Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-07-02
and distinction BY The Of the demagogue and parl.
san you should aeoid this plan


/ have been aware, that in system of instructio
! adapted 10 these ideas there be nothing 10 make
! popular. This, too, have already told you But II
not my business TO study popularity but truth az
iniiy aware that by him who is eager after knowledge
rnsh confidence preferred guide before SOBER doubt
that 10 most men speciuus is far more paalab!
Than unseemIy truth and that The sufast opinions ar
those which arr most current
here, gentlemen is OF the Inconvenience tia
attends The study of Political Science In Physicsi
Mathematcs;-und even in Morals, investigation is sti
mulaed and encouraged by the honors which await hin
VINO discovers new truth, detects established g;
ror Such are The foundations Of Shat fame, 5 rFJI
dsrs immortal TIDE Of Bacon Newton, md pro
misses the same reward TO the whose researches il
our dsy. have penetrated deeply into all she mystic
res OF Nature. With this houor in prospect The phlo
sopher addresses himself 10 his task who seek
for hidden trsns If he fails, he but die and bs
forgotten. But he succeeds, he secures for himself
name among the beneiactnrs Of mankind
Far Different Is The lot OF him, who eyoes himself ic
the investigation OF political science. That which i.
Immortality 10 others may be death TO him. He fuows
erruih as who tracks enemy that may turn and
destroy him. He will do more 10 advance his fame by
deVlsng specous sophsms in defence OF vulgar
than by The discovery oil truth, which, being new
must clash with opinions consecralrh by prejudice and
sanctioned by the authority Of numbers
Thus it is, that each country has its political
creed, which man dares assa So true is this that
turn where you WILL you will find the prevaen, opinion
OF every people, favorable, in the main, to their in
stIlutIons. Abuses may indeed be perceived; but for
The most part, radical defects mistaken for abuses
The spirit of Revelation, too sometimes suggests limo.
walton and chang; but, in the calm and healthy cond
lion OF every community, the LeGu dcni Of perfect Co.
Vernment seems 10 each something not widely different
from its own. The authority Of numbers is evidence
Thai any OF these is right for, numbers decide way
IN Republic, and another way in q Monarchy. Pre-.
cisely thus, al ibis moment, do the most enlightened
men OF The two most enlgh countries in the world
differ from each other. Yet, in each The authority
a pFvISp he chpun Il tba I.,
Philosopher; and the love Of fame, which is The inccn
tive 10 all other s.iaaons, does bnt awaken
lively dread Of The with which pub!ic opinion
stands prepare 10 punish the unluCk XIV dcLverer OF any
unpalaable truth.
You will SIRE, gentleman, that If, like most men, have
a zeal for my arr lake poor way TO recommend II.
II might. perhaps be though; that The ideas have just
suggested, nre at the bottom of the doubling and unde
cded character Of almost every thing That have said
you But though il may safer 10 doubt than TO err,
jet this idea is often deceptive Error may be con-
drtnned; and truth may pass for error. Bu, he who
teaches either, will not not stand uione. lie will always
have some 10 concur with and cnunlPnance him. But
he who doubts has all the world against him tie
The centre Of The magnetic card and there is point
Of the compass from which he does appear he
the opposite edge of the horizon He will not
obtain the praise Of candor To question the pcrftc-
ton uf the institutions o his country is al home,
supposed TO indicate preference for government
different possible while abroad, he is regarded in
every nation. az having gimmrring perception of the
excellence of the institutions Of that particular nation,
without darif g 10 avowl il.
You see, then, gentlemen. that the temper OF mind
which have ehdeavored 10 inspire, is, Of ALL The most
un'nvurable 10 popularity and advancement. But lie
end is no. y We do not live for ourselves nor even
for contemporaries alone "DS immoytii serO
The noble saying of The aged Roman as his gray
hairs f.. over the plough, while putting iosc=p Shics
he could mt live to reap. Our country ia not thing
Of day: and fame is immortal And remember, gen.
iemen, that they whose speculs,"ns on Government
haua fhpt,, at vial
thing they whose respect for he opinions of their
countrymPn, did not deter them from correcting their
and rebukng their prejudces To those Who
may be disposed 10 accompany IN the study Of po-
lI;ical science IN this spirit am bound, in candor, 10
say in the words Of the Apostle that f in this life
only we have hope, we are of all men, the mns nj
SCRABBLE Oar doubts, ii unreasonable will only tx
cite contempt; If well founded they will provoke The
resentment u those whose fashness and they
buke How many venture into public service, with
qualification, save only presump'uuus ignorance I'm
OF those my in The science nf Govern
npnt, which The wsest explore in VAIN Deprive such
men of their Ill founded confidence, by opening their
VS. 10 The difficulties and dangers tina, leset The
statesman path, and you leave them nothing. Aud
We hope The forgiveness Of such, who deem.
lng themselves WISE are awakened from their deuson,
but 10 find that they ae poor, and miserable and blind,
and nakeC?" Nothing, in short, be more untllank
full than The task of hun who would couch the eyes of
such. as, being blind yet fancy that they
have not meant TO intimate, gentlemen, that every
part Of political science is alike involved in mystery and
paradox | have had no difficulty in teaching you, that
the great principles which lie at The toundaons Of all
free Institutions are unqnes,lonabIy true. The Pml
tive equality Of man. and The right of each individual TO
live exempt from all hdman authority, 10 which he has
not consented submit, either by express compact
BY Legitimate and fair implication, cannot be taught more
unequivocay by any than they have been by myself.
But, when trace this p'imiiire cquay to the me-
qualities 7rhich groU out ii, and furnish The measure q
lis r0iuc-when we begin enquire, . The hand
h,Iv oiIpnS n
these adSciti0uS Advantages be reconciled To the
respect due TO that principle Of original equality out n
nhich Mey grOlr, d. the other bow far the Interior
preservation of essential equality may be endangered by
the unqualified ol0tcaace Of these Advantages enter
on questions full of difficulty and doubt.
So too, of The right of self government. This have
affirmed; and go farther, and ollirm also, man capacity
for self government But do Affirm this OF all MN
crerU ,ohere-undtr all conditions and in all ercnm.
snneeso Assurediy no! II is not true of The Ignorant
The vicious the centious the self indulgent II is not
true of any who not willing 10 take security against
themselves by self imposed restraints will and oppr
tite The who airms of himself, tina, he is capable
Of regulating his conduct, and who Mtrjot, re
fuses 10 acknowledge the authority Of any moral code,
gives proof against himself Of the lasfhood Of his PIE.
tensions. We know THIS 10 be trne OF individuals; and
it is yet more eafuy true Of men in great masses IL
has been aptIy said, that freedom in mnudes is power;
and in mulliludes under the regulated disc pine Of
fixed principles and selfimposed restraints il is power
in lis most formidable aspect Opinion Restraints The
abuse OF power III 1n lNGIVluualy pb"eI w
iudes makes for itself what is easily mistaken for the
opinion Of the world There is nothing so ruthless
nothing dead, alike 10 conscience and 10 shame, as
lice nlious crowd unrrsliained by authority.
When come, then, 10 enquire how far the present
enjoyment of liberty may consist with those conventional
and sefmposed limitations on the right OF segoyern.
Ment, which may be necessary TO lis preservation we
enter task which any may well trembe 10 un.
derlake To him who would dogmatlze here, The sd-
juslmcn. of the balance between those powers contend
ing yet harmonious which The order OF the planetary
system depends would easy problem The
countless worlds revolving, each in lis appointed PATH
implicitly obey The law impressed on them at creation.
Not the moral universe the world Of will and passion
With these The Omnipoen. himself must parlry; ole
rating much present evil for The sake of ultimate and
greater good; yielding tha, he may conquer hen ~e
say that confidently decide how far people
Jealous of The right Of elfgovernment should vounia-
ry limit lis exercise, do but Affirm thai human instr
tuiions subject 10 The necessity inhering IN the ma
ture Of Thugs, which is OF The conditions o. me
moral government OF the universe Step forth. phioso
pier you who have discovered The great areHnum-you