Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-04-02


1t is said to be great machine and we are told
that the People are perfect slfe-guard against
any d'sariingement init. When have they pro,
we'd so' Were the people able to preserve their
liberty, in the time of the French Convention,
Other gentlemen will tell you, that the pcorl,
are their own worst enemies. Perhaps, neither
OF these are perfectly correct. One of the Gods
OF ancient times, has told US,
''In medic tutissimus lib is.Y
These should be an intermediate conirollinv
power. The great question to be considered Is
whether any amendment ofthe constitution will
obyiate the objections allcdged against it. We
must not place too lnuch reliance OH tho worl
" People" Mr.. Taylor said, the idea occurredto
HIM, that the Federal Government was an i'm
mense maChine-that the State Governments
were the safety-vaves, to let off tie gas of ex-
elusive interests. While these safety-yalves are
kept in operation, and thisgas is thus discharged
the country will go on well enough. But when
they stop, and the gas comes to be concentrated.
there IS great danger to the whole machine.
MIR. Il. said he would conclude by telling a,
anecdotewhich occurred to his recollection, AMI
which all would probably remember .Jarue,
the Second once called on two of his B;shops.
to know If in their opinions, he had not right 10
take the property of his people as he pleased.
bishop A. lhc did not Remember their names,)
SAID he, certainly had that right-thc King was
the vice-gerent of God and he had certainly
rghtto appropriate the property of his sub
Jects as he saw tit-he might employ the mon
ana the money, as he pleased. The king: then
asken Bishop 3, what he thought of the doctrine
of his brother Bishop, "Why,n says b. g
think tie King has right TO take the prorcr.J
OF my brother a, because lac has gg::-cn it to him.
But ti.inh he has no right TO take lnine.n The
basis OF liberty is upon this point. When Won
revert to the geographical distinctions of this
country, do you think the people will display
the scrvility of Bishop Az Why is the remark
OF Bishop IL. so much praised. Because the
true doctrine is, that representation aud taxation
shall go hand in hand. The King could not
take his money, because he did not represent
HIM. This doctrine MIR. T.. applied TO the a.
mendments proposed to the Constitution, TO test
their agreement with the spirit of our Repre-.
sentative Government, sc.
MIR. Barbour, OF Virginia, then rose He
had prepared, he said, To give a silent vote ON
this question but, as the unpleasant topic of
yesterday had been brought again before the Sc
nate ne lett 1t hls dusty TO say something upon il.
Some circumstances and reflections had been in
troGGccd, TO which he conceived a reply to b.
necessary. He intended TO place the mectinr
which had been alluded to, on what he con.
ceiycd to he dcfencible ground. His remarks
would necessarily be desultory. i. But, as the
question before the Senate was upon the amend.
ments OF the Constitution, at was due to the bo-
-,
some remarks in reference thereto,
As regards the Constitution of the JTn;tol
States, Mr.. Il. said, he always approached il
with reverence in the wisdom of lis provisions.
lie saw the great source of the hap; and
prosperity OF the country. Our ancestors, who
eingrated here, brought with them that inextin-
Suishable love of freedom which enabled tbem
topass, III success, the waste of waters, and in
hoW.ing wilderness IL law the foundation of
mighty empire, whose astonishing growth and
happiness are ascribable, in great part, 10 this
instrument But, SILL deeply as he felt i'm,
pressed with the sacred cha:scter of this instr,-
nent, his reverence did not amount to idolatrv.
he knew 1T was the work ot nen that il wa
made In the infancy Of political science, and no.
iore experience IL the secrets Of SELF government
mad furnished guide. 1t was justly entitled Ia
admiration; not thai there were no errors in if.
out because 1T had so nearly answered in pract
Cal operation, al t,c purposes for which 1t was
Established. Although it was au obiccr of re-
verence, 1t should not be Of iGolatry We should
leave ourselves open to conviction of IFS de-
fects; and it behoves those, whom the poopi,
have entrusted TO look after their interests, to
proilt by experience; and, if any error presents
itself, TO correct and amend it, But he well
recollccted the old adagc, that pcopie should be
contcnted when ;hcy arc doug well lest. in
trying TO do bettcr', they should only make their
condition worse. IL is good maxim in govern
mcnt--rarticularly in legislation. When he
looked round the country, said Mr.. 3. he coulf
see no great impending evils to dread He
would moi say that he himself had not been dis
posed heretofore, to propose amendments TO The
Constitution. 1t is the natural disposition of
mankind, TO think that we can see decpcr intn
affairs than our neighbours and lie had once
thought so, IN regard to the constitution per
haps II was vanity in him to think SO. Tho
honorable gentleman from New Jersey saw 6t
10 adFlsc the Senate, some DAYS since flint tl,c
plan which he. (Nfr Barbour) had prrnoscd. had
tailed. But that plan did not proposc 4 cbanro
IN the foundation Of that compromise, which led
10 the adoption Of the Constitution. Ifhc found
1T impossible to unite This body, upon that promo
sItton, and If they rejected this proposition. bo
asked, what prospect there was Of obtaining tlt
passage OF All amendment, which was roinc ta
dlsiocate the most important parts of the govern
Tnent, by changing tho relative power between
the large and small States, in the election of the
Chief Magistratc' In his opinion, Mr.. Il. said.
1t was unnecessary TO consume the tire of Con-
gress, when II was quite impossible To come 10
any result Upon dis subject There are now
two distinct propositions before tho Senate.
The one proposes 10 divide the states into DIG,
tracts; and, when the election is net made IN
the first instance it is TO be carried TO the two
Houses ofCo1Grcss. The other eivcsfbe cleo
ton ofPresidcnt directly 10 the Pcoplc.apd. in
the event OF failure 10 choose, by the House Of
Representatives voting By states. Now, what
rs the spirit of the Coz sttution ? 1t is uariIv
Federal and partly National. The influence of
the states would be DESTROYED entirely. as soycr.
eign and independent states, BIZ cutting them nm
INTO districts. Tho great state of Now York