The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1823-07-18


United States" In the face of the ffemen-
dous defects in the fundamentals of the
British constitution, which | have rapidly
and iinperfectly portrayed 10 the teeth,
too, of that frightful and overwhelming
mass Of abuse and CORRUPTION, which,
hcaped upon the best principles in the
coustit ution, like 0ssa up0u Peiioa, has
crushed aud buried Item, ! fear forever !;
Ruiltdge decllres tilat /" il the British con-
sItution has il defects, they are like spots
which astronomers have discovered on the
suns Disc which in nowise diminish the
waFnifi4 and spIendor of that lnmnary." -
IntoEbat egregiUus ahsGz,ilics are writer's
Of tire seundest understanding sometimes
hurried by an incorporate political zeal /!
Having occupied greater space IN the cx-
animation Of the British constitution than
may seem meet for newspaper essay, on
account Of the striking coincidence fas wdl
appear hereaftcr) between its principes and
the noiiOns on government, published TO
the world by the younger Adams himself ;
old John Adams being clearly convicted
of anti-repnblcanlsln, so far as.it may be
Justly inferred from his admiration of anti
republican Institutions il remains TO be
shown that John 4. Adams imbibed and
publicly inculcated the sentiments of his
sire. Rutl.dge, in the outset of his snd-
cation Of the principles set forth in The wr-
tings Of Publicola," roundly and most
Gne0ufteously asserts his belief that have
not the slightest acquaintance with the
contents of that work and after ingenu-
ously confessing his own ignorance on that
head, very modestly and prudentlr pro
ceeds to give us most cdlfying summary
OF the substance of work, whose title
page, even, Ire had never seen thereby
thinking To secure TO himself unobsersed,
the undue advantage of making ont case
To suit his own arguments aud views. Be-
lje'lng copy not procurable in this section
of country, he boldly "inyitc9 an appeal
to the work ITSELF" and hcroically offers
to stake the result Of our controversy, could
II be sc influenced, upon lis bearing him
out in the opinions which he has igno-
rdnHy expressed Of its character and de.
sign :" Dthe prineipies q gorernment, II,
whose truth and justice re both coacur i
heSortteignty ojhe poople aud the equality
ot al mankind, previous Ia the formation
of government ifthe doctrines Of our bill
q rights are there disputed or dcnied, then,
says knlledge, confess the author ought
10 b' rfaounccd forerer." | consider no
positions in / he science of government,
better established thai that he sorereignty
Of ceery state dors, and must Of ,igR, reside
"a The peopte thereof; that consequently it
belongs 10 the pcoph by virtue eff their
supreme power, To frame for themselves a
contribution Of government "laying its
foundation upon such principles, aud or
sablHlng rs powers in such form as 10 them
shall SEEM most likely to effect their happi-
ness and safety" That ccery constitution
Of government thus formed, is, and ought
10 he considered, the the fundamental pa
ramount law of the land that no branch of
the government, nor uR NE branches conbf-
ned, should possess The poi0er Of diteringor
d5ot,Sh'ng this Fundamental ino which
prescilbes the various duties aud functions
OF each, and limits the authority oe them
all that " as The sovereign pore, hath no
hmltS TO ats authority so kaih the govern
ment q d state no rights bm such aS are
purely derjuaiire and Hmited The union of
he sovereignty Of a state NTH he gorcn.
meHi, constitutes q state Of uSurpation and
absolute tyranny ouer He people - /" that
S'nce the hnl'on Of The Sorereigntv tsiM the
S"rtrnment constitutes a state Of absolute
Po'"er, or fyrdnHg oeer the ycoIe, ersrq at
tempt TO tttct such an union il TREASON
an NE actors. ~ Guided by the hight of
these great political arhoI;sms, Twill now
proceed to try by the standard of their ac
knowledged orthodoxy, the doctrines pub
l'shed 10 the world through federal mcdi.
INN, by Jotn g. Adams, 10 his famous Nos.
under the signature Of Publieola. =
The first specimen | shall! protuce of
his reverence for the principles of govern
ment, " IN whose truth and Justice Rut
ledge aud myself both concur" is eonched
IN the following words " The fnndamen
tai principle upon which socictyis formed,
appears to be, in order that the power of
the whole may be rendered subser,ient TO
the interests of the whole. The problem
to snlHe, is in what manner the power shall
he distributed, so as most efTcctnaly to an
swer the purpose. Considering thecxlreme
difficulty with which a whole nation can be
brought to c;in their original character. il
should seem that utS.'om must dictate 10
tiem 'ie necessity Of deiegatiag their po,cer
N such a manner as that it may be render
ed beneficial to the nation, because Mdte-
peT Poieer IS retained By the people, cannot be
ere,clsed for her adrantage ary more than
to their i3ary" From these Advantageous
rcmsrk ks we plainly discover that Dir. Al.
ans directly sanctions the odious British
doctrine, which incaIcatcs a transfer of the
undt'enabie Sovereignty Of the people, or, in
other words, " the ,oho'e po,cer" to the GO
vern'nent, whereby such government would
at once be empowered to alter or abolish
NE constitution, By ordinary Legislative acts,
wt'hom reference to he ioiA Of The people
Pretending to consider the skiIful distribu-
ton OF his absolute sovereign power among
the various governing departments, as alone
necessary for the spcurity of non,,tur