Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1825-06-28


D., that the declaration must be understood 10 in
Join frequent con> entions, in all events, without
regard to the necessity the oXpediency OF them
Did the convention Of 1916 intend TO adopt the |
basis of civil poiy. the principle of instability,
change, revolution? Ii is an ntial quality IN
the definition of republican government, that it is
q government of fired and certain iatcS not go
vcrnment ofnere tciH, whether exercised by one
or many The people in their highest sovereign
caplcity, are as competent TO the abrogation OF
every civil institution and every individual posses
sion, as to the slightest and most nconsequential
change. Sovereignty, whenever 1t acts, must act
with absolute sway: IT supersedes all laws. all
rights its power is coextensive with its wlll is
majesty is supreme. a power so awful majes
" so dread should reserve its interpostion for
OF extreme necessity and the frequent recur-
of such necessity, would be an inialble sign
of approaching dissolution.
Equally novel and equally wonderful to my ILL.,
instructed mind, is the commentary that has been
made OF tire tLiId article OF the BIZ Of Rights
The text is this: that government IS, oS OUght 10
be, instituted for The common benefit, pTOtec-
don and security, of the people, nation or
community: OF all The various modes and forms
of government, that Is best, which Is capable oil
producing the greatest degree of happiness and
safety, ard is efiec,ually secured against the
danger of mal-administraiion: and that when any
= government shall be found inadequate contra
Is hath dubitablc, unalienable and ndeioasible
right, TO reform, alter or abolish it, in such
shall be judged most conducive to the
public veal MIR. Mercer tears from the con-
text, the words, that government Is or ought to
b e Instituted for the common benefit; and thence
IN crs that the article requires perfect equality
OF representation. He might Just well have in
iersed, that erery iring som should participate
equally in tie administration of public affairs.
DraS- him 10 al he context. and q observe.
that the words he quotes, are only solemn decara-
| ion of the duty OF all governments, however con-
suted, 70 besow their parental care to the welfare
| OF each and every citizen; and that they are not
more applicable to the free men of this common
wealth. than to heir wives and iniany children; not
more, indeed, than the humbest slave; nay, the
coEvic,s in the Peni.entiary. All, bond or free,
are entitled to protection; the vilest criminal i,
entitled to deus nd that justice be executed in mer-
c.. | pay him 10 observe farther, that, without
tic least regard to theoretical principles OF any
kind, this article OF the Bill Of Rights points oul
attention TO the practical operation and effects o
government, the true only test of good so
verEmeut. | ask no more than that the constu-
ton, which George Mason frame /, shall be judy
ell by the test which his W isdom announced AS to
the indlhiaO!e, unalenabe, and lndeieasibe RICH
oil a majority OF the community, to reform, alio
or abolish its gov crnmunt, in such manner a:
shall lie judged most conducive TO the public
weal; | believe no man in this alton ever denieC
the lawulness OF Re, rm, or ofRevoulion, when
e.er occasion may req ire either. | have, how ever
always denied the eXpediency of any reform of ou
institutions, in any mode. Bur our present que.-
ion is, whether it be no; OF most dangerous an,
perncious consequences and, in The pre-ent circum
stances of the republic, wholly uniustifa bic a.
tempt Reform upon Revolution principles?
shall not repeat what III, self have said, con-
corning the principle of irregular associations, or
Ill
thori:ies: will speak, in other ords but tos,
OF Gen. Washington. Tie basis of our polica
systems, Is tie right of The peope to make anc
alter their constitutions oil government-but the
constitution, which at any inc exists, unit
changed by an explicit and authentic act of tht
whole people, is sacredly obligatory upon all
The very idea of the pow and RI hit of tie peo
pie to establish GOV eminent presuppo-es the duty
OF every individual 10 obey the established govern
ment. All distractions TO the execution of IT,,
laws, all combinations and associations, uRGeJ
7chaterer plausible character, iCith real deSi.I
10 direct control. rOUleff5qJJ The constituted
authorities, are destructive of this lundamental
! principle, and of fatal tendency. They serve G
organize faction, 10 give it artificial and ex-
traordlnarv force, to put in the pace OF he de-
legated will oil Tie Ion tie will of party offer
small bat artlul and enterprising minority OF Tie
community; and according TO The alternate triumph.
o! different parties, make the public admins
traoA, the mirror of the lll-cogcer ed and incon-
gruous projects Of faction rather than the ORGAN o.
consistent and wholesome plans d. es' ell by COM
mon councils and modified by mutual interests
Now, IN order 10 determine the lrue political
character of The projected Staunion Convention,
lie me ask an honest answer to the following plain
questions. Whether such a convention he not an
association Of indiv iduals unknown 10 the laws,
81 81 an organized association, in tie s,rCtes sense
! OF Inc phrase--organized upon the principle Of re-
! presentation! Whether il be not the real design
OF those who projected, and Of all who have oi,ed
~ The scheme, TO produce BY force of combination
and organization, an influence on the regular deli
beraons and c,ion OF the Legislature which Tie.
despair OF predicting without such combination and
Organization: Whether II be not the real design.
under the plausible preleXt OF promoting saluary
reform, TO direct, ar TO control, or 10 counteract
or 10 awe, tie eXis Ing Legislature OF he common
veal h! ii these ques ions be answered in he ne
sailve what Is tie design and end of the proposed
| convention II they be answered in the alirrna-
/ i've how shall ihe authors and promoters oil the
| scheme, escape The awful sentence of condeiuna-
ton, which has been denounced against all such
enterprises! Mr.. Mercer seems 10 suppose, that
this last solemn warning of TVdshngton, relates
| to permanent associations, like those democratic
societies, engeudered by the spirit of iacobinisn
and designed to awe the American government. or
raifer to influence the policy OF our administration
no. to transient associations, like the Stanton
Convention, designed to affect by single shock,
theveTy frame of the government. But cannot
find, that the FareceH 4dyeSs makes any distinc-
non 6ctw cen transient and permanent associa-
TONS. And. as TO the rest, to suppose, th.t the
warning was intended to dscountenance and sc fro n
out oil existence those democratic societies, Or
gained TO il uence the course of ordinayy admin
istration, and not to dscounl enancc associations
organized and designed TO reform or rcvolutionise
the constitution, IS to suppose, that The father OF