The central gazette. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1820-1827, 1825-08-20
aEGULUS-NO. v.

Twill now proceed to enquire into the RIGHT OF
SUFFRAGE, IN THE ELECTION CONVEN.
TON, BODY ToDEvIsE oRREroRM AEON.
STITUTION
And first, what is a CONSTITUTION? Let us en-
deavor, before we embark in the discussion of the
above question, to annex a definite meaning TO this
word
That precept'of wisdom has already been under
consideration, which requires of the sovereign peo
pie to commit the immediate exercise of govern.
ment to Htpfed number of individuals This is
her hrst nunction with regard to the form of pov-
e'nneHt; TIC nature OF which, by an anterior and
equally imperative prscept, the people bound to
INK by an express act of their OWN will Indeed
compliance with it is not only o6kgatoyy but ana
uo'da6ie or this order of things If not established
ny an express act of the people, inevitably establish
esitseN If the people, instead of deliberately placing
the rens of government into the lands of individuals
chosen for the trust, attempt to guide them with
their own; those reins, sooner later and after
more or less misgovernment and rchy newt ABLY
tdH into the hands of individuals. The only differ
encc which this inevitable tendency Of the i,n,ne9
are exercise Of g0ver"nen' 70 s-'tIn ;rto tbe ~.
OF few, admits of, is that where the people obser,.
the rules OF wisdom those few designated by the
best reason OF the people; where those rules are DIS
regarded, they are designated by blind chance.
But whatever course be pursued to the desisua
ton of these individuals whether they be chosen.
or whether the majority suffer them to be selfeiect
cd THE GOVERNMENT, (although some idea of its
proper degree and ends, is inseparabie from every
delegation, or federation, Of power,) whether ex
Pressly entrusted msurped, may be so in q rague
underlined sense without precise. express under.
standing with regard to the degree of power that is
to be exercised and the ends which it is to be
Piled Now, from two defects inherent in the ma
ture OF mdn,-selfshness of heart, and fabiv of
reason,-defeCts, which, in some kind Of combiaa.
ton or other. enter into the character Of erery nd
vldnaI; the commission OF power to man is ever t.
tended with the twofold danger L. That he will ex
crcise greater degree Of power is contemplated
2. That, whatever be the degree of power which he
does exercise, he will apply j. TO ends that are not
just This danger is insepaTably attached to every
delegation OF power; and is, obviously, greatest
where tnaC power Is nndeFncd. Where it is so, we
may expect, with practical certainty, that those
abuses will be extended far the individuals nos
sessed of such power dare to push them History
does indeed, furnish few cheering exceptions to
the truth OF this proposition but unfortunately not
in efficient number to affect it, as the basis of
sound and necessary rule of conduct. Whereve,
an indefinite power of government is entrusteJ-s
power to be exercised, in degree, and for objects
determined by the will Of the trustces--the hes,
known principles in the nature Of man, supported
by the experience Of all governments, make mani
fest the truth, Mat IL toiH lie misappfied; that so
far those who WELD 1t dare it will be turned from
its true ends: and applied to the protection and en-
conraSemcrt, in themselves and their fayorites Of
the very vicious principles in our nature which it is
the first object OF government to repress
In his account of the Saxon CONSTITUTIONS ne
it is commonly called, but which shall here call
covERSM EMT, withholding the title constitution.
for reasons that will presently APPEAR Hume, on
the subjcc OF the King, tells us that Ills auto,
depended more on his personal qualities than ON his
station" AT bottom, this means nothing rr,ore
than that the powers Of that Office were ar6itra,v
"oe srriSeiy dehncd; and the author might have
added, that wherever the arbitrary form of govern
ment prevails, this mu be the case not OF the King
only, but OF every functionary whatsoever In eve
ny community where vague, underlined power of
government IS established, the relative powers exer
ci'ed by individuals succeeding each other in nom;
nalfy, the same Office, will (other circumstances
remaining the same,) always depend on their reIa
live PEI sonal qualities BY introducing one addi
Onal element, to wit the political character of the
particular people; this truth becomes extenIcd so
as to apply not only to the relative powers exercise
W. hin the same nation, by different individuals IN
n0'H'"dHy, the same Office, but TO The relative cha
racte's o1 the several governments of different ma
'ions. la every patton where the power of govern.