Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1825-10-07

y IN conceiving, how unity can be formed on
poralities, composed of integral units with nat
urai, moral rights, than with physical capacities
AS The author seems to find great difficulty in CON-
Prehendmg this plain conception, the writer will
endelvor to present him with emblem of a.na,ion
m miniature, which may perhaps be more suited to
his complete comprehension. This, he thinks, he
Will be able to do, with little aid from the author
own Imagination, which, on this occasion, is res
pectiully solicited. Let us then conceive of an
immense flock OF sheep, coneregaed Into one fold
and that each one Is the owner of the particular spot
oil earth upon which he stands; that he enters the
Told with all his physical capacities his head and
tall body and limbs,hat he has also the power OF
iocomotion at pleasure, provided he thereby in
Jures not another. This may Justly be termed, his
right TO liberty That he also retains the right TO
b'eat at pleasure provided he does no injury TO an
other This may be called the right of speech, and
OF the press. The author seems willing TO admit
the liberty OF the press, though his doctrines would
doubtlessly swallow up that, as well as all other
liberties. Suppose the father Of the flock, should
be made Lord paramount, or, If the author likes it
better, the sovereign absolute over the rest os the
flock, with his humble suite of Judicial and ministe-
rial sub dgnitaries. 1t will then be presumed. the
author can have no difficulty in conceiving of one
flock OF sheep composed out of all these integral
unies with their physical natural and moral rights
constituting pluraities. If so, then he can have
no diihculty IN conceying nation simila rly COM
posed. To aid him still further, however in n
more particular analysis. let US suppose, that the
enclosure OF the fold shall represent the geograph
zeal boundaries OF the nadon The area within
the enclosure, the territory of the nation. The
sheep upon tins area, each with the right to
the spot he stands on, the people of the ma
ton with their right 10 their land respectively The
physical organizaion and The natural, moral rights
oil the sheep, to represent those of the people ind-
N. =
sheer, limited by charter that of the government of
this Union; and he will then have before him. the
miniature emblem of tie American nation. The
whole mass taken together, will form one flock in
Khe case, and nation in the other. II is in
this sense only, that nation caG be considered am
unity. ii upon the authors notion of national u
nifty, all rights were 10 be malgamated into one
mass, TO be direced by the unlimited will of the
national government, il would constitute the most
shocking despotism the world ever saw. 1t would
reduce the American nation 10 the most quiescent,
submissive, contemplate flock OF sheep, that ever
were collected together into one fold. The writer
cannot suppress the thought that the author must
have taken up tins notion OF the immense mass of
rights the nation, from impressions made him
in his hoyish days, when indulging himself with
his playnates in repeating the following iancilul,
imaginary notions, common amongst children
90 II all the heads in this world were be made in
Il
80 If all the noses in this world were to be made in
20 one nose, what great that would be-
SC. SC.
So the author &c IL all the rights OF the American.
people were to be amagamaed into one mass,
what great of rights that would be''i! :"
the American nation possessed all this great
OF rights, what great American nation that would
bel! 90 If all this great of rights could, by
magic be AIKEN from this great American nation,
,,la L., hot
a egea,, splendid, consolidated, develish monster
OF - national' government, that would be''!. A
most terrific devil OF 90 national'' government
would it be-! possessing all capacities and proper
ties TO do good or evil; but all propensities and
tendencies 10 do evil; none 10 do good. This is
precisely such government as the author and the
disciples OF the new school would impose upon the
American people, in lieu OF the Free beautiful,
happy organization OF their governments,
made by themselves, for The protection and pre-
servation of their own rights, liberties, and happi-
ness. But the authors fear seems TO be, that
without this mnlgamation of rights, and the
limited control of the 'naiiona'' government
over them, the social compact would necessarily
be destroyed. So far from this amaganation of
rights, preventing the destruction OF the social
compact, it necessarily involves the utter destruc
ton of the social compact. 1t leaves the compact
with one party only. All compacts have least
two parties. The social compacls would thus be
left with only one paTty-to witt the governors.
They will have the whole amalsamalion of rights
The governed would become stripped of all rights,
of course; become deprived OF all interests in the
compact; and consequently, not beneficial party
10 it. Besides, what inducement would the peo-
pie, or the governed, have for entering into COM
pacts, by which they were 10 be deprived of all
-iqhts9 The writer can form idea of the authors
notion of a social compact. All written social
compacts made by the people, or the governed,
in their individual characters in the absence of the
governors-and il would be great folly their part
to give up all rights to their governors when aPpoin
,ed They have not done so: but they have given up
10 the governors only the smallest portion OF their
natural rights which can be made to suffice for go
yernmental objects. All the residue, they retain 10
themselves The surrender of that small portion
i made i'm express consideration that the governors
shall protect the governed, in the enjoyment of all
their retained rights. But, according TO the
thors notion the governors possess all rights, in
strests and possessions, independently OF The peo-
pie; and, therefore, must be relieved from the
obligation of protection to the governed alto
yether; whereas this right OF protection from
the governor, is the only conventional right,
that the governed have reserved to themselves,
or in other words, all otner conventional rights
included in. this right of protection. According to
this view Of the subject tine right OF private pro-
perty being absolutely rested in the owner, and the
governors being solemnly bound to protect the own
er in the enjoyment oft; cannot of right, violate
that obligation of protection, take from the owner
dis private property, and give it TO another. But
10 avoid these inevitable results, the author pro-
ceeds 70 make the following application OF his own
governmental principles.
Page 232, Vol. O." Put, if the general good
of the country require, that the Farmer should be
compeed, either to do without these articles, or 10
buv Them of his ellow-citizens, he has no right to
compIain of being compelled to do this for he
holds his land, upon which lie raised his corn upon
conditions that he should use it in such manner as
shall be most for the public good his right pro-