Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-11-25

1
"Ouis" refers. too, to The PhGnicians, Chalde
ans and Egyptians, 10 illustrate his theory though
with as little success | think, as 10 the Romans
AS 10 the Chaldeans, must be permitted 10 leave
them with Romulus and lemus, their wolfnurse
10 The very antiquarian tastes and researches of
"Oulis." To stir The dust oflheir antiquity might
too much obscure my mental vision. But il does
seem 10 me. that Tor "Outis," The alluson to The
Phdncians-a people who, surprising all others
IN commerce and trade, were exoeled by many
others in power and sreaness-or 10 Esyp,-whu,
almost without ship, and with but little foreign
trade, was, in her earliest days. the conqueror Of
nations, The nursery of letters, of science and art
The builder OF The eternal pyramids and the inven-
tor oil arts now irretrievaby lost, and, subsequent
~, The granary OF mighty Rome and her en-
pire-was peculiarly unfortunate. Nor do think
that all "Greece" will afford any greater aid or
strength TO his argument. BY merely calling her
States and kingdoms Republics" and speaking
of them as the most "learned and intellectual of
all ancient people" he cannot disguise the fact,
that their Learning and Intellectual advance
ment" was comparatively confined 10 their ora
tors and philosophers, whilst the masses OF their
people, uninsfrutted, were, from The days of the
Argonauts engaged in traffic, and in piratical or
other naval and commercial enterprises And
yet they were conquered by the less commercial,
but well trained and educated citizens Of Rome.
"Onis" next compares England with Prussia,
and asks (which has the most effective system OF
Government schools1' and "in which OF the two
is all that ennobles national and individual
character, and ensures national and individu-
al greatness more fully or healthily develop
ed = Now, more general issue than this
question tenders, or one admitting OF wider
range OF discussion, could scarcely be devised
Having no intention OF engaging in such pro-
I trdcteu discussion m nd fhpoc N 90.
neral, | must content myself with observing
that when comparison OF The effects OF any po-
Icy upon two nations is instituted common sense
would suggest The propriety OF selecting two as
nearly resembling each other as possible in OIL
GIN antiquity, character Of its people, govern
ment, and natural advantages of geographical
position: or else OF, al least making all due al
! owances for the differences between The two in
these respects How far these principles OF rea-
son have been regarded in This comparison, lei
The reader Judge. England, peopled with race
OF men, whose superior genius, and enterprise,
and bravery, have made Them and their descend
ants the masters OF the arest portions OF The
globe-whose insular and relative geographical
position, whilst it protected them from foreign ag-
gresslon and INVASION al once compelled and
| enabled them 10 become the merchants and CON-
mon carriers of the word-bIest for one thousand
years with The treest government and most libe-
( raj laws then known-and, throughout greater
portion OF that lime, pursuing steadily one policy
OF naval aggrandisement-is compared with
nation whose people were cropping in heahen
darkness and barbarism more than 300 years after
! Alfred published his admirable system OF laws and
established the constant policy Of England; whose
existence, as nation, commenced more than 600
! years after that period whose Government has
| ever been despolic, whose population are known
10 be naturally far less intelligent or enierprsing
| than The English, and whose geographical posi-
| ton cuts them of, compared with England, IRON
commercial pursuits, and al The same time has
made their territory the theatre oil war for the
more powerful and extensive kingdoms around
them. And yet, under all these advantages how
does Prussia stand the comparison. The aggre-
gale Of wealth, one OF the elements Of national
greatness, is greater in England, certainly; but
| The proportion OF paupers and criminals is also
| far, very lar, greater. In Prussia, out OF a pc
/ pulalion Of 10, 100000, there were in one year
only eight instances OF the infection Of capital
punishment; and, in fourteen years after the COM
| plete establishment OF her school system, whilst
the population of the kingdom had Increased three
per cenium, The number OF paupefs and criminals
had decreased thrly-eight per centunI. When
will England present such picture as this II
we consider The general diffusion of knowledge,
the general prevalence OF good order, morality and
| industrious habits among the people, the general
| enjoyment of the means Of comfortable snbsSt-
ence in contenment and happiness, as essentially
| important to "ennoble individual and national
"characler, and 10 ensure national and indivi-
dual grealnes;" and that they are 50, il will not
be denied then will Prussia, in all these respects,
far excel England. In point Of General Educa-
lion, there can be no comparison. Instead of the
myriads OF starving bruaized children of Great
Britain, every child in Prussia is instructed in the
rudments of knowledge and morality, and in The
means Of earning an honest livelihood. The
press may "dole out" TO them only Govern
ment rations OF mental nulrment;" but these are
sufficient TO produce the beneficial results which
are exhibited in the intelligence, morality pros
perity and happiness Of The people; they have put
into their hands the key of all knowledge, and were
they relieved of their present form OF Govern
ment, would be better fitted TO be citizens OF
free constitutional Republic than the people of
England, or even-wilh shame be it said-the CT
items Of our own Stale; for there, were they
blessed with such a Constitution as ours every
citizen might read it for himself, and from il
learn both his rights and his duties, whilst cul-
| tivated understanding would teach him 10 fulfil
The latter as he would maintain the former. But
in Virginia we have certainly 10000, and more
probably $4,000, citizens Of The Stale, above the
age OF 90 years, who can know nothing OF lis
Constitution and laws but from the CLOSES and
representations Of prejudiced partizans, intrigu-
ing politicians or designing demagosues.
Lastly, "Outis" asks, "What tended more 10
fix and foster in Italy The science, arts and litera-
lure which even Jet make
Twilight finger in her darkened sky
than the growth in wealth and might Of her CON-
mercial Republics of Florence Pisa Venice and
Genoa" Now, without stopping 10 show how
essentially necessary TO this growth in wealth
and might" was The possession Of knowledge by
some portion oil the people OF those States, anc
| how much il contributed 10 that growth, let me
ask "Oulis" how much The general improvement
| of The people in mind or morals was promoted by
that growth in wealth and might 2-whelher ne
considers our Government at all similar 10
theirs? Tor whether he would be willing to see
| this Stale like them pass through the vcissitudes
OF revolution, anarchy and despoism, and fall at
last, i'm obscurity, wretchedness and decay, an
easy prey 10 the assaults Of foreign invasion or
domestic usurpation2 When these questions are
answered, il will be time enough 10 discuss The
| other.
And here let me not be understood as deprecia-
ling the benefits and importance of commerce 10
| nations | believe that every nation should, as
nearly as possible, export every dollars worth OF
her surplus produce, receiving in return those OF
every other country; that by such an exchange
all nations may mutually contribute TO The COM
fort, wealth and happiness OF eachi ana grealiy
admire the wisdom Of he policy OF England and
other countries, enjoying geographical position
favorable for the purpose, in becoming The ship
pers and carriers OF The productions OF other
countries as we'll as of their own. Nor do |
mean 10 deny the important aids which national
and individual wealth may give 10 the promo
ton Of the arts, OF literature, and of science
But, atthe same time, cannot admit, that either
commerce or the wealth that commerce brings,
can olone effect The advancement in mental and
moral improvement, as we'll as the general pros
perily of nation, or that mere facilities OF inter
course and transportation can alone confer either
wealth or the means Of acquiring itupon people,
too ignorant or TOO indolent TO improve the nalu-
raj advantages they enjoy for the creation OF those
products OF agriculture and manufactures, which
are the vital elements Of commerce. And do
maintain, tina, the general education of people
must and does contribute more than any other, or
all other causes combined, 10 the prosperity, pow