Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1825-12-06
CO.3IJTU.NICRTED.
A" POLITICAL. DISC UISTPJONS


Under the above title writer in the Richmond
h"quirer has Tor several months past, profe.sedy
oeeh writing commentaries or criticisms upon Raw
mond's Elements of Political Economy The
numbers have been characterized with no small
hare OF asperity and viteperation /; but as the
principal doctrines attacked, not 10 be found in
''r RS work, the writer has wrought himself in
to fury AID spent his strength for nought
The following is quotation from The S,h No.
published on the 9Th S.yt., 1925.
" The following are laid down by the author
Mr.. raymond as fundamental laws, without
which no right would exist in the general govern
meat 10 pass laws for protecting manufactures or
IN other words TO pass he tariff law Ist That
,he nation Is an unity--and the legislature the
head OF the nation. I'd. That the legislators are
irresponsible. 3d. That they are unrestrained in
lie exercise of their Legislative discretion; by anv
o'her influence than thai which is derived from the
laws, oy which God governs the world 4th
nat the legislators possess The same rights over
| the people, which the General does over the sol
| dierS OF an army. 9TH That the people hive no
more rights than the law allows them I'd this law
$50 be pronounced by Gods viceserents or irres-
ponsioe legislators. 9th. That wl,i-t the riaGt TO
lie Is natural right, the right of prope,tv is CON
Venlonai 7ih. That all properly beloncs to the
nation OF which the legislature is the head and
none To lie people IN their indvd lal char ci err
S'h. INA government has the right to djsooe. Of
The proceeds OF the labor Of every indi, id,,,I 10
socety and that the individual has no i,bt what
ever 10 dispose OF the proceeds oil his own labor
and by consequence, that the soy ernuent has =
righ to take from every individual any no,,ioo ,f
The property, ofwhich the individual ma, be mo-
se7sed, without compensation therefor 9Th That
every individual labors for the community. and
lot for himself'
% reading the above quotation every person who
had noi read MIR. Rs work would conclude that
ne iad I"ih down each of those propositions in IT,
f'dem UerbiS, - fundamental law what then
viii be the surprise of the reader when he is inform
Cd that 30 far Is TINS from being true. that sa We The
lFsi and the six propositions, Mr. r. not only I,a
moi iald bcm down In terms, but he has not laid
oOWn any fundamental laws or PRINCIPLES from
"ncn they can with propriety be inferred or to
which they beli the slightest resemblance.
MI IL does indeed say thst a nation is a u7aity.
W IN oiher words that nation - one nation and
no, many nations, and that the Government or Ie-
sisatufc Possesses the supreme or IegisIative ooo
er, and is therefore " The head of tbs 49,, >,
Ihese propositions are 10 Obvious and common.
pace mat we presume Mr. r. does not claim fie
merit OF originality for them, altho' this Viroioi,
cIlic mas attempted, with such success a. usi,ll.
attends those who attempt to overthrow self.eviy
cent propositions, 10 overthrow them, Mir. II. al
70 ans mat our light 10 life is natural right,
" !" oner words mat we are indebted for our ex-
-. . '" "" CIeNOr and not TO the ciVil
''s",u"ons OF the country. If the critic doubt.
ms ne must remain Ia doubt for reasoning would
nO' aVali 70 remove his doubts. Mr.. II. also holds
tDat 10 social community our right 10 specific
properly Is conventional right. and deuends en-
iifely on the laws of the couotrv
That mankind have natural underlined right 10
underlined property, is no doubt true but in The
Social state our right to specific property depends
e'N.c'gIslye'y upon the laws Of the country. Were
ms virginia critic required to show his right 10 his
pinla'ion, be would in defiance of his own Poli,i
ca Di|4nlsinons, as readily as any one else, pro-
secured il to him.
We have resd Mr RS work more than once.