The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-01-29

own. might be quesiored bccaufe too much le-
Citation was worfe than none. The people of
America have ever de ened the right of cleeting
tho;e who govern them eiitniial TO freedom.
Tue time he hoped, would never arrive in this
country, when this important privilege ihall
ceaie TO be valued He ihould not attempt to
domonitrate tira principle. If the gentleman
rom Maryland had any doubts as 70 the b,i-
mig OF feit-governmcnt to a people, he woad
recommend TO him perufal of the hiHorv of
American Independence, in which he viii find
the patriot whole ihade he had invoked, devo-
ting the hen period OF his life to toll and dan
ger for the establishment OF that principle. But
we are told that the people of this ,iiftria de-
precate change, and prefer political navery,
20 \ full participation of American rights. Do
we believe this to be fact? If it was fa6i it
was 10 his mind conclufive one in favesir of
receding the territory. If this people have al
ready 10 far degeneiatcd As to attaC., no value
to the beflings of fcf-gcverlmcnt, and prefer
living defitu,e of political rights, they are al
ready Fit inftruments for tvrants. II is time for
them TO take new leifon in tire tights oe man.
Let us refore them 10 !ituatioD in which if
they cannot acquire the feelings of American
citizens, their d~tetabe principles NAV not in
jure tue great MATS of the community. He did
not however believe that this was the fentiment
OF a majority of the people of this diftria. He
did not believe it was the fair ientimcnt of any
portion OF people in any part of the United
States. He had no doubt if the quefion was
fairly put 70 the great MATS Of any community
had you rather have your perfous, your proper
~, and rights, protected by men elected by
| yourfelves, or live dependent on men in whole
election you have no voice, over whole power
YOU have no controul; that the anfwer would
| IN every inttance be in favour Of pofcing thefe
loo vh.f b,I To-, \
as the fentiment of the dihr6t, he conhdered
only, AS the opinion of few land lords, who
| having embraced the erroneous idea, that rece-
| ding this territory, would effect the value of
their property, had miiled and entitled on their
! Tide the people, sganft their fubfantial inter
: fits. By what proce!s Of reafoning this people
had been induced TO believe that enlarging their
political rights would lelien the value of their
property, be did not know. 1t was fpeces
OF logic ne wiihed not to pnderftand-as one of
the representatives the United Stateshe fhould
conhder himfeif bound to extend to theic pee
pie the privileges which every American ought
TO pofefs. He had always been taught to be-
lieve that the privileges attached to property
conftituted an important part of its value. That
in enlarging human right in a diftri6t of coun-
| try, you enlarge alto the means of happiness
and give additional value to the property of the
| citizen.
\
from the expence of lcgifiating for this ditrif.
The time defined for national purpofes will be
employed for the good of the nation, and not in
| local legilaton for territory. whole internal
! regulations, mutt in time require more laws,
than all the general intcrefts of the union. They
will reftore TO the rank of American citizens a
portion of people doomed under momentary
error to political degradation. Their fyhem Of
| protection and rights will become uniform
throughout the United States, and our people
be relieved from an example odious TO freenncn,
and dangerous to liberty, of a political fociety
exiting IN our country, aeifitute of political
rights.
As IT refPects the National Legislature he had
always thought this executive iurifdi6tion while
it dcvoved on them great additional labour,
was not calculated TO afford them anv addition
al fecurity or freedom in their deliberations
The Legislative body of free country NUT tand
on the broad BATS of pubc opinion. In the
faithful difcharge of their duties they require
not the hand of power to protect their dclibc-
rations.--An honett and enlightened legislature
purifying faithfully the public interef, will find in
the attachment ora grateful people, that iafety
which would he in vain fought in powers deri-
we'd from parchment. Defcrving the conf
dence, and Pofefing the fupport of the nation,
the national legislature can command refpeet in
any iituation. Let them forfeit that confidence,
and their iurifdiction ahfolute. and nncon-
trouird, embraced the whole continent inftead
of this ten miles fquare, the frowns of an indig-
nant people would reach them. 1t is not BY
+ fsrroundng your capital with men def,tutc of
political rights that you can exclude the voice
Of freemen. The fandity of parchment pow
er ufcd as an eneineofopprefon is not known in
this country. The virtue Of the Legislature lists
only fhield. It is that alone which inflres the
iupport of the nation. With the confidence of
the nation we pofefs its fword and its purfe,
and can command the rciped due to the repre-
fentatves of free people. Under whatever
afpe6 he viewed the quefion, whether as it re-
fpects the people of the diRri6t, the nation or
national legislature he had 10 doubt as TO the
expediency of recedng the territory.
no be coHtinned.)
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