Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-03-03

yr every ten years OF cutting up ana u!sicihS tHe pro-
nertv of the nation equally amongst all. AM not IN
iavor Of making all men wear clothes of the same tex
tire. color and cut. am not III favor OF putting a
rooue on a level with an honest man, nor a bad woman
with a rirtuouS one. | am in favor OF none OF these
things; but there is something am in favor OF. am
in favor of levclling all men in a political point OF view,
who come up to the acquisitions OF our Constitution
| am in favor of giving every member OF the coInmu-
nity in which we i've an equal chance with the other
members. am in favor of dwelling the favors and be-
ncits OF Government. This IS what am in favor OF,
sir; and in this sense am 4 levelicr-no more.
Every age and every country have been cursed
with a class of men, who seem to think themselves le-
ultimately entitled to live upon the !abors OF the rest
nj the community. This class, in whatever shape they
NAV come, | denominate the Aristocracy. DO not IN
clude the whole Wing family in the term; for, many Of
them, especially tic Democratic HhigS, arc strongly or-
posed 10 any system that would enable 4 set OF men TO
live without workout all are made to ieel the denun-
ciations of that class of men iii the advocacy, byd part,
of the false system which upholds and sustaIns them;
and so completely indeed have they become identified
with that false system, by the force Of party ties, that
no man can be permitted 10 express his objections To II,
without subjecting himself To the charge of %"arraying
the poor against the rich'-"Arraying The poor against
the richM" 4 charge oitcncr made by him who has
not a penny in his pocket or a pillow for his head,
than him who has his ten thousands 10 brag Of
lis absolutely d!sgustlne-It Is an attempt only to ar
raw every honest man against dishonesty without re-
ference 10 his pecuniary circumstances. Those who
list lIlS al 1ltiiN IVY lisI hSSA'i NiA"b wv ulN t1 u'iStp
crazy, and that every man who has Il little merit is de-.
nounced as an aristocrat-they then rcnouncc arIstocra-
CIV and pirate loudly for the poor and their rights. Adj
mirable consistency! These are some Of the means
used on u small scale, and in the little way by the Fc-
deral party to deceive the people. But say what you
please about %'arraying the poor against the rich;' IN
all ages Of the world It has been the instinct of wealth
to associate and array itself against the poor. This
grows out of the doctrine Incorporated in all the Euro
pean Governments, that 'tle possession OF property is
H., lost n orr "a "a trfun sptn,t IrrpS nIptpp,I horn
do not say this is the basis Of the terms on which the
poor and rich ninglc here. Our institutions are Demo-
cratic, and recognize an abiding sovereignty, virtue and
intelligence in the people, and hence these qualities
constitute in the main that basis, and must do so as
long as our Institutions remain unchangrd-but even
here it can be seen at this time, that wealth is not
without lis influence, and does lend TO the pos
SCISSOR a Fictitious Importance, without which the
station assigned hun in society would be scarcely
above the brutes. In order, therefore, to counteract
in Il great measure this dclcterious influence, the people
should watch il with great jealousy, espccaHy ~hcn as
sociatcd, lest it might find It's way into the legislation
OF the country. But where is the justice Of the com
plant often made against the Democratic party, for al
tempting TO array The poor against the rich: | admit
the effect Of the argument, sometimes used TO array
them against one another, but on very different prcmI-
SEES from those generally supposed. y man Of immense
possessions is apt to be scIi-rIghtcous and pharisaical;
he assumes more consequence than Justly belongs to
HIM in a Government like ourS-bccoinCs exceedingly
VAN, obstinate, pTClullCpu, SclI-NiSe ana ilDIaTc.lcd!.
knowing nothing, he knows every thIng-TliS is the
instinct OF wealth. | do not say III $ always truc-thcre
are many noble exceptions, but III the general II is so.
a man with small possessions is most always unprcju-
dIced-hIs mInd IS open to conyicton-he delights 10
hear of free and liberal principlcs-hc has no interest
III crror-hc always undertakes his capacity-hcncc is
more apt TO decide rightly on principle than a man of
great wealth, Of even much more intelligence. This is
the reason poor men are sometimes arrayed against
rich men. Who's fault: Not the poor mans. But
this argument is more than balanced by the mclancholv
condition OF those who, compelled to seek employ al
the hands of the opucnt, are first required TO Surren-
der their Judgment and patriotism rs one of the condi-
tons OF the bargain. But there is Il description Of no
minal wealth, against which not only the poor but the
rich should be arrayed. This wealth consists in the
power, which has been exercised by all the States OF
the Union, OF incorporating individuals with the prIvi-
lcge Of issuing scrips of paper as 'lnoney.'
Let me now farther illustrate my meaning of Aris-
tocracy proper 1t is estimated that there are upwards
Of fifteen millions of People in the u. S.-one- fifteenth
part of these are interested directly or indirectly in
Banking or other monopolies-thcy do no work-they
add nothing to The wealth of the uation-they neither
shoe corn nor dig potatoes they wear fine linen and
fare sumptuousiy every day-thcy lounge about all day
and play cards all niahl-lourtcen millions are the work
ing and one million the droncS; III other words, the
proportion Of the AristCcrat> 10 the operations Of the
countrv, * one To t!.tcca-,hat is, 10: fifteen slaves
there is one muster. In England. n liable ] have seen,
makes the proportion! rs one TO seventy. Allknow the
CUIlLllItIl VI lIIS Sc!tHlN III IIHnldIu-lutlE CONDITION
is most wrctchcd. With the strlctcst economy and the
most abjcct scrvility to their masters, they can scarcely
get bread to eat. The paper system IN England did the
business for them thcrc-and the same system is ra-
pidly doing it tor us here. We have been in existence as
a nation but little upwards of half a century, with the
principles of our Revolution staring us in the face: and
l-l3tl of our population is already estranged from the
land OF their birth, and transferred back TO England. Il
would not be opposed TO well-regulated Banks, if the
conmunIt could not get along without them, but as 4
SINE qua non, they mist not be monopolics. would
entertain no opposition TO officers or others Interested
in such banks; nor DO now feel any hostility for those
personally or by equation know, who entertain IL
beral, enlightened, or patriotic views, on the subject.
20 for "REFORM, and | don't care who knows
,hat.) What, then, is the practical question before us,
laying all others aside, as mere auYIliarieS, TO secure or
defeat it: 1t is Il question of taxation; and nothing
more can be made OF lt-taXatlon, not 10 support the
British Government exactly, nor our own-but taxa
ton to the amount ot many millions, TO enable the one
million, have spoken o., TO riot in wealth and luxury, TO
operate on the politics of the country, and ultimately To
transform our Government into an elective monarchy.
Yes, Sir, the people Of this country, upwards OF -
millions are this day discussing the question, whether
or not they will consent 10 be taxed to maintain ONE
million OF their number in luxury and cxirayagancc.-
THIS IS the practical question, and | call upon the pco.
pie of this country to remember TITS TIC practical
qmcSft0n-GN Others are mcrdy sHbordina!c. The Wings
contend that the people should be taxed to MAINTAIN
this aristocracy. The Democrats oppose the PROPOSE
ton as an INVASION OF their liberties, and n violation of
the equal law which should pervade this Union. Yes,
Sir, this nation, which, but 90 years ago, dared beard
the British Lion, rather than pay a penny a pound on
TEA, is now paying millions to a PRIVILEGED CLASS in
the shape of taxation. Sir, for ono, | raise my voice,
and # necessary, III raise my arm against this mon
strous outrage upon the equality of trecmen.
MIR. President: Aristocracy is a principle Of selfish
ness. 1t recognizes merit only in a few. 1t claims
control Of the many; and thus viewed, every approach
to It in our beloved land should be promptly arrested by
The people. Democracy is 4 principle Of love, charity
and dlsintercstcdncss 1t recognizes merit in the many
1t hc!p s the poor-it soothcs the ailictcd-it spurns
the doininccring. It's principles are as Indispensable to
The perfection Of the temporal man, as the principles of
the Christian Religion ar" TO those who "scck an inhc-
ritance above The one is a code of strict and rinid
morallty-the other a source of Divine inspiration and
%scriptural blessedncss beyond the comprehension of un-
regenerated mortals. am aware, that many profess it
who do not come up 10 its requisitions; who fall short
of It's obligations. This cannot be otherwise, whilst man
Is an imperfect creature; but this does not detract from
It's truths. Because it may have an unworthy votarv,
I. no 1cn prt,. IL ChoplI lac, Tho c,,GI.,n. - -.