Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-01-31
liz 10 Gems Single.1


, who hes spread his titles over IN ex;en-
siYe soil, and whose lofty palace rises like
| an exhalation s'tlte skiss. And vet wh.t
paradox do our laws produce ! Whist
J the latter is admitted to all the rights of
citizenship, the former is. completely sx.
clud q. 1t We have indeed no confidence
IN the attachment of these people TO heir
native country, why IN time. OF the ut.
most peril, when We are threatened with
'foreign Invasions or domestic commissions.
do we call forth, cmbody and arm them.
Tor the public defence? Are you not a.
!raid (said Mr.. b. to trust them wiz
weapons, which may he turned apn,pss
yourselves? As for my part, my mind re-
volts against the charge. abhor the
monstrous injustice of saying to the sol.
der, who had impaired his constitution.
wasted his fortune, and split his blood /:
you have saved your couatry from ruin
and devastation. But you canno; be trus-
ted even with the election of a tebresenta.
tive" l ann rreeholder myself Sir.
yet rather than be guilty nf such crying
ingratltude, would abridge nv own
power and divide with these men my por-
lion OF sovereignty.
In all republican, governments, ii is pro-
Per to begin by establishing as little dis.
criminatIon as possible between the Gf-
fsrent members OIL community. This
principle is absolutely just in Itself bu, i,
bscomes still more important as pra63i.
cal Maxim, hen It is recoiieGted tha, so.
clety IS itrssstibly pro; ress.vc. Az Il
advances IN almost every country, il ma.
turaiiy leads TO the accumulation of nro.
perry IN the hands OF particular iad,y.dn.
ais. Such has been the history of Emo.
land, such ;he history of Germany I: .uch
the history of every nation IN E,.rop..
The result has always been inausD;ciou.
TO The cause Of the people favorab,s IN
privileged orders, asd productive of ci-
VII confusion. Look at Ireland. Why
hns that gallant nation been so lonr on.
pressed and agitated? II was becars. a
large portion other people was excluded
rom share OF the elective Franchise.
what Produced the dissen.isns In ancient
Romes Why did the people secad, "a
70 the Sacred Mount and refuse 20 appear
under the banners ofthe republic! |, was
because they had received from thai No.
public nothing but oppression and ipsuit.
~ was because the Palricians and the PIE
Seians, III ether words ihcsv vho were,
freeho!ders and those who were not. had
divided the population of Rome. Letus
beware (said Mr.. By tina, the Same ce.
shaliy does not happen 10 ourselves.
When an enemy crises upon us :, when.
the iandiess cllizsn is enlisted in. Cur
ranks to hight the battles OF his country,
let us beware that like the anclent PIE.
OCEANS he may not reure 10 some sacred
mountain, and refuse TO resist tbs. enemy.
=" You have denied US the may saw the.
right oil sun. age you have divided az
rnong you the honors and the treasures
OF The government. Fight then your owa
battles when our County thouses tn
treat US as her children, by admitting us
to share In the benefits of our birthr,pht.
she may then expect us to appear in the
defence OF her rights. But I'LL then. let
the haughy iananolder go forth to de.
fend her."
We mag be toll, However, said Mr.. r.
that all 'bisis mere Idle speculation. We
may be called upon fer proofs of the in.
Jnry' which actually results from this po-
iiticai discrimination. could produce
e'al to the consideration of the house.
but single one is Sufficient for the iI,us-
iTatlon OF the evil. The law appointing
process'oners TO mark and ascertain the
boundaries OF land, allows to each Of them
: compensation, to be betrayed by the
people at large and to be collected IN the
shape OF po!l-tax. The consequence is,
that an expense intended for marking and
securing the landed property of The natl
on. Is in part levied in the most grieyous
and oppressive manner, upon men, nctin
the slightest degree concerned in the ar.
Management.
But :he are other dcGeas in our pre-.
sent constitution which must command
our attention and regret.
What shall we say of the organization
OF the legislature is an admirable rea.
ture IN the constitution, that il has give,
almost all the power to the legislature "a
men annually elected by and responsible
to The people, Tor the exc rcise of their an.
thoriiy. But even, the legislature Itself
IS W no means peffect in It's structure.
Sere are Certain powers given and some
restrictions imposed Upon it, which
wIse politician would be willing 10 change.
The legislature, for instance, is entrusted
with the power of eleGing the governor.