Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-08-06

hopes OF the oppressed believing ts we a. natrios and
phan,hropsts, called do all in our power TO
country. $500
Sir nations have had their sages poets orators and
philosophers, who are justly celebrated their splendid
productions But where can we point to people, either
past present, who have cause than TO
be proud OF the achievements OF their predccesso Ii
true, point long list of roc,s and philoo.
pliers, equal soue OF the ancient States in
ecvaiing our ancestors above ,he condition OF humanity
and tracing them back 10 tabled giants heroes but
we can point with becoming complacency to a band Of
paiIos heroes, aud statesmen, Who by their exalted pur
9ose aud purity OF motive, by their bold daring the field
aud wisdom IN council, exhibited higher deg,ee OF cra
soOnty than has ever been witnessed since the days &C
the ma'yrs We do not v.nerae their memories. simply
because they bravely fought aud freely bled this they
inght have doue, prompted by the same feeling Of re-
vengc which upels savage tribes TO bloody wars and cr-
rid a.sacrcs; by the same wild ana,icisn which
the fes poi iou OF the old world into char.
hei house; but, SIR venerate them, (tieir nocs
are haowed in the inmost OF sou because
they mognanmousy breasted that OF iyrannca al
OPPRESSION which threatened 10 sweep away every
iise oi stipulated rights, and eopaed their all, to
cure Tor themselves and poseiy OF the nDblest
Jrc's OF which the human mind can conceive-5eriy of
mought, action and conscience We all feel that they
have bcqueahed 10 their descendants, the riches,
legacy ever Inherited by nation. May God grant
may also feel that proportion TO the value OF the
trust committed TO is responsibility RI wish this
responsibility could be felt in all its length, breadth and
deoh by those in our country who appear be DESTROYS
oil balancing our happy Union with penny Let
deavor TO ieel and act all have reason
10 believe, "they would wish-doubtess, they would
WISH US 10 estimate rightly value OF their
services anu portray them in appropriate colors for the
contemplation of future generations '.thcy would exhort
us TO manifest our sentiments of regard, :merely by
praises, but by the practice oil the virtues which make us
at once happy and useful by emuaiing their industry in
seeking knowledge and doing good; by holding due es-
maon the public blessings which they Iabored and suf
Tered TO secure, and by perpetual operation in man-
try" ''" 'o'"'
1t is TO be presumed, that every American patriot must
ieei the Immense Importance of collecting the materials
for compiling for the benei OF poserity correct and
complete history OF our country; butt may be asked what
VIII pe me oeSt means OF efecting this ohect From the
peculiar nature of other
which have controlling influence, probably be best
effected by each State Getting the materials for lis own
history his subject has been already attended 10 by most
OF our sister States Their enlightened and
citizens, have formed Antiquarian, Historical and various
oher associations Tor collecting together every fact and
every circumstance, which will throw the least light ON
their past history. But heretofore, Virginia although
rom peculiar circumstances, she ought to contain the
richest materials Tor history has been quite
10 The important sub ject OF collecting embody ing them
Whatever has already been done this subject is the
result OF individual efforts All such efforts from the ma
ture OF the have been partial and inc icep
1t would not be easy for person to ascertain i'm a
respects where authentic information could be had and
TINS were doneit IS not probable that all those posses
sing such information, would be willing 10 commit il
TO the disposal OF one individual, and he too per(ec
stranger ltappears, that difficulties this kind had 10 he
encountered by one oil the most highly gifted citizens of
me state Mr. Writ in the preface his life of Patrick
enry states that he was engaged about years col
ecug the materials Tor that work. and although he en-
Joyed the kind assistance e the best informed
IN the Slate, still he observes tha he has moi been
to inform himself OF the whole events OF Mr. Henrvs life
anu mat his collection can be considered only so MANY
detached sketches When we take into consider ,,o1
the circumstances under which historians Of this State
have had TO labor, ought be surprised at wba,
all competent judges must admit TO he the fact, that the
present histories IF pirg mia quite defectue: thar mo
one oil ihem or all OF them combined do contain CON-
pete compilation OF those facts, and correct
oil those characters for which Virginia Justly cee.
brated, and indeed, which ought constitute by far
the richest portions OF her history These historians
ri tho nh scol
ton OF her sons, aud notice their efforts
and moral worth Ii is in vain turn the published
records OF the State for view of tho elevated
sentiment, the noble sacrifices the daring enterprise and
the unycidng purpose for which very many of the ma
trios and phanthropsts of this State were distinguished
during our revolutionary struggle for liberty Those who
are now on the stage OF active e having in all
probability large part Of their knowledge of these things
from hptng sources perhaps do experience much loss
or Inconvenience from the defects which we refer but
SIR the rising generation, which is pressing rapidly upon
our heels and all posterty, will be very differently cir
cumstanced. In all human probability, they will not en-
joy the benefit of consulting living oracles but viii have
TO depend entirely the faint and light of his
tory Tor all their information Of the past Yes sir if
things remain as they now generation after genera
lion as they rise in countless succession, will be deprived
OF incacuiabie blessings Even where shall the as
prng youth OF Virginia be directed, learn charac
tiers oil the Wyhes, the Randolphs, the Lees, the Mel
sons, the Bands the Masons, and host OF other wor
tlies that audabe emulation NAV be enknd in their
youthful bosoms the purest patriotism nstilled, all
those noble and virtuous principles of the called forth
which viii urge them TO make every acquisitions that
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country and TO mankind? III such characters faithfully
portrayed in our histories and brought within the reach of
our YOUTH II WOULD from the very nature man. be pro
ductVe oil the most happy and sautary quences All
whose privilege has been direct the operations of the
expanding inieecs OF youth, must have observed what
'rlng circumstances frequently give impulse and
an entirely tone and direction to The whole mind and
must also have observed, show what is common
y called genius, least how much of the secondary
direction of genius which marks varieties and gives il
SPECIFIC distinctive Character, depends accidents OF
the slightest kind. And all who are acquainted with the
natural tendencies of human nature, have marked the
fact, " that men prone think and feel their an
cesors have thought and felt and TO make up their prn
cipes by Inheritance, and defend them, as they would
their Estates because they born heirs TO them
III these things be So II may be asked, where is the
Frgnan VINO VIII net consider his time and talents most
prohtaby employed In assisting procure the means
which VIII enable poserity rightly contemplate the vr-
tues oil those worthless who dsng ushed by pener.
GUS Observation-Disclosures
brmncss-a pure and enlarged benevolence-and Low
oil country, which prompted the sacrifice of emoIn-
ment property and all that is hed dear domestic life
Tor the glory OF their country, and the happiness Of man
The moral influence OF such noble examples OF patriotism
wisdom and virure, if properly brought bear will act
with mighty power the character OF "mions vet un-
born"
Something has already been done on this subject The
life OF the father OF his country, by worthy President
Chief Justice Marshall is undoubtedly held i'm high esti
nation by all, and needs comment from me The
lille OF Virgina's orator, the celebrated Patrick Henry
by Mr.. Writ is valuable work, and its value will be
more fully appreciated by poserity than by the present
generation. Besides lucid and glowing, but dilfuse
sketch OF Mr.. Henry, indebted to this work for
many corrected historical facts, and for some striking
have not been fully and distinctly presented TO the
public by any other writer But permit inc TO observe