Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-05-11


pie of its government; and this necessity, which
sparns all control, converts this question be
seen IN the scque like every other matter OF human
institution and poty, into question Of sheer ex-
pediency--of sound discretion. 1t is the negleGt
oversight, of this almost sclf-event TRUTH that has
led to so much ai'surdty and misery in governments
protesting to be free; which has kept the despotic
forms Of rule Cor misruc) in counenance. Nlen cam
not live upon abstIactions--focd in the abstract will
no support the body than abstract religion will
noursh the SOUL As the one (the lust) does by in
evitable conclusion lead to atheism; SO does the
other to agrariap law-and agrarian law is anar-
chy that is, no law all; according to any received
definition of the term. Both end in death. No
we must have something solid-Fo0d- viii, not do
We must have bacon beef, or bread--ayc, and the
bread of eternal life, cr we perish. We ask not
give us to dTiati' bnt give water, or give us
wine; give us that cup, of whic!, he who dIinketh
not unrghteously, shall "quaf Immortality and
JOY"
u do not put abstract ideas wholly out of my
l"Guestion, because well know that under that
"na;ac should dismiss principles; and that with
out the guide and light Of sound, we-unslerstood
"pruciplcS, al reasoning, in politics, rs in every
''thing else, would he only z confused tumble OF
Particular facts and details, Without tie means
"dfawing out any OF theoretical practical con-
"ciusion. n statesmen differs from q professor ia
ar mtrerStty: the latter has only the general view
" OF society the former, the sta tesmau, has
Der OF circumstances TO combine with those gene
"ral ideas, and to take into his consideration. Cir
cunsiances are infinite, infinitely combined,
!. are variable and transient; and he who does
take them into consideration, is not Gus, but
Stufk nad-ddf 0pcrom at can TatiOf,e lRydniGt--
"he is metaphysC;lly mad. A statesman, never
losing sight OF principles, is to be guided by cir
"cunstances; and judging contrary to tine cxigen-
cies OF the moment, he may ruin his country for
lever. 1 never govern myself by distractions and
"universals. Crude, unconnectod truths are in the
"world OF practice what ialscheods are in theoly."
Accordingly the first modification of this great
principle IS the Indispensable qualification of n GER
tain age in tie party claiming exercise the right
oil suffrage lie who is judged unfit 10 be trust
ed with the management of his own affairs has been
rightly deemed unfit 10 manage those of the common
wealth, and the right of stuff &c and eligibility have
always been considered as veriible terms; in
fancy strictly speaking Is incapable the line must
lie drawn somewhere. The next modfca ton, al
most universally admitted, is that of Politics
have been wisely put out of the province Of women
In every well regulated stats. And wherever wo-
men are complimentcd with share in public bust
ness 1t is at the expense of their proper influence in
society. Accordingly, Madame de Siacl observes
"iot ''erc is no civilized country III the world where
women are treated with less real Difference than in
rance, where they are permitted, by the state of
manners, to take share i'll all sorts of business
me vauncd liberty of the in Paris, that nara
use o. women, 1t was called she declares IN be
Tic result of Indifference on the part Of the men:
adding with her usual talent for Illustration, and
Characteristic depth of though) 'the Turk who
shuts up his wife, proves least BY that very con-
'ouct' how necessary She is TO happiness. will
venture to say, contrary 10 the received opinion.
mat france has been that county of the world
wherc women are the least happy at heart.n-
When they become the rivals OF men and mix in
business, thy viii fare like men. What conduct
cd Madame Rol;,nd to the scaffoid: The wrctch-
ntN In Tho L rfTF,
were not respected on account OF their sex. Women
consult their safety we'll their character, and
consequently their happiness in being removed fom
tie possibility of guilt of high treason or libel IL s
N these cases, where politics minglc with law that
inc sword OF Justice is welded too often by passion
t'at spares neither age sex, nor its own blood
lady would look no where greater hisa dvan,age
than III the pillory, and man. the tyrant man. will
not allow her to usurp his privileges, and at the
same time plead her own. Our Virginian matrons
ana Their fair daughters will be the last of the dos
cenoahts OIL Eve to murmur at an exclusion, which
IS indeed a high and honora Die privilege. They
would as soon claim right To bear arms. and serve
their country i'll the field. They can confi1e in
ieir husbands and fathers, and sons ant, brothers
font'cs and war they leave to men, that they ma :,
discharge duties incompatible with these pursuits
out nor less important to the well being of society
30 long as our matrons and maitens are content I,
ne ilne women, and and do no, try TO be fine ladies
so long will
"Domesfic Happiness, he o,a3v bliss
" Paradise that has s,trcired he fall"
be our envied lot But if beardinr schools aud
accohlpiishInens, that is say, drawing hideous-
~, playing on the piano, or harp vilev DANCING in
AWKWARD imitation of fgurante of the onera aud
chatterlaS pof0ts under the name of French. If
'neSc should supcrccdc the mothcrly education and
'ne household duties, then will matter little under
"ii,' FORM Oh government we live: for the virtue
'"l Siouio uphold the commonwealth will have fled
RON IT'S last reiuge-the female BOSOM Wculd r.
God that all our dangers were couallv re,,oto o..
iaoies VIII never Jay aside the needle 10 shoulder
inc innskct or exchange the smile before vbirb =
world IS weak, for the Inereiricious arts OF !aza
el. ~9
IL IS not pretended that there arc not son,e wo-
.'e" inter 10 preside IN council, head an army
'nah some Statesmen " generals that the world has
seeh--so there are many minors more capable of
conducting private or public business than MANY
J oil iuli age, who never arrive at years of dis
crcuon' l he business of the politician however is
MOI ike that OF the mathematician, to arrive at alb
s"iute certaintyt is enough for him if his rule be
sooii III ,hc general in the far greater number Of
cases. He aims at good average. So courts of
law, instead of deciding each case upon its merits
lay down certain rules, drawn from previous dcci-
SONS winch arc applied, whether or not they exact
~ Ut the case in hand ;-otherwise the law itself
general rule, mot adapted to extreme or even nar,i
culdr cases would lie at the arbitrary discretion of
the judge.
The next qualification to which with us1 the
broad abstract principle Unnatural right must sub
mt IS that OF colour. Perhaps it ought to have
oeeh stated first, and so it wouldhave been, but that
INFANCY III Tie strict sense of she term, is physically
incapable Of exercising the right of suffrage and the
sex ia5Gf under moral and physical disability al
most as great; and it was more convenient 10 class
minors ana Yoincn together. On this branch of the
SUBJECT, argument viii be considered almost as an
insult to the UNDERMINING Of q Nirrnian urhntn-