Wheeling compiler. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [i.e. W. Va.]) 1829-1831, 1829-07-22

vain hope that II may abate their calaml-
ties. These restless and thoughtess peo-
pie, unfortunately for society, are but too
numerous and their weight might unhaP-
PLY decide the fate Of the republic On
the other hand it is plain that the property
system is fraught with mischief. All the
bad qualities Of incapacity, Incidence and
worthlessncss above described, may occur
at least for the time being, in man Of
property. Wealth is no test of either
virtue or capacity. lie who is the richest
TO day, even without any neglect or wrong
of his own, TO morrow may be the most IN
digont; aud he who to day may be not only
the most INDECENT but the most worthless
and debased, TO morrow by descent or de
wise by will, may be the most afIluent.-
Property IS more frequently evidence that.
the holder had wise, prudent s. industr-
Gus ancestor or ancestors, than of any vir
tue or good quality ofhim who now holds 1t.
But intellectual treasure and moral worth,
unlike property, must be in a greater or
less degree the acquisition of him who has
them. Proprtey descends from father to
son, bnt virtue and Intelligence cannot be
T. so easily transmitted or rather may be SAID
to die with the acqurer Surely then, Ii
would be more wise and Just to make that
a test which every man by his attention on
the one hand may acquire, or by his ne
elect on the other may loose, than any
thing which he may arrive at from causes
altogether adYcnhtous. If YOU make a
man a citizen merely by birthright, lie
comes TO it at the are of twenty one, with
out any act or exerton of his own, and ten
TO one if he does not exercise it with as
little thought and attention as he came to it.
IF you make him a citizen by right of
property, m at least five cases out of ten
the heir comes to the privilege merely by
the industry and care of his progenltors,
and knows or thinks little OF the privilege
except to show a certain degree of pom
pOsity and arrogance which his ignorance
and want of thought render insulting to ali
.ab0ut him. But make Intelligence the
test; it will be the best evidence Of fitness
and capacity, and every man will know
the means whereby he has acquired the
privilege and from that cause will be more
likely to value and judlciousIy exercise If.
Intelligence and virtue are the basis upon
which alone free government can stand.
Without Intelligence to distinguish the
right from the wrong, and virtue to pursue
.the course which intelligence points out,
we arc liable every day to be overthrow
by the first aspiring demagogue who may
be base enough to desire to PROSTATE our
liberties The history ofalI former repub
lies speaks in strong s. warning language
and bids Us fordfy ourselves with these
the only means of security. What then
could more powerfully tend to the accumu
latjoa Of knowledge and virtue, than the
placing them on the one hand within the
reach ofevery individual, ami on the other
comforting the brightest Jewel of honor on
him who improved the opportunity so gen
er0usly preferred, and the blacklist oppro-
brium on him who was so regardless OF
his own interest and reputation as to ne
gIect so favorable an opportunity OF honor
able advancement The young man who
had Just been before the board Of eyamIn-
ers. and bad passed, would return home
with high and glowing spirits. His father
and mother would salute him with renew
ed love and affection. and his brothers and
sisters would greet him with ecstacles OF
ioy. The virgins of the vicinity woaId
look upon him as highly elevated IN the
scale of being, and his suit would be doub
. Nv successful. But the wrctched youth
who should be so unhappy as to have
spent his time in idleness and loggetiuI-
/ ness, aad be thereby rejected, would be
most miserable. His relations would re
|ceive him with frown and he would be
scowled from all decent society. The
punishment would be so severe that the
neglect would seldom occur; and thus
would we rapidly raise up intelligent and
/ virtuous citizens rom every class OF com
munlty. who would do honour TO the couu
ellis of their country, and by their Sulltagcs
safely conduct the veal of the nation.
Tn addition to the above our legislative
1 halls and courts of Justice should contain
/ three distinct sets of seats for the accom-
mediation Of spectators. It should be the
duty OF the door keeper and sheriff to sec
that the different classes IN attendance
were arranged as follows: In the centre
| all citizens above the ace Of forty; on the
right of these all under forty and over
twenty one, who by application and indus
I try had honorabIy enrolled themselves a
/ among those who enjoyed the right Of suf-
rage; but on the left the boys under twenty
- md IN Lnnsa whose nanlIrnnca and