Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1824-05-08

labor, and, that it would be wrong for
any other individual TO deprive him OF
it. Hence il ID seen, that the right OF
property, is the RICH o. nature--that it
is the Gift of God to man in his original
creation. The origin Of property,
therefore, is in nature--and that the
foundation Of this right when brought
into practice, and ascertained by mans
innate sense of right and wrong, is &C..
cupancy and labor. Hence the deriva.
ton Of mans individual natural right
to the proceeds Of his own labor. -
When man entered into the social com
pact. and agreed to form government,
did he consent to give 10 20 the govern.
ment this natural right to the whole
proceeds of his labor. or did he consent
to give up so much only, as might be
found necessary to pay The government.
tai licensed agents, corporations for
,hsir serrices2 Certainly man in his
individual character, never intended to
strip himself OF mis- natural right to the
whole of the proceeds Of his own labor,
nor did government want the whole
for any beneficial, Legitimate object.
When man then vent into a state Of
government, he retained his natural
right over the whole OF the proceeds Of
his own labor; except SO much thereof,
as would suffice TO pay all the govern.
mental officers and agents. So far from
mans giving up to government, his ma.
tursl right to the whole Of his proper.
ty: that he consented 10 give up the
smallest part thereof, that could suffice
for governmental pnrposes--thatsm email.
est part too was given up IN considers
ton of an implied agreement on the
part of the government, 10 secure to
man in bis individual character the en-.
joyment of all the rest, at his own in
d'vidual pleasure. So far then from
the governments possessing the right
full control over this surplus of indisi-
dual property, it stands pledged to Sc.
cure the individual in his own exc lusiVe
enjoyment of it. The constitution Of
the u. S. confirms this doctrine in every
line Of it, which relates to che subject.
The two words compensation and sera
vice, are invariably coupled throughout
the whole Of that valuable and d;sre.
garded instrument. Whence then the
derivation Of the governmental right. to
take from one man she surplus of the
proceeds Of his own labor, and give it
to another?-neilher rendering public SER
vice; and both being equally entitled TO
the protection Of the government in the en-
joyment Of all their individual rights? No
Legitimate government, still less the CO.
vernment OF the u. S; being govern.
ment of chartered, limited powers, has any
right whatever 10 iEtermeddIe with the
surplus proceeds Of mans labor, after pay.
ing the public contributions: and any en-
croacbmeDt upon this scored guarantee to
the individual by government, is aspalpa.
bic and uniusti6able usurpation. But the
Tapacious hand Of government, "feeling
power, and forgetting right" has at all
times seized upon this surplus OF the pro.
ceeds Of labor, for the accomplishment OF
its capricious, proaiga,e, and mischieVous.
schemes. Instead OF the government OF
The U. States acting in the independent
spirit oil its own political intelligence, as
sertDg, and proclaming TO the world, this
great principle; and thus irrevocabIy hx'
ing this boundary limit tor the protection
oil individual rights, against governmental
entertainments, it has servilely borrowed
from G. Britain the worst OF her political
schemes, for the unprIncipled usurpation
upon this right; and none worse, than the
monopolizing Tariff bill, now proposed 10
be borrowed.
If then the government OF the U. States
possess not the right to take the surplus
proceeds OF The labor of one man, and give
them to another, OF il such right be even
questionable, whilst the wrong amongst
individuals is stonsbe; and if the
provisions of the bill should tend to pro.
Guce this effect directly or indirectly; still
more, it they should tend to increase our
relative dependence upon foreign nations,
as will be demonstrated hereafter, il ought
TO drop from the hands of its .eontrivers,
and supporters; however enamoured they
may heretofore have been OF their own de.
lusive anticipations OF its beneficial effects
upon society. This subject, involving, as
conceive, the most interesting enquiries,
respecting the risbtful basis OF all leglI.
mate governments, and having, for the
most obvious reasons, heretofore received
but little attention from the political econo-
mists, may be hereafter resumed; provided
it should please God, to grant me the
small portion Of health, which would SUI
flee for that purpose.
WIN. B. GILES.
Wiswnm, Amelia County, "a.
March 81, 1924