xperience in other countries, from
those who are distinguished by titles and badges, began to be alarmed at
this new institution. A remarkable silence, however, was observed.
Their solicitudes were long confined within the circles of private
conversation. At length, however, a Mr. Burke, Chief Justice of South
Carolina, broke that silence. He wrote against the new institution,
foreboding its dangers, very imperfectly indeed, because he had nothing
but his imagination to aid him. An American could do no more; for to
detail the real evils of aristocracy, they must be seen in Europe.
Burke's fears were thought exaggerations in America; while in Europe,
it is known that even Mirabeau has but faintly sketched the curses of
hereditary aristocracy, as they are experienced here, and as they would
have followed in America, had this institution remained. The epigraph
of Burke's pamphlet, was 'Blow ye the trumpet in Zion.' Its effect
corresponded with its epigraph. This institution became, first, the
subject of general conversation. Next, it was made the subject of
deliberation in the legislative Assemblies of some of the States. The
Governor of South Carolina censured it, in an address to the Assembly
of that State. The Assemblies of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and
Pennsylvania condemned its principles. No circumstance, indeed, brought
the consideration of it expressly before Congress; yet it had sunk deep
into their minds. An offer having been made to them, on the part of
the Polish order of Divine Providence, to receive some of their
distinguished citizens into that order, they made that an occasion to
declare, that these distinctions were contrary to the principles of
their Confederation.

The uneasiness excited by this institution had very early caught the
notice of General Washington. Still recollecting all the purity of the
motives which gave it birth, he became sensible that it might produce
political evils, which the warmth of those motives had masked. Add to
this, that it was disapproved by the mass of citizens of the Union.
This, alone, was reason strong enough, in a country where the will
of the majority is the law, and ought to be the law. He saw that
the objects of the institution were too light to be opposed to
considerations as serious as these; and that it was become necessary to
annihilate it absolutely. On this, therefore, he was decided. The
first annual meeting at Philadelphia was now at hand; he went to that