The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1824-06-29

country, the militia, a full participation OF
these rights, an object equally good, aud
rs certainly defined 2 Aud let the people
of Virginia say whether or not they are
attainsble. Is not the removal of every
aristecrafics feature " hieh we have en
drayored Ia point Out IN thr constitution, an
object " certainly defined" aud eminently
good And IS not the division Of the
powers and duties of each branch of the
government So as to make them distinct,
and also make the individuals of each
Responsible to the people, Except the
iudluiary,) an object certainly good, and
can they be more clearly defined than
Hamilton, Jay and Madison have described?
II a greater certainty Is To be found in any
science II can only be pointed out IN the
immntahlc laws of nature, as IN j" natural
history or mathematics: This ebrction,
therefore, cannot be substantial, for, 10 ad
nit this, would be- tsreqnire mathema
! teal certainty ia II measure calculated to
promote the liberty aud happiness of men,
which could not have been asccrtalned
when Washington embraced The cause Of
! freedom.
Again--he says, "The people of Virginia
have been used 10 the present form of gov
ernment." This argument, of being "ustd'
will necessarily carry him much farther
than II is believed he will be willing To go.
Any established Jstem however oppres
siAe, according to this doctrine, ought not
To be changed, aud all the improvements
made from the earliest periods of the world,
to this time, have done violence to this tame
doctrine. IL was urged, aud then applied
with some force, when we separated from
the power Of Great Brltain-it will admira
rably suit the weak aud vain tyrant Ferd
nand of Spain, as also the traacher0us
Turks against the patriot Greeks. In truth,
| II is II word of wonderful use in any argu
ment used TO support tyranny aud "ppfes
| sion, and therefore cannot please rcpubI
cans. He enquiries d" Whether we, IN these
times, are better acquainted with the prin
cipIcs of republican government, or more
devoted 10 them, than the statesmen of
l776 - Asa people, we undoubtedly are
80 the science Of government then began
10 be studied, and WAS not understood by
the people generally even those of n good
education bad but crude ideas Of the sub
ject, and from tina, period To the formation
of the constitution of the United States, it
received greater impro, encnts by the in
yestigatlons of the most learned and patr-
otto men of our country, than it ever before
| that time, it has been privately aud public
ly taught by which means all men Of
good education, are more orless acquainted
with It, and the people generally have very
correct notions on the subject besides,
there has been not less than eleycn new
states formed, add admitted TO the union,
and eleven or twelve of the original thir
teen, have amended their consttutions, aud
among all of these fundamental laws, it will
not be unreasonable to suppose that some
improvements have been made. The equal
rights of men had neyer before that period
been discussed and Investigated bya nation
of flccmen, who were unfettcred by loosen
Ing the bands of all power, other than the
force of reason and virtue and 10 suppose
the FIRST step taken in such an important
Undertaking, the best in all its multifarious
hearings, that could even be devised, is TO
suppose an immediate perfection at the in
ciplcnt openings into branch of know
| ledge, which has ever been denied The abb
hty of man, IN that of any other SCIENCE
1t may therefore truly be affirmed, that the
people of Virginia are now better qualified
to amend their constitution than they have
ever before been, and this fact, together
WITH the calm state of peace existing
throughout the country, marks this period
as the most fit time for such desirable
work. lie further enquiries lin regard to
the other large states,) In what re-
spect is their condition better than ours ~
In one Of the largest, New York; AN
amendment in their constitution has re-
Gently been made, and the elective frau
chse is there extended to all who serve in
the militia, or, who pay any kind of tax
Their governor is elected by the people
sherllls, clerks, coroncss aud other Offices
of minor Importance are filed by THEN
voice. Their Judiciary has none of the APP
pointing power--no offices are of pcrma
nent daraton-thrir Judiciary is, however
indPpendent--all men are constitutionally
capable of filling any office la that state
the number of non-freehUders is much
greater IN proportion to the freeholders,
than in Virginia. Yet there is 10 elil felt
or complained of on that account-al kind-
of property is there represented, and no
particular sort marked rs peculiar sub
lect of taxation. The difference is obvious.
The public opinion has a happy effect on all
measures of the government, an instance of
I which has lately occurred, by inducing their
governor To call their legislature together
, o. pass a law intended Ia give the appoint
ment of their electors of the president and
vice president of the United States to the
people. Popular opinion may sometimes
5 be wrong, but il never long continues so,
and in this state there is muchto commend.
The principal features in the constitutions
of the other states, are similar to those in
that of New York, and her improvements
r have been brought about by the united
voice of the people, expressed and retera-
I ted, until il was too strong to he misuu.
drrstood, and could be neglected no longer
+ The same objections urged here, (to
I an amendment, were made there, and ma
ny prudent men were there, az in Virginia
e alarmed, but their fears have subsidized with