Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-02-03

Dr. tacitly, binds hignselfto be governed by the
general will, or STIMULATES to conform to those
laws and ordinances which are promulgated by
unJority OF the people This is an universal
principle. enforced among all civilized commune
ties. Whoever denies the existence or nccessi-
ty of this principle must be deemed an enemy 10 !
social order, and dis,urber of the very iounda-
tons upon which are built up the wholesome in
s,i'utons of the civilized world. Civil govern
faeht being made up ef mutual concessions a
mong the individual members VINO compose it.
It's existence implies 3 considerable d;ninution
OF That unres'rsiaed liberty which prcyailed I'M
state of nature. THIS h., from tine to time
lhren pared down and fashioned to the standard
OF Civilized life each one conserving to give I'm
la portion of that useless and hcentious liberty
which, in such state could only be applied by
stratagen or force, in order to have ;hat perti-
on winch he reserves, secured to him in tree and
unmoiested enjoyment. Every civil association
then, may be lilsened to PHYSICIANS Snputating
instrument; it Tops OH that portion of our liber-
", which from the evil tendency ofour nature
might produce sickline5s and gangrenc and
thereby preserves the rest in health, vigor and
perpetui,y.
But very far fetched exceptions have been ia
Ken to this axiom IN politics. in arguments inten-
den 70 shew that there certain inherent, inali
enable natural rights, of which, mankind cannot
4
er OF civil association cannot take away. The
piausib,iity fthis doctrine has given it currea
cy IN the world, To which its real, intrinsic conse
quence can never entitle IL; and L. think that.
upon serious and rational investigation, il will be
found to be more specious then solid and rather
better calculated TO give an air cf freedom to
the theory ofour government, than to promote
any OF its more useful and practicable ends.
do suppose that, if there be any rights of thu,
inherent, indetessible, natural character, about
which so much has been said, and which mankind
would, last ofalt, consent to give up TO the dis
posal of the general WILL it would be their r;rb,
TO lie and liberty, since these arc the natural and
The most precious gifts of Providence to man :;
giis not derived from social compact, but oripi-
na'niS IN oirth and interviewer in his nature
by The every author ofhs being. Yet our laws
tree and mercisul as they are, have an absolute
power over those rights and no one complains of
the exercise or this power either as unconstitut
ond or oppressive. No, the malefactor dies be-
ne1th the ignorniny of the public eallows. and
social freedom 50 tar from being endangered
or disturbed By has death, beholds in this tragic
spectacle, sort ofpledge and safeguard against
the wicked and mschievous disturbers OF the
public repose. Ifthe right to life and liberty
then, which is co-evsi with our birth, can be
gwen up to the disposal of the general will, why
may not Such rights are of subordinate lmpor-
lance, which are unknown to nature and which
political society can alone create CAN'T be said
that man may give society power over his very
life and liberty, yet cannot give society power
to create those laws and ordinances necessary IN
regulate that life and liberty This were strange
and curious reservation of power, a reservation
wholly inconsistent with the ends and conditions
OF The previous gift, and, therefore manifstly alb
surd and VOID. In truth, the right of suffrage IS
no more an ina.ienable right, then many Other
rights which are ordinarily give up to society
and which the most jealous and fastidious poli-
tcian never imagined 10 be .nalienable For in
stance, the right to community cfgoods. The
law which guards my neighbours property
which assures him that he shall remain in the
quiet and undisturbed use of ii, is most wise
and salutary law. I may add, that it IS an ndis
pensable law, because the prosperity ofany com
mnnity essentially depends upon the PROSPERITY
OF The individual members who compose il. and
1t IS obvious that no member would make anv
effort to better his circumstances-to render his
condition in life more prosperous and happy, #
the strong arm OF society was not uplifted to de-
tend that comfort and happiness from the hume.
rous and destructive inroads of human violence
and injustice. Yet this law, wise and salutary Ak
it IS universally admitted TO be- does certainly re-
strict me in the exercise of my natural right. VIZ:
the right which / had, antecedentsto society, to
the use and benefit of that property which the
laws nave now exclusively appropriated to the
originates IN the absolute necessity of the thing
the very existence OF social order requires it and
moreover, every individual upon whom this re-
striction operates, has, from the very nature of
the compact to which he is party, given socie.
~ right to create 1t; and neither law. Justice
nor morality recognizes any principle upon which
man may fairly and honestly withdraw himeIf
from contract into which he has voluntarily en-
tered, merely because he may not afterwards
choose to abide by it. Here then is an example
where the hand of social power seizes upon YES
ted and natural right, sort of rght, which TO
touch Is infinitely more delicate and dangerous.
than to touch any which are merely created BIZ
the social institutions of man. Can it be SAID
that the right of suffrage 10 natural right M
1t be natural right, IL must also be an equal
right, Tor all natural rights are equal; and of
course not only the right of one man rs well rs of
another, but the right OF one sex as well as Of the
the other Yet every sys. EN- Of representation
winch has ever been devised, has not only excud-
ed large portion of the male sex, but has also
uniformly excluded the suffTages ofwomen; thus
cuttinSoit at single blow, upwards of one half
OF the community from the exercise of a right
winch IS asserted TO be inherent, ndefeasible.
apd natural to I'll. Those then vino contend thai
The right OF suffrage IS a natural right, must, in
defence OF Their own arguments, advocate the
rlght,not only of every man, but the right of the
far sex 10 equal participation in the councils
OF tie state. do MT know how far the appear
ance Of female law-giyers here, might STIMULATE
the advocates OF political reform 10 more useful
and strenuous performance Of their representa-
tive functions, but cannot persuade myself tbot
Urh cF4r rfar. IL Il 4.