Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1815-04-26

that it is framed on the conviction ,bs,'
this standard of decision is extremely ei
lible. In the first place, the delibsrst is,'
bodies are divided into two branehas
The members of these respective brsn.,
cs, hold their seats Cor different ta1 s'i'
and in one, every state in the union 5,
on terms of the most perfect eoual;t IS
Delaware has tive senators, and W..
has no mere. Now ifthe constitut;nys ima
considered the will of the bare mana; n"aa
of the people as infallible, would ; tby
erected so formidable barrier as tbo nave
natei Here is no principle of ind;r r It,
atty of representation obseryed-;naooa
that principle is, in the very construe s;oa
of this body, formally abandoned. Tb.
body was formed on quite another con @s
deration--that the smaller states sLon1a
be secured against the aggressiors Of thai.
more powerful neighbors-that all ths; ,
rights of sovereignty should be resrected
and that they should meet on the floor ~
the senate on terms of the most perfsc.
equality.
In order that those men might not 10
disposed rashly to surrender the sapctitv
Of their trust, and that they might be re-.
moved as tar as possible finn the head.
long violence of popular uprcar and tn.
mutt, they are rendered in a measure in.
dependent Of it, by holdin their office.
for longer term than the President him
self. Matters of the utmost Importance
are exclusively confined to that body
They have not only voice in every law
that is passed; but in conjunction with
the president they form treaties with 70.
reign nations, and they have the appoint,
ment of all the officers. They are more
Immediately the constitutional advisers
of the president, and in impeachment.
they constitute the highest court of JUS
tice in the nation. Here is one instance
| and remarkable one it is, to shew with
what salutary jealousy our constitution
admits the principle-that the voice ola
bare majority, shall form law. Nay,
after bill has passed majority Of bOth
| branches, it is even then in the power Of
one man, and that is the president, to
prevent its passing into law; his mega,
tive decides the question against both
branches, unless majority OF two-thirds
can be afterwards obtained in both houses.
Thas, one man; by simply saving no,
can defeat the voice of the majority alto
gether. Under such, and only under
such strong guards and restraints, does
our constitution admit the principle that
the voice of the majority shall govern
Nav, this salutary jealousy does not end
even here. The trainers Of that instru-
ment foresaw Tie future clamOr and IN
temperance of par'y-they foresaw to
what sweeping lengths wild and tOracl-
Gus majority might be carried. and to save
the constitution from their rapacity, trey
introduce an article, that no alteration
should be made in that instrument unless
majority of two thirds of The states
should consecrate the deed. Now, If 1t
be asked, why our constitution with ey-
traordinary jea'ousies, and under such
strange guards, recognizes tie principle
that the majority shall govern, we answer,
Automatically to preserre the rights Of tSs
minority from riclcticn. They would
be left otherwise at the disposal ct amalO-
| rity of their fellow citizens, ard Eeadlong
anarchy ard wild tumultuCus rTroaE'
| would take the place Of law. Liberty
property and life would be decided bys
vote. This instrument will bear cons-
deration in another POINT of ylew' NOT
only has our constitution with such pa
rental anxiety, guarded us against ire
will of dead majority: but, even 'iDs
power so guarded and restrained, can on
iy touch US in certain specified points
fhe objects submitted to the leee'slat:H,,
of congress are there specifically Pol''e"
out, and if they venture to leg's'a'e .: vi
others, a court of competent Jun!sdicuoIt
can pronounce the act unconstitt''oha'
and void. We say that all tins IS oone"
preserve the rights of the minority ul'is'
paired. Now, right OF the minority n! ! tn
'dicates something i'll opposition TO . .'s
majority, for, unless it means t'I ai,s -.
phrase is nonsense ard ho''''h& ',, .s;lx
These rights of the minority are ea sr:t
defined. The minority have in the HIS,
place right to vote in opposition a TO Gy
man who is the candidate OF me D%Jma
after they have done this, they nav 1an
right to demonstrate against every ID" =.
to express their dissent, to reason o UI
defects, to arraign its Unconstitutional u, ner.
and to endeavor by such means 10 Ps
suade their fellow citizens to elee. ,.'t r.
who will pursue a diife. ent Ponett; gre
4ha chara cters of those WEosl'