ambition OF Pc
riches. AT first he concealed his design with cau-
INN h., H..
vas beloved by all ranks los his condOEr and
Rberdiity' !"
To counteract this, Percles called in popular
assistance" and brlbed, with public money. ..Ihe
multitude to espouse his iuIe,e.tS'' lie then
destroyed the suthoTity oil The Areopsgus So
Tar successful, he kept hi rival! Cimon, abroad.I
AT this tune an insurrecunn OF the Snartan
slaves took place, which " threatened nothing less
than the dettruc'ion OF the Spartan State" Sparta
implnred Athens for succour Ephialtes The
friend OF Pericies, and another popular champion,
" opposed the sending OF succour, as IL 1DouId
aid riudI city, Cimon took the oppusu. SHE
The insurrecuon was queiIed. However It re-
appeared. Succour was again demanded, hut the
party OF Pericles succeeded in persuadine the he.
mans 10 refuse it The - insurgent slaves" held
out for 10 years, when they cspIiul.ted on cundl-
ton OF leaving Peloponessus.
These circumstances revived the jealousy long
sub-isiing between the two SaIes when conf
nued '' until both were utterly unable 10 with.
stand the smallest efforts of foreign inyaslon.''
The .6thentGrS (Pericles heir head then
banished Cinon as the friend of Sparta and dis
| solved their alliance with that country, and made
treaty with the ArsiVes, i,s protested enernies
They took the insurgent sIduss under their pro-
lection and settled taeDI at yfdupachus Ih.v
succoured the city OF Nlesara, when hal revolt.
Ell against The SpaTians, and thus laid the founda
non OF an Inveteraie hatred, which ended In niu-
tuai Instruction."
Cimon, though bani-hed, came to the assistance.
OF his eou"try AT that period she was defeated
Victory returned to her andard, and Cjmon "a as
recalled lie then directed the efforts of b,s conn
trymen to an attack on Cyprus. Victory crowned
his arms, but death bore him off in the midst of his
riumphs With him expired - the spirit of glory
In A,hen@. As he the last sn he was The
most successful OF Grecian heroes"
Pericles now resumed his unhailowed " work
OF ambition. He gained such ascendancy over
the minds OF the people, that he might be said to
nave exercised monaIchical powef'' His opures-
zion was SUCH that he first cut OF the suppIes of
The poor, and then confined them 10 bis sbips tor g
months in the year.
His ambition increased. In vain did the people
OF Athens oppose he et0qnence OF Thucydides to
the popularity oil Perices ali wa, In vain.
" Ills efforts could not long avail sgains, the
persuasive power and corrupt influence of Peri
"
authority Of the State He became the PRINCIPAL
Ruler at Athens and all VINO we.e his enemies
were those OF the State"
Inc Coy ernment of Athens became Z" commit
Gated and strong "-fo.esn connexions and coo-
quests became its Objects II entertained uielcs
beyond ITS potOer, t0hich rather denoted IFS
Prsde, than ProDsdu its ability" Besides, she had
been an object OF jealousy to her neghbors. To
gra'liy the prostitute ASpasia, PeTicles made an
attack on Samos and succeeded; but 10 his success
Is TO be found the " beginning of rupture which
new r alter was closed up
FoIl alter toll, war after war, misery after mise
cry, we're The result The Conlsderaics declared
war Percies ike Z" bold bad m,n'' in,repidly
prepared Tor me contest -" the people giddv,
iona % e""iSe' md unterr!fed by ms
TANT dangers, readily came INTO MS opi,.
iOHs."
" Thus the people, from their love of change
entered hastily into tie war; but Pericies was peys
Sonaity Interested in its declaration. He was
deeply Indebted TO the State, and he knew that
Time oi peace was The only opportunity in tchich
he could De e0lied on to settie his Qccotfuts''
Ihls may be SAID 10 have been the last &C, Of
Pericles. After year of war, pursued with va
rious success, aud that success secured to III. A.
thenlans by the sacrifice OF the products OF fny
years oil peace, one Of plague succeeded To
hs Disorder, Pericles, with thousands of his ooun
Uymen' became vietiui, and this profound tS-
rant demago6ie aud hypocrte, terminated his
Note Present force an idea On our mini, q. 4, thu
s''uti state Of Greece Msuy thought tIDho t.o severe on
ohsiSeef hut what says the au.h-r OF Anasta,
teNher Mt Thomas Hope the late Lord Bvron) & on
4'uon every where the the Peershur, a.
aoi the same now that was twenty Centuries ao.7
AuaHasius stated 10 his turns
r. Wli1 say continued Msyvoreu, perfectly true
ne complexion Of the modem Greek nsy receive m rent
cast from differing 0undng objects csr d. .fu H.
ss9t ~ vas IN the days oi Pefi,es. Ursduy versamv
quo u;' DISTINCTIONS from the earliest periods formed s
form and ever will continue FORM the 5ltr Oh tbs CT