Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-07-30
From Mc Pros;sleace (2. IN .1on,n,,.

Fton, tie Prosi,iencc (R. ~ To.o-n1l.
| ~ The approaching election of President o.
| the United States Is one the result or which i,
expected with anxiety, by the people, net ONLY
of this country, but the whole civilized world
Europe and South America. paoplcd, as hiStor,
| informs us, by descendants OF the same original
race of mc1-in moral fociiig and civil AMI
religious institutions, preserving something O:
| their primitive Casts-conucctcd with cacl, o.
iher b, til tie, orco;nmcrc in some instances
by near affinity of blOod-in others by close ST.
iniiitudcs o govcinInent-in all, by sy>jem al
international law whose authority is acllnow-
LEGGED by all-the domestic transactions Of on,.
of the most considerable members of this great
society cannot be viewed with unconcern bv
the others.
w hen We consider the Importance OF the fun
damcntai and all cngiossing question which this
society OF nations must, in the course of cen
turyto come, determine among themselves: per
haps by arms; perhaps by the power of reason
alone; W neither municipal government shall
proceed from, and he supported by and in the
inohe most agreeable to, the will Of each com
munity; or whether the viii of any one man or
body on men. less than majority, in each, shall
dictate IN these particuars-Whcn we repeat.
me Importance of this great qucsiion--to the
=. Statcs-to Amcrica-to Europe, is duly con-
s'iercd. the approaching election is, truly, a
| matter ct great 'pith and moment"
These moral and physical relations of indi
viduais o! the human species, whicharc common
TO al! OF them, dictate to them that rule wlicf,
we call the LAW or NATrRE.-The law Of M
lure Is Tie basis OF MUSicfr.iL LAW, a rule a.
dopted by the consent Of Individuals i'm society
FOR the government of their society; and of PiJE-
LICK or NATIONAL law, rule adopted by the
consent of societies for the regulation of their
of,
sincss is TO deiucc the DEMOCRATIC principle of
municipal government from this common foun-
dation oil all other law, THE LAW or NATURE
This law, dictated by those common relations
which the Creator has established among ind;
VIduais OF the human species, is no other than
the law OF God, himsclf-That this is the case
we are assured, by the temporal happiness
which our observance of its requirements So
cures, and by that eternal happiness which re-
yclation has promised us, as further eucou
ragc,ncnt TO obedience.
What are IFS requirements, That all
should 1--we Justly. But this Is impossibIe. with,
out political society. Men are crc1fc.I unn-
quail IN bodily and mental powers Withou, 50.
cictv, the strong woull prevail over the weak
uncut II, the cunning would circ,lenvenf
the simple Society, then, is the continuation
OF the weak and simple against the strong ana
culn'ng' TO socurcthc rights of the many. a.
rIrr!,fS
which, by the law ofnature, belong cnvaIly 10
all, and cannot, without violence of thot I,w
De enjoyed in greater measure BY one and =
smaller measure by another. Those riobts oro
all comprchcndcd in the liberty of purs1ir.o orr
own happiness. by any mode which docs M,
prevent, diminish or destroy the happiness Of o.
Tiers
The absurd and ridiculous doctrines of Fill
,IcF 'aFe lons since, been. exploded bv tI,c
sGnt OF reason. Those doctrines, by claiming
'or kings all Infcasibic and sacred right of ro
Verlne.t, made them the enemies of their own
subjects The modern doctrine of Ieritrnacv
more absurd and Ridiculous, is also more da1-
gorous.-By claiming for kings the RIGHT of re-
Euidtilig all municipal government If makes
tnei'i' III TACT, the enemies of the human race.
Such is the question which has hoo, st,,..e,
by the kings of Europc-not whether tl,o ~
ci'ncry ofnunicipai governments shall ar sl,u |
NOT DC purely democratic III IFS form and o,cr,-
uons; but whether the individuals of o,cl,
community shall or shall not prescribe. s,,u,,o
ImPe'7o, WHAT IFS form and operations sbaIi he.
IT teoI''rdIcS, not only the free governments
r'' ''e "lonarchres, themselves, which have
been created by the will of corn,nnr;,;os r,
says, not only that tho people shalt NO, 49,
governments ON the principle of rcprnso,tat;,,,
bui That they have right TO cro.tc Co...
Incnts at all II affects the yasI so,.io, ~
ons composed Of Europeans and the dcsccd,,',s
OF Europeans in America, amounting r., ,o,,ae,
u'an tw" hundred millions ofindividuais and !,
cannon be definitely settled, without the nn;ycr,
90, P'eFa'cncc and acknowledgment of ono nf he
alternatives! VI ''ie " It's
VI follows as a conorarv from f,o c,uo.-..
f"nciples, that the whole power of e,,,o
ne equal to The attainment of The object or H., j.,
'u'ut'on; and that such power shond he On 90,
ercl5ch as TO secure that object 10 IFS most rso
WI and practicable extent. The oboc, bo;,,..
ne good Of the whole, the power, or means h.,
t %non u IS to be attained cannot be 50 safsIy
l0igcd IN or so benefcially exercised bv n.,y,
OF the community, as in and bv the Who'll e., r.
as individuals commonly cousnit what tI,oy decr,,
the'r own interests Of the whole while a r,r,
woDld consult the interests Of part only. II ;s /
pam, therefore, that democracy is Iegit;,nsto
consequence, drawn from natural principIcs."