Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-03-28

! State Constitutions which have been for
! med since the commencement of the
| French observation-disclosures at the progress
| of the principles tending TO throw all pow
er in The hands of that portion of society
! which is destitute OF property, or at least
| TO give il decided preponderance IN the
| administration of the government, de-
m0nstated in the chronological establish
ment of State Constitutions from the time
of the formation and adoption o.! that of
Kentucky to that of Indiana Not having
seen this last display of the high polish
| and Improvement of these novel theories,
| the writer is not able to form an accurate
opinion upon its general tendencies; but
| il is represented, as leaving the admins
| tration of the government almost exciu-
sivelv in the hands of the People III their
| individual capacities, solely upon the prin-
| ciple of numbers without any regard 10
| the preservation OF property II SO, II can
be little short ola new declaration OF the
| perfeciiblity of man, under new form
| and in that CO II would seem to become
| the imperious duty of Congress 10 insist
upon its assuming a republican form, I'M
| der tllc solemn constitutional guarantee
! to all The States in tae Union, for securing 10
| all that great and inestimable blessing +
| look at the restless and centumacious sp-
| rli, pervading the thoughtless youth Of the
country captivated by these destructive
| theor.cs-see the many manifestations of
| their Impotence all restraints, under
the miseonceived doctrines ofliberty and
equality, and OF the moral perfection of
human nature, which renders all re-
stralnis IN Their ewes ntiIous and unncces-
Sary-0bserve the difficulties of preserv-
ing the ordinary discipline and subordina-
ton I'm all your semInaTies oflearning, &c
Then ask yourselves, if it be possible
that all tilrSe general effects should be
produced without adequate causes And
what causes so likely 10 have produced
them as the perIicious influences of these
false. imaginary theories, indns,riouslv
and fatally inculcated by misguided, iia-
passloned enthusiasts? # these appre-
tensions be well founded surely al! wise
| and virtuous men will feel tie duty, and
see their interests in uniting 10 discount
tenance and suppress the causes TO which
they areiustly attributable.
when the administration of the govern
mentis placed in the hands of the mid
ding class, 1t isscarcely possible that any
measures or regulations should be adopt
ed injurious to the extremes of society
because that class is equally Interested in
the preservation both ofperson and pro-
temptation TO Cypress or injure the pour
est portion of society, since that norton
is not possessed of any property to invite
the cupldltv ofthe middling class; and
IN protecting the persons Of the poorest.
the mlddiing class would find an interest
| III Tie reciprocal protection afforded their
own persons; nor would thew find any
means OF seizing upon the property of the
extremes OF the wealthy, even if cupiditv
could impei them to such an act of inius-
tice; because there are no lines of demar-
Ration between the middiing and wealthy
classes OF society, and it would not be
practIcable to make them, without hazard
ing Tie rights ofproperty in the mitIdliug
class and tins class has too much inter
EST II, Tie rights ofproperiy, to be design
eoiS nazarded by any attempts TO violate
The rights OF property In the L3ndsof fine
most weg.thy-Tlis could only he effcct-
ed by unjust and partial regulations. one
i1ins upon them exclusively. Taking II
thcn as demonstrated proposition. flat
The middliDg class of society has a stron@
ana positive interest in just and general
regulations, operating on the whole socie-
~, (Doth extremes as well as the rniddiiug
class itselt,) the tendency of which will
be at all times Irresistible i'm ngoduci,,g
that effect; and that each extreme has :,
strong and positive interest in favourinr
itself by unjust and partial regulations
towards the rest of society, the icudent.y
OF Whchwill always be as irresistible IN
producing that eflect-itwould FOLLOW. as
an undenable conclusion, that the mid
ding 81. 5 OF society forms the only safe.
wise and Just depository of governmental
rights and powers. 1t is now proDosed to
be shown, that the provisions oftbe Viz
| ginlan Constitution, if left untouched
have produced, and must continue tonro,
duce this effect and that when This great
| object is accomplished, il is all tLat csn
be accomplished in the formation of GOV.
ernments by the combined exer,ious IF all
the mental powers of man. The effect NJ
| placing the powers and administration Of
TIE Nnglnlan governmental the hands of
The nIddlngclass Of society. is prodnced
| chicily by the happy concurrent operafi-
ons OF the principles of the freehold rioI,t
OF suffrage, and of the establishment Of
county courts. The right of suffrage bv
The freehold limit presents a comoound
principle of representation, having refer
ence both to the rights of persons and
property, corresponding with the oblisatj-
ons IMPOSED upon goyernmentto preserve
both. Speaking in general terms. il cx
cllres from voting all those who have an
interest III the preservation Of ONLY one of
these rights ard i'll the violation of fhe
other: HE members of the General AS
sembly must consist of persons of fhc
| same lpgerft,ftot, ,,,,fI. d.: Z. $3.50. -.