Litchfield enquirer., 1837-06-29
foR THE ENQUIRER.

From hhe Ladies and Gentemsn's Society of SO Farms for Moral and Intellectual Improvement. Cues. "Does the possession of knowledge enable person fo exert more influence than the possession of wealth."
 Influence may be salutary or deleterous. As the question embraces influence in general, shall make distinction to express my views more clearly. The maxim that "wealth power" no common observer will deny; and assert, on the authority of past e. vents, that the influence exered solely by that power is more less deleterous; and the influence exered by knowledge alone more less salutary and whe-. ther the one or the other commands the most nflu- ence, consider the acquisition of knowledge as ena- bling person to exert greater influence for the ben eft of mankind than the acquisition of wealth. Look to the history of nations they have had their rise and progress-ther decline and fall From the bar barous ages, when War was the god worshipped, and human daring the highest vrtue down to the present time, when rapine and murder. however sanctioned by power, is condemned by every enlightened mind. We see wealth employing brute force to make its in- fuence seen and felt and we see knowledge too, at first feebly, but with perseverance which nothing could entirely check, sending its influence abroad, and gathering strength with the lapse of time, till we are permitted to bask as it were in it's noon-day rad- dIlCe tlIne when InaH SdlQ LnlS Helu -hese flocks and herds are mne'-what has not the influence of wealth done to debase, degrade and en- slave mankind? Let avarice, licentousness, and op- 1 presson answer
 Though petty tyrants first raised themselves above their fellows by what is termed acts of courage and prodges of vaor, yet they indebted to the influence of wealth to support them in their station and he who could feed and pay the greatest number ofmenias could the greatest influence. Is know ledge to be compared wealth. or the influence of the one brought to level with the other? They stand to each other by comparison this tenement of clay the soul immortal. The administers to the wants of that which must decay; the other invigorates and enobes that which is co-eternal with the AL mighty.
 1 admit that knowledge may be, and often is, made subservent to the basest purposes, when influenced by corrupt passions and the most absorbing is the love of gain here 1t bows the influence of wealth, and loses its own. know too that the influence of wealth, when guided and governed by the superior influence of knowledge, may be made to contribute to the happiness of man. It is the tendency of each by itself of which am speaking. Take for example two of our race let them be endowed by nature with tal ents equal; one from early childhood accustomed | from infancy in the howery paths of knowledge, till his mind is stored with its choicest gfts-Arrved at manhood, they go out into the world the one with cold, calculating heart the other with warm af1ec- tions and mind calculated to give and receive en- oymen; the influence of the latter is like the genial warmth of the to the spring bright verdure while the former IS like the early frosts of winter bighng | lfe's fairest flowers.
 Let turn to the history of our own beloved coun- try-contempate the tols privations, and suferings of our fathers, that their children might be ree. What influenced that sacrifice of blood? The know ledge of the rights of man-his own best neress-his highest earthly happiness. Could wealth have nfu- enced that band of patriots to breast the battles storm with such fearful odds against them No. Though man will risk his life for gold, theirs was devoedness that gold can never buy; they were influenced by lofter motives than gold can ever reach. And who of us their offspring that hoo hnos~ledgA sufficient in able us to appreciate the blessings of liberty, will ever yield those blessings to the influence of wealth? confidently assert, there IS One; for can an enlght ened mind be bought and sold like the beasts that pe rish Then upon the basis of knowledge rests the 1 pillars of our union.
 Our Legislative body consists of 235 individuals viz. Governor, l Lieut. Governor and President oi the Senate, ,21 Senators and 2l2 Representatives. O those individuals the two most exalted on the list are lawyers by profession though not in practice ot the 2l Senators, Il are farmers, five (which number n cludes the late Hon. MT. Bukey) are lawyers, are mechanics or manufacturers, one school master and one merchant of the lawyers, some are farmers in addition their legal professlon as IS one o the oth ers and of the farmers one was sea captain Of the Representatives l25 farmers but of those some 2t or 30 have other pursuits, as tradesmen mechanics speculators, &c.,, and some are Collectors, Sherfts Post Masters and other public officers, the occupancy of which ofces in many cases by law, lncapacltates them from being Legislators, 5O are merchants abo1 ling secondary that of merchandize, 26 are manu facturers or chanics, of whom also interested in other avocations, IA are lawyers, 5 or of whom are also farmers are innkeepers, also engaged 1T farming, are physicians, are authors, editors o contributors, to publie pocal literary or scientific works, one is clergyman, and two or three are sea farng men, occupied also in farming, and includ ed in that number.-IidryOTd ReUteD.
 Vested Righis.-The Norwich Aurora, with yer! becoming Independence, defends the Governo against the attacks of the Fanny Wright democrat who anxious to lay him upon the shef in order make room for one of their own craft: The edito will certainly be excommunicatedh if he does not bacl water forthwith. He must come out against the doc tyine of tested nghts-that is, he must consider al rights as immediately subject to the will of majOrit! of the people-ths doctrine of course cuts up all char Coneress-and is designed to overthrow our nationa and state constitutions for these constitutions bu Uesed rghts-n short it is pure democracy Is the ed itor of the Aurora willing to trust his life and property under the protection of purely democratic govern ment? Is he not satisfied with the government tha framed by the sages and patriots of the revolution shall knock all its conservative principles and instead of written laws, written constitutions anc written charters, shall we have all questions apper tainng to our rights political and pecuniary, submit ted to the people and decided by their major vote-