Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-04-27

nehehit Oh our outline, end have MAJ b :.
aouoiiess successive improvements :r
The very outset, and which has bec,,
ON every subsequent Constitution was. :. +.
ioundation IN the authority of the matter, ,y
ou' convention, no special authority hno L-.;.
ee'eSa'cu 10y the people TO form n pcrr,. 49,.
CONSTITUTION, over which their successors :, H.,
gi''a1ioh should have no power, of al,o,,,;,,
ihey nad been elected for the ordinary n,,r,,o.
ses % legislation only, and ut time when tI,c
Se'aoisniHeh' of new government had 40,
therefore they gave TO this act -. title ,f s.,
stltiton, vct il could be TO more ,b,n an ,n.
ol the legislation, subject US their o,hc, ,,,s
were, to alteration by their successors. II h..
been said indeed that the acauiesenee of ,In
PeoPie mas supplied the want OF origina, power.
Out - Is dangerous lesson 10 say 10 them wlcne.
yer your funCtionarieS exercise unlawful an
tiiority over you if you DO not 90 into ac,,, rc-
s'stance, IT viii be deemed acuuicscencc and
continuation. BESIDES, no authority has vet
DECIDED whether the resistance ,p,.st he In
Simultaneous! When the right to resist ceases,
or whether 1t has yet ceased? Qf.he 81 states
no" oiSani@cd' 70 have disapprovcd our doc
','''c ana example and deemed the formal au-
thorlty OF their people necessary foundation
| Tor Il Constitution.
Ah"tacr detect which has been corrected by
moi vi Tue other States IS that the basis of our
~onst,tct!on IS III op ,osiop TO :ic or;nci,,,e OF
equal political rights, refusing TO all but free
hoiuc,s any participation iii the natural right
OF sen government. II is believed, for exam
pr that very great majority of the militia ON
"hom the burthen ofmilitary duty was imposed
IN the late war were men unrcprcnted in H.,
Legislation which imposed this b,!rth.n on them.
however nature may, by mental orp!iysical dis
| qualifications, have marked infants and In.
weafer sex 70: the protection, rather tan the
oneciion OIL government, vet among the men
WHO ei'hcr ply, or fight, for their country, no
Inc OF right can be drawn. The exclusion of
majority OF our ircCrncn from the right of re-
| presentation Is merely arbitrary, and an usur-
| PATTON OF the minority over the majority. For
u Is oe.cVcd that the non-free hol,lcrs comnose
the majority of our free, adult male citizens.
ana even among OIL. citizens who rartici-
pa'c IN the repre- cntatvc privilege the equality
| OF political ri hts is entirely Frustrated h, our
consti ut;on. Upon wha: p:iacipIe Of rirht or
reason can any onc ju,.ify the giving TO any
CT zen OIL W arwick as much weight in the roy-
ernncnt as to p equal citizens in outon and
similar inequalities among the other counties. If
,hcsc fundamental prin, iplas are of no i,npor
lance In actual gov crnrnent, then no principles
arc important and it is as well to rely on the dis
positions, good or ILL., of an administration. as on
tnc provisions Of constitution.
snail not enter into details of smaller de-
Iects; altho' 9th RS there doubtless arr. the refo-
nation OF some ofwll Oh IN ght greatly lessen the
cAPences OF government improve its o:caniza-
| t'on and add to tie wisdom OF its administration
IN all ITS paris, but these things leave TO Others
not permitting myself 10 take sides in the ro!it
cal questions ofthe day. willingly acquicscc
III Ia ias'ii1tion, o! my country, PERFECT or rl-
p'rpcct, ard thnb ia duty 10 leave tlcir nolii
cation to thos who are TO live un.!cr them. and
are to par!ic!D tc Of the good or evil they may
pro luce. The present genaration.have the san. G
night OF se -Sovcrnalent which the past one la /,
exercised TO- itse; and, in the full yigor ofbody
IN mind, a. more able 10 judge for themselves
Than those WI are sinking under tie wane of
both. Ii the sense ofour citizens on the cues
ton of Conven ion can be fairly and fullv Ia
iSa4' IL it WI, an sure be wise and sa
! ttry ard tar from arFogating the Office of adv,
ser. 10 one 'Tiii more Passyc!y acquiesce in il
man myself itctir'ng therefore 10 the trauouitv
caiiea Tor BY increasing years ana debility, I
'T!shno to intertnecldle in this question and TO
m prayers for the general good have only to
aid assurances to yourself OF my great esteem
and ..cct.