Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-03-18
BY MIR. GILES.

-
By Mr.. GILES.
(Continued)
Another most injurious consequence
II Is conceived. necessarily flows from
this doctrine of confidence in the people
III the extreme pretension set up for il. in
the case under consideration. 1t con.ists
IN calling people from their laudable and
ordinary pursuits in life, to the DISCHARGE
of inappropriate duties, which they are
not qualified to perform. il calls upon
the people tn unmake and make Cons,i-
tutions in their individual characters bv
the exercise of the reasoning faculties. M
OF theoretical suggestions, without tie
guide of experience Ii is contended. that
the people, speaking of mankind in gene
raj, are not competent to thepeI furniance
of this duty, particularly that portion of
mankind, for whose peculiar benefit it is
pretended, that the doctrine is introduced
and insisted upon. That is, people in ge-
neral, who are excluded from voting at G.
lections for the want of the freehold uual-
ihcation Or, TO take the words of some
OF their ofilcious advocates, (who do not
seem at all times scrupulously nice in
the choice of definite terms, to convey
their own ideas,) " The common people"
tits contendedthatth the common people. -
as they are called nv some of their profess
sed friends, are not competent TO unmake
and make Constitutions, by reasoning i'm
anticipation, aprioii-and that to call up
on them To perform that duty, ne
ceSSarIly draws them from their honest
pursuits In life, 10 their own de,riment. as
well as 70 the de;rHaent of society in zen
ING 1. a.
mistaken estimate of the condition of
man III society, as well as from mista-
Ken estimate of the different tenrees of
responsibility attached TO the different
conditions of man lin social life. "'The
common people" here alluded 70. speak
ing of them in general, although nnmer-
Gus exceptions are admitted, NAV be de-
scribed as people without propertv and
without education. Their competency TO
unnlakc and make Constitutions. dc
Ponds rather on matierof fact than matter
OF argument. Let, then, tile enquiry he
made:-Did this description of people. or
any OTHER, III any country, or in any age,
ever undertake TO unmake and make >
Constitution, by reflection, BIZ reasoning.
by celebrating upon the defects of their
existing Constitution, and by suggesting
Tie appropriate remedies for such defcts
III new one, without some necessityurr-
ing TO the measure ? Yet all this is ne
cessary to be done before they can with
proprleiy determine the question of Con-
vention, or No Convention Ifsuch q
thing has never been done, is it likely that
If ever will be done Besides. recoIiect
how few persons Of this description. or of
any other, ever did read the Virginian
Constitution, and how many could not
read it if they would How MANY iudi-
'iduals from the l9counties, WHO memo
rallied in favor of calling Convention.
IT is probable, ever read The Virgini;n
Constitution !; or know, by reading, one
single provision in it If that fact could
be ascertaned, 1t might afford much in.
struction upon The present enquiry. We
~ few personsin society are employed i'm
reading Constitutions, celebrating on
their defects, and suggesting appropriate
remedies; and these few generally form
the most mistaken and deluded portion
OF society. What is known of CONSTITUTE
ons, IS generally derived from their nrac-
teal results and not from reading them.
The practical results from tie Virainian
Constitution, so Tar from being oppres-
sIve and calling for amendment, are uni
versaily admitted TO be highly beneficial
to every portion OF the people II is moi.
then. from oppressive effects that a Con-
veniion is 10 be called, hut from the theo-
retic reveries ola few Constitution read
crs, III direct opposition to practical re-
suits. Perhaps, there is no one evil il, So
ciefy greater than a misappication of ia
lents and requirements in the different
members composing it; and in this coun-
try, particularly, The non-applcaton of
them Is also an esil of no small magni-
tIde; that is, a propensity, too Obvious
to- avoid labor altogether; andnothine
gives more Countenance and encourage
mcnt to this unfortunate propensity than
Consftuiion-nakimg, by railing people
from their ordinary pursuits in lie. TO
attend politIcaInceiings, there TO become
the dupes of political intrigues and ca
bais.
But, let this mischief arising from the
misapplica;ion ofiaents & requirements.
be more particularly illustrated. by resort
ing toau example in some individual case.
Take, then, the case ola skilfuI, honest.
respectable, robust and industrious black
smith. Let us first take view ofllim, in
tcnily engaged in the business of his cal
ling. Here we find him, laudahlv en-
p!oycd, i'll a business, he perfectly under
stands. We find him making the most
useful implements, such as are indispen-
sibly necessary for the existence and en-
joyment of lis fellow men. We find the
proceeds of his labor, afording himself
all those comforts ofiife, which contribute
Ia the actual enjoyment Of man, and per-
haps, with the surplus, daily improving
his fortune. II he be blessed with wife