Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-02-16

kings but from higher source-The King
of Kings, and the Lord Of the whole earth,
They are not annexed to US by parchments
and seals. They are created in US by the
DEGREES Of Providence, which establish the
laws of our nature. They are born with Us,
exist with US, and cannot be taken from us
by any human power, without taking our
lives
These rights we, in common with all men,
possess. Having never been surrendered,
they cannot be the subject of legislative con-
trout. And if the acts OF your government
infringe their enjoyment, having no other
foundation than usurpatiop and violence, they
are void.
1t only, then, remains TO be inquired, whe.
ther the power assumed by Congress ; bo-
dy in which We have no representation to
! impose upon US any tax, tor any purpose
which they may deem proper, be consistent
with these great essential, fundamentals rights,
freedom ia our persons security in our pro-
perty.
"The political Liberty of the subject is
tranquility of mind, arising from the opinion
each person has of his safety. In order to
have this liberty, it is requisite the govern.
ment be so constituted that one man need
not be afraid of another''f
A right to property, has been defined !
" the just claim which any person has to the
free use, and full enjoyment Of a thing which
no other person can justly use, possess, or
change, uithout hi, eonssns"
Now. passing from the consideration Of the
rights connected with personal liberty and
personal security--which cannot, indeed, be
easily infringed, SO long as the freedom of
the press, the trial by jury, and the writ Of
habeas corpus, are secured, let me enquire,
where is the right 20 property--in what man.
ner is its enjoyment secured-when il is liza
bic to be taken at any moment, for any cause.
by body Of men wieldi 6 the highest pow
ers known to this government; orsr whom
we can exercise no control whatever; in
whose deliberations we cannot boast soli-
tary voice; and who would not deign to in.
quife whether We have WILL upon the SUBJ
ject? Instead Of security for its enjoyment,
our prosperity itself is gone II they can
Ike The SMALLEST portion without our con ent,
ali that NE have must be held by the tenure
OF their will. And. in the language OF lord
Camden, when similar principles were at
tempted to be enforced, Should the pre-
sent power continue we have nothing we
can cali our own: what property have
they in that which another may, ty right,
take when he pIedseS to himself"
Ii, at THIS period. arguments Or authorities
were necessary 10 enforce position SO evil
dent to ali who possess the faculty Of reason,
would refer TO the classic pages Of DIckin-
son, the overwhelming eloQuence OF Cha
than, the acts of the American Congress OF
liza, and the successful! termination of the
Revolutionary var.
1t is Oh this principle, that in all govern
hlCbto ioubuCO VII ZIG liSbtS VI luS pcCple,
wheGe'ermoney is required for pubic use,
the people by, themsei es or representatives
must exercise the right to give and grant
what is their own.
II, then, every citizen has an absolute and
unaIienable right 10 be secure in the enjoy
ment OF his TlOpcrty {; II this security can
moi exist, when subject to De taken away by
a body IN which MS voice is MOI heard a
body deriving their pow els from others, aud
amenabIe 10 those only from hon they de-
rive their powers it the uulon Of axatiun
and RepreSenta tIon can Zone afford this sc
curly 1t must follow, that Congress cannot
legally impose tax GpuA the lnnabisnts OF
ibis District, Tor any purpose, general OIL 10
cal, so long as they remain unrepresented.
This conclusion is founded on those plain
ard obvious principles which .latule alone
teaches 10 man. But should any humau au
thority be considered necessary 10 enforce
the ciearesl deductions Of reason, lei Inc adj
vert 10 those laws 10 which, as they form the
rules Of their conduct, the inhabi ants Ut this
district are unquestionably entitled. In the
common and statute Law OF Engiant, az they
stood antecedentiy To the revolution, may be
found the most evident recognition of he