Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1825-09-20

any government in the civilized world. The poll
teal fasbionables OF the u S. bid fair 10 make
perimenis upon it. This doctrine is so msniiesty
absurd and abhorrent, that reasoning sgains, it,
would impart to il, respect, that it deserves not
II may, however, not be improper, here, to pre-
sent TO the people, the doctrine of their con-
siitution, in condemnation OF this monstrous 20.
vernmental pretension. The doctrine, in substance.
is, that the government of I" this Union" has a
right to take the private property from the ndivi-
dual owner, without any compensation, whatever,
I" COR the public good.'' The 7ih amendment to
| the constitution IS in tie following words:
No person shall be held to answer tor capital,
or otherwise Infamous crime unless preentinen
OF indictment by Grand Jury; except in cases
arising in the land naval forces, or in the mill
tin, when in actual service in time oil war, or pub
lie danger; shall any person he subject for the
same offence, TO be twice put in jeopardy OF life or
limb; shall be compelled, in any criminal case, to
be witness against himself; nor be depriv e! OF life,
liberty, property, without due process oil law;
nor shall pirate property b. taken for public
use, ,oithom just COMPENSATORY
This acknow ledsment OF The right Of property in
the individual owner, and the necessity OF its per-
feet security in his hands, believed 20 be the
practical doctrines oil every government In Europe.
EIndeed, the security of private property is of
the great ends for which governments were insti-
Iiutcd. Wre ched must be the political condition
of every government and people, where contrary
l doctrines prevail. The security of private pro-
perty has at all times been deemed essential 10
tio.al wealth and prosperity, by every intelligent
Ade- pot in the civilized worli. SoveTeigns abso-
lue have often been known, to surrender their IA
lvorite proec and capricious wlnms-great sacrf-
ces for creigns absolute, TO their sacred re-
jgard for the security OF private property! Two
hmemorable examples oil tits concession will hcrebe
lgivcn. Tie following anecdole is told OF Frederic
the I'd OF Prussia:
"Whe the King was laying out his garden at
Sans Souci, mill was in his way and he ordered
tie miller be treated with for tie purchase OF it;
the miller was 10 h TO sell his mil, and the King
offered to build him another in any part of the
country lie should choose, but all in vain; the
miller would not part with the old family mill.
DON'T you know, said the King, that il please, I
may take your mill, turn YOU out and not pay you
farthing for it? Ay. replied the miller, that you
might If there was no such thing supreme
court of justice at Berlin. The King laughed hearth
ly, left him his mill, and altered the whole plan of
his GARDEN
: The following of Napoleon, late Emperor of
France:
Note from O'Nlera's voice from St. Helena
pages 233, 234.
"Soon alter the birth of young Napoleon, his
J father contempa. ed building superb palace near
. ly opposite 10 he Pont de Icana; which was to
have been called lie Palais du Roi de Rome (the
e King oil Rome palace,) he government conse-
quea,ly endeavo purchase all the houses stu
= built. Upon The spo OF ground, which, according
!" he plan, thai had been traced out was to form
the extreme right of the front OF the palace there
- was small house belo cling 10 poor cooper,
! named Bonlvani, which, including the ground,
upon which 1t stood was not AT The highest estima-
u. iion worth more Than thousand francs; the owner
VI demanded ten thousand francs. II referred 10
' tie Emperor, " no ordered hat It should be pur-
- chased al that price--when the proper persons
waited upon tie cooper TO conclude the agreement,
~ he SAID that upon reflection, lie should not sell il
l. for less Than thirty thousand iraos. II was refer
T. rel again to Napoleon, who directed that it should
al be given 10 hlm--when hey came to conclude the
business, the cooper Increased his demand TO forty
~ thousand. The architect greatly embarrassed;
u and did not know how TO act, or in what manner
IL he could again venture TO annoy the Emperor on
'h the subject Al he same time he knew thar it
e was impossible 10 conceal any thing from him; he
a. therefore addressed him again on the subject Ce
20 drole la rous abuse, lie said, pourant il NY pas
L d'aure moyen: allons il faut payer. This fellow
takes advantage, however, there is other means
nc we must pay ii. The architect returned to the
poeoS sSishaans sf y snsaad
" said I" &c. homme la est un miserable q, H. -,
- ache'terai point la mai.on ct ellie res,era comno 49,
81 mo- ument lie mon respect pour les loix (tbe man
knave, viii not purchase the Louise at anv rste.
ana II snail remain as monument of v,y ,ss'
- Pect for the iair.")
re fr;<
iul' pfefosierous despolsm, from the folIo,,;n
- considerations 60 IL il were not So the social %
pac' could not be sustained. Government, could = -.
;, oe supported Ii by social Compact the optbor
- means tie constitution OF the u. S. This doc,r;no
81 lar rom sus aiming i, reduces il 10 a nulli, at ,
, 'i'sie oio". MS social compact, therefore could
- no. he sustained If The doctrine were so THO &c.;
Ter cannot divine what tie au nor means b, H.
Term, social compact" here used and he bs
i"i,eu 10 give ms n meaning of it, The yvri,er
i "i, therefore endeavour TO give the true meaning
: vi ',e ERIN, social compact" a &c social COM
Pac' may be either implied or written Sou,o
. political economists deny altogether ,bc re,,;, e
implied social compacts TLey say, the, are moro
= creatures oil the Imagination Withou, en,ar
In'o an ex NINA ion OF this point the writer ,;';
.oii"e DIS deiInilIon to written social compoc,s
\ a." "'"'eh social c'mpacts founded upon IN.
fundamental principle, that the neo,e r. IL VIC
ofisihri Character, are the source of all r;L,E,
poiiicai power: That all rghtful political no,'s-
mas us origin In the individual rights of man go
{ i 1r,ie' upon MN In bis creation by his God
r people, when associated for the purpose of
forming social compact agree with each o,L
that certain portion Of the natural riob,s -,
TO be specified in written charter shan 10 :eh'
up as the foundation of government. for the ,','.
Pose vi aiordlng protection TO those rights ,,b;L
"e people by their social compact detetn;na -,
I retain 10 themselves, for their ovvn exa.a,
enjoyment, IN their original native cbarac,srs ~
I spectiVely. In the execution OF this comn.o, ~,
people become necessarily divided into t,vo ral,;.
'ne governed and the governor The basis Of e,s,
compact consists In the original native richie
vi Individual man. The great object of the socisI
compact, Is the protection of indi vi,l,,aI
which the individual has not the power ~, IT,
individual character. The governed thereto -; ''''
lated with the governors to the foIl.,,.; o. Po-'