Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-12-13


Jhisis defined by learned writer,' to be
" the free use. enjoyment aHd disposal of all
of ones acquisitions, without control or dimi-
mutton, save only by the laws at the land.
This definition hsing, as conceive, ii sufficient
explanation Tor cur present purpose, we VIII
proceed III the next place Co enquire how for
the authOritv called government, bath power
to restrain, control, or dininSh th,s right
The SyIarium 6oANm OF political rowcr la
state, IS lodged pIo tcn,pOrc III the hands of
public magistrates, To be exercised only i'm
promoting and securing the common veal Of
those no nave conferred II, and IN whom the
tue sovereignty resides. 10 pre- eat the
abuse Of these extensive functions various re-
NEEDLES have been devised BY ;hc different
species OF governments which have been in>ii-
tutcd thrOugh out the world. oi which IL is Nc
ceSsary tor our present purpose 10 notice only
one, and that oue Is the institutions of this
commonwealth. This beng government,
whose original institution WAS the voluntary
consent OF the people, III NGsin tue supreme
power does always dwell. aud whrnb. then
mtiu>tcd in the hands of pubc magistrates,
these inagistraics Cannot hat aChnowieG.s ihat
tins pow cris gratni,ouSy conferred sOieiN for
the purpose oi giving universal currency tn
those rights which are inherent IN them, We
must mt onLe perceive Ilai spirit Oi stTicteSt
ImpartiaiitN dwclt Throughout.
10 promote The common interest, IL Is not
meet that the government, in the capacity OF
an individual of supreme power. should arbi.
trarily assume Ia Itself all the advantages
cOmmmnIiy, neither is il equitable that ma
joiity possessing such powers, should reVcl
upon the suiloriugs OF some who from want Of
numbers ale hcompt teGi TO sci; projections
IL there are advantages To he enjoyed, they
should be enlOyed in common 10y all those
who have bees in ANY wise Instrumental in
their Procuremcnt-for, we matt remember
that all are IN some measure concerned tor the
general good. The private interests uf even q
single individual should never BIZ sacrificed
upen the altar OF public advantage, without a
reasonable atonement; for ii is clear tiidt he
has contributed IA ratabie proportion towards
public Announcements
III is most meritOriGns principle of our
constitution, that every member of the cont
nunity Shatl I've freely indnigcd in tie right
full enjoyment of whatsoever iie hath justly ac
CURED, and the reasons obvious for ifit we're
otherwiS Use there would be no check or restraint
whatever To tse tyranny of the more poweif ul
aud Opuivnt members OF the community. To
li'ustIate this doctrine the more tUrcibly, /
viii instance the particular case in question;
mere we see the inhabitants OF large district,
humbly pettIouing the sovereign legislative
power, for the enjoyment OF those rights
Which nature has bestowed upon them, aud
those privileges which their constitution, if
lmpartIa!ly appealed 10, would not deny
How then comes il to pass that they are denied
the use of these rights and privileges by those
whom this constitution hath authorized TO pre-
serve itself, and whom the people have APP
pointed rs its arbiters? How happens il that
these individuals denied the self same
rights and privileges which upon d former oc-
caSi0n were 50 graci0usiy granted, to the pray
Ell OF similar petitlon' We are answered,
that the state, the community at large, are
deeply ga pecuniary point of view interest
ell ia tie grant before mentioned, and that a
similar grant 10 the prayer of this petition
would De an ACT of irreconcIasle Injustice
for, that i; would confer on these petitioners
certain advantages exclusive of those enlONed
under former grant which is not consistent
with tic principles and policy OF republican
government. We might, without the slightest
apprehension OF dispsragement 10 ouT cause,
even go so far as 10 admit the truth of this po-
slUon but suppose we do, will this defeat the
end upon which we SCI out' Will this over.
throw the doctrines which we have advanced
in support of our positous' Or will il at all
tend to confirm the objections of our oppo-
nentsY No, IL can IN no sense give our concur
renee in those objections which il is our inte-
rest aud our duty TO Overturn OH the contra
~, the qualifications with which we make
these admissions will tend To convince your
unbiased understandings that dis petition is
founded IN reason aud justice. These petit.
onerS do not ask you to grant them these ex-
elusive privileges las you are pleased to term
them,i which they might Justly demand as
rights, without ret';rn on theiI parts, which
would more than counterbalance those trivial
advantages, which their Opponents have rails
ed up as all insuperable bng-bcar TO the sue.
cess ct their petition they will make IL dis
cretionary with you TO take any interest which
you may think iii in the grant Tor which they
petition they will make il q condition Of their
grant, that Yen shall posSesS unlimited power
10 take so many shares of the stock as Will IN
your candid judgments be sufficient 10 indem-
Nifty the public for the sacrifices ii shall have
made to the emOlument Of these individuals.
In addition 10 these reasons of themselves Suf-
hclcut 10 maintain the ground which we have
taken, would suggest another, not less forCI-
bic, by enqniring who are the persons so deep
j. concerned in The dispenSatOn of this wight
which we so warmly insist upon! To all who
are acquainted with the geography OIL the
country contiguous to James river the answer
is strikmgly obvious. Is this design intended
only To benefit few of those individuals, who
are The landlords of the immediate vicinage?
Or is il a project devised by cunning mon 10
enhance the value of their property in this ap-
paremly pa;ry village do moi hesitate TO
admit that seli-nteTeSt hath its due influence,
hut w6uld a the same time beg leave 10 as
sure your honorable body that large major
iiy of these petitioners possess views, and are
aciuated by motives of as extensive libtTdlitv
and patriotism aS is common TO the rest of their
fellow citizens aud which are likewise abso-
lutely essential, as well to ensure the success
OF this petition as 10 secure The complete en-
joyment of individual prosperity. Were these
privileges sought tor merely To aggraGdse
those whose names are affixed to each memo
rial, should be- amongst the last to appear in
the columns of a public newspaper IN their be-
half. Ny personal respect for the honor OF
your body would he sufficient barrier 10 the
advocacy Of such d scheme vi Sef-iHteTest and
tylrice.
But when actual experience has so frequent
ly pros en- 10 us The beneficial consequences Of
cOmpe ,Ition to the community, We cannot but
admit that ibis too is acs IN pregnant with
tho most important advantages, 10 4 very large
pOri:rr AT least il not The whole OF this com
mnuity, ANT which If executed under the
s.uctOn OF Nodr authority. must dOHbtless ad-
vance the interests Of IT'S citizens. IL is use-
less father 10 speculate upon principles,
which when reduced 10 practice have invaria-
bly, attesicd their own utIiy, aud IL would be
equally supeTiluuus fOrm to enter into geo.