Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-02-15

is worse, 10 despise some of the good oil,
fundamental principles brought hiher bS
our ancestors, which have, till now, sur
vNed the shock of ages. What are tliS
inhabitants ofSoutlI-America ca!ledl A.
/ mericans not Spaniards, although origt
naily emigratlng from Spain.-Norili-A
merlcans are sometimes called An3lo-A
mericans, and South-Americans SpanlSi
! Americans; the adjunct being merely
/ descriptive. Look also at the appreciation
! drawn from State divisions, New-Y orkers,
Pennsylvanlans, Virsinians. Hut thus en-
| quiry is believed to have but little bearing
on the question: il is an argument mere
! ~ about names.
| The point comtcnded for is this; that
when apcop!e abandon one country and
| occupy another, ali the connection which
existed between them and tie country
| thus abandoned, IS completely broken off
and carrying with them all their laws,
manners and customs, the connection is
renewed between them and their new
country, winch pre-eXIsted, and WAS bro
ken OFT by their remos al from their
old country. And it is this necessa-
~ and ;ndissoluble connection be-
between the people and the country they
Inllablt, that ought to be essentially re-
garded in the formation OF all f,ndament-
al political institutions, grounded upon
the principles heretofore explained.
But the real merit OF the freehold right
Of suffrage is susceptible of still further
and more explicit demonstrations. All
Governments, under whatever modiiica-
tions, profess TO haze two great and dis
ilnct objects IN view III their formation,
the liberty oi the person, and the security
OF ibe property or every individual mem
Der composing such governments respcc-
lively. The most despotic governments
profess these objects. For, although the
despots deny that tl,eir power is derived
from the people, and claim il Of divine o.
rigIn, and declare themselves the Lords
amounted, yet they admit that they are
thus anointed for the benefit of their sub
iects respectively I; and that they are
bonnd 10 secure 10 them the enjoyment
OF liberty andpropcrty. This admission
has been often made, since the establish
ment ofiegit,macy i'll Europe. Tie King
OF France, lii bis last Speech 10 the Peers
and Deputies OF the Kingdom, expresses
himself upon this point IA TIC following
words:
Attached by conduct as we are in heart To the
difne prerepts OF leech lie; be also attached
charter, which, without touching any dogiia ensures to
he ia,'A OF oai atheis, tns peennenee that Is due,
and wiich, H. che civil order uaIanees 10 all wise Ii
Destf aau 20 cdcii ne peaceful
oi his coAdition, anu Of LIS properly. will suffer
any attack he made mpon thai fundamental law my
ordonnance OF The 5h OF Sept sufficiently Shows it,"
Ill free governments, growing ont OF
tile social compact, are founded upon a
portion 81 The natural rights of the indi-
yldual members composing them respec-
lively, Tor tile purpose of enabling the 90
| vernment TO secure to the individual mem
bers tie enjoyment of other rights retain
ed By them. This connection produces
reciprocal duties and obligations between
the governed and governors. The duties
and Obligations otthe governed may be
ciassed uader two heads, which, in their
nature, are distinct and separate-Perso-
nal service and pecunary contributions
HE CORES pondent duties and Obligations
| of the governors, which are also perfectly
| distinct and separate i'll their natures, are,
to secure TO each individual the eniov-
ment of personal liberty and private pre-
| perry. In the formation of a representa-
| tive government, the most essential l0is,t.
and almost the oniy point OF imp Ylance,
! TO De taken INTO consideration, Is, the prln-
! cipie upon which the representation shall
ne made or, In other words, the princi-
| pie of the right of suffrage Now, as ev-
| cry representative government has two
| separate aud distinct duties imposed upo,i
it, and two separate and distinct obli,a-
| tons 10 perform this question forciDly
ItnpresseS itself upon tiie mind Ought
| the principle of representation to be such
| as To enable the gov eminent honorably 10
! perform both of lis obligations TO the PEG
| pie, or only one of them. An mankind
would surely response in favor of the
prlnclpie tending 10 the performance of
both Obligations. Then, If private pro-
| perry, as well Dis persona! liberty, are 10
be secured, the conclusion IS inevitable :
that the principle Of representation ought
10 have relation botilf 10 property and Der
son; possessing direct tendency To
| preserve the rights of bof!.--!n tic
formation OF fundamental laws for a rep
| reSentaiive government, all that can be
done OF ans real practical use, is, 10 fix
| upon principles representation having
tendencies beneficial to the whole societv.
ana TO make arrangements for suitable
| departments TO carry such principles into
erect, aud to assign to each its proper iu-
riSdlcilon. Every refinement beyond tits.
is mere fi1rpery and ornament Tie free
hoid right of suffrage possesses all those
! tendencies. Ii is a compound principle
OF representation, having reference both
T. person and property tits importan,
to observe here, that the protection of
properly is an obligation imposed on ro-
vvernmer', much more difficult TO be per
formed than the protection of person be-
cause property has no tendency to attack
tie rights OF persons. Its essential int
rest Is 10 protect personal rights. for lis
own security whereas, the charms OF