Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-07-30
which is the definition given by a celebrated
writers when speaking of natural law.

mocracy as the sole foundation of all legitimate |
municipal government, that, (tlc Greeks and re- |
publican Romans ont of the question: it was the |
very substratum of the imperial code Of Justin
ian, himself, one of the most absolute princess !
of tine eastern empire. &C That law,i says this |
prince. which n people cnacts for its own go
vernnent is called the civil law of that people,
On this foundations and tue express grant ofthe |
people, Inc Claimed all the power which he ex- !
crciscd. "The people" againhe says, sby the |
legal law, make n concession to the prince of
their whole power" The principle has been
extended from the days of Rome TO the present
agc II was acknowledged by the kings of the |
Hunns from the wall of China, and by those of
:he Goths, Vandals, Germans, Saxops and
Danes, who divided and ruled the provinces of
Rome; BY the rcpublicl<s which spring up on the
coasts OF Italy, and by the See of ROME itself.
II was reserved for the present age TO witness
The first serious assertion of the contrary prnc
pie. That the government of the whole co,nmu- |
nifty, without its own consent, at the will of a
single Individual of that community, is the only
icgiiinidfc government; and, that. on prctcucc
Of seeming himself in TIC quiet possession and
exercise Of such power, such an individual
may rightiuliy arm his own vasscs against TO-
reign community which contends for and exer-
cisas the democratic princirle; may violate that
law of nature which establishes, in every socie-
", the right OF self govcrinc and imposes up
u
| single individual, against lis will This
| noastrous pincpl first ,ta.tcd, in con-
! sequence of the revolution in America, ana
| # the iclictous experiment nj self government
which the anne lean people are making
! The example was dangerous, we grant, to Eu
| ropcaa king craft, as il has been ana now is,
exercised. Some movement was, indeed, nc
| :essary TO the well being of Kings: but the,
nave mistaken their measures. Would it not
a
course, IN them, to have considered the. true
enl and object of municipal law: to have re-
formed tho abuses of their governments; light
cncI tho burheus of taxes, and become, what
| lnly they can honestly be-, simple magistrates
clothed rather with the dignity of legal power
| than with the robes and crowns amt other hau-
blcs of modern royalty, Would not such
course have been more consistent with the
| principles by which their progentors had be-
come kings What judgment will postcrity
pronounce on them, when ii compares the his
tory ortfc past with the history of what is now
| passing: Why, that the kings of the nineteenth
century, have Justly forfeited their throne, hv
violating that law. which in the eleventh al
twelfth centuries, conferred The regal dignity
and estate npon their predecessors. Can these
kings AVOID this oonclusion' They cannot; for
by abrogatng the law by which the estate was
| created, they destroy the estate Itself.
| Whether this great question must be settled
| by the force of arms, BY Inc progress Of poll
teal light or by both united, this community
must act a distinguished part in the contest
AS sue iirst asseror OF democratic principles in
modern times, it is due to her own satety--to the
| integrity other goycrnmcnt-tohcrh Notwithstanding
among nationsof the yorld-tothe cause of free
doinV viriuc--to the rights OF MANN the present
and all future genaraions---that she should set
her face against this monstrons doctrine this
misnaIned tcsiti'aacy, SO lately cngendered in the
councils, and enforced by the bayoaets ofkinrs
10 suffer the enforcement of this new doctrine.
III any part OF the American hemisphcre-to
look on, peaceably, while this conspiracy Of
kings should -coonize the communities Of the
south, and deliver them, bound, to the keeping
~ The Spanish and Portuguese kings, would be
J culpabic disregard of our own safety and an
invitation to the wropg-do We cannot must
not permitt.
II is IN tins view of foreign politics. to saw no.
thiiig OF our domestic concerns, that the present
and all future elections to the chief magistracy
| OF TINS government is and will be, of vital i'm
portancc, to ourselves and the world. The per
sonal character of an elective chef is always
important, as well TO foreigners holding rela-
mons with the community which elects him, as
as to the community itself. And, if doce of
Venice, king of Poland, or stakeholder of
fioilaiEi,were magistrates, in whose election the
Whole OF Europe was deeply Interested how
much more so viii be the President of this
country! IT, therefore, VIC would be well ~o-
y'Ulcd at home if we would succeed in our
foreign politics; and, for our own benefit and
that ol the world vim!icate the great principles
oi hationai freedom, VIC must pay especial re-
gard 10 the character and capacity of our Pre-
Sident II was the object of the trainers OF our
political system, i'll making the Office an cleo
tive one that we should do so--.a conversation
IN their opinion, for the urinoiIs and disorders
winch attend on competition and rivaIsliD LET
us, then, secure to ourselves the whole benefit
oil tbIs advantage, In the choice which we are
ABOUT TO make and, lii selecting from the com
| pcutors who are now before us, inquire WHAT
| they are, rather than Wtto or from scheace
In the character of JOHN QUINCY a
AhS, there Is that which satisfies us. as to
the peculiar talents required. Educated states
man, and nurtured II the principles of denocra-
cy-cxpenenced in foreign and domestic poli
ticks Tor thirty live years, he is probably more
completely qualified To- sustain the foreign and
domestich policy Of the country than any other
mau among us. He is purely republican, and
natioDa! in lis principles and feelings; plain
and unassuTnng in his department; devoted TO
Pu0llck business, and OF unquestionable integri-
Is. He enjoys the unbuundcd confidence of
tie people. He is known and respected for
his great talents, in every part of the civilized
world and lbs election 10 the dignilicd station
III view would inspire The friends ofliberal prin
ciples, every where, with new vigour and cou- !
rage. On thcsc grounds we present him for the
suifrages oihis country'nen, in The fall persua-
sion, That he enjoys the first place in their esti
NATION OF worth, and of talent and of patriotism
Gfotius. t"Quod quisque popufus sibi ms
teIff