Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-07-02


the modern exposition, that article was intend
ed to injoin frequent recurrence to princi-
Piles, paramount to these fundamental laws,
and incompatible with them; to command,
that frequent conventions be held to reform
or change the fundamental laws. 1t this be
the true meaning of that recurrence to funda.
mental principles, inculcated by the Bill 81
Rights; then, as the frequency ofsuch recur-
renee is injoined, as positively as the recur-
renee itself, it follows unavoidably, that the
declaration must be understood to injoin ire.
quent conventions, in all events, without re-
gard to the necessity or the expediency OF
them. Did the convention of 1776 intend to
adopt as the basis of civil policy, the principle
of instability, change, revolution 1t is an es-
sential quality in the definition of republican
government, that it is a government of fIed
and certain laos, not government OF mere
,iH, whether exercised by one or many. The
people in their highest sovereign capacity, are
as competent to the abrogation of every civil
institution and every individual possession, as
to the slightest and most inconsequental
change. Sovereignty, whenever it ACES, mus
act with absolute sway: it supercedes all laws,
all rights; its power is co-extensive with its
will; its majesty is supreme. power SO aw
full, majesty so dread, should reserve its IN
terposition for cases of extrenie necessity; and
the frequent recurrence of such necessity,
would be an infalIible sign of approaching dis
solution.
Equally novel and equally wonderful to my
ill.instructed mind, is the commentary that has
been made on the third article of the Blu O
Rieht,-T1e text is this: that government IS,
on ou ehf to be, instituted for the common benefit,
protection and security, Of the people, nation, on
community: fall the various modes and forms
of government, that is best, which is capable
of producing the greatest degree of happiness
| and safety, and is most effectually secured a.
| gainst the danger of administration; and
that when any government shall be found In
| adequate or contrary to these purposes, ma
jority of the community hath all undubitable,
unalienable and indefeasible right, to reform,
| alter or abolish it, in such manner as shall be
Judged most conducive to the public veal.
MIR. Mercer tears from. the context, the words,
that government is or ought to be instituted
for the common benefit and thence infers that
the article requires perfect equality of repre-
sentation. He might just as well have infer
red, that every living soul should participate
equally in the administration of public affairs.
l pray him to look at the context; and to OBJ
serve, that the words he quotes, are only So
Tenn declaration of the duty of all govern
ments, however constituted, to bestow their
parental care to the welfare of each and every
citizen; and that they are not more applicable
to the free men of this commonwealth, than to
their wives and infant children; not more, in
deed. than to the humblest slave; nay, the
conyicts in the Penitentiary. All, bond or
free. are entitled to protection; the vilest CHI.
minalis entitled to demand that justice be ex-
ecuted in mercy. pray him to observe, far
Their, that, without the least regard to theoret-
zeal principles of any kind, this article OF the
BIZ of Rights points our attention to the
practical operation and effects of government
as the true and only test of good government.
Task no more than that the constitution, winch
George Mason framed, shall be judged by the
test which his wisdom announced: Asto the
sindu5itable, unalienablc, and indcteaslble
right of a majority of the community, to re-
form, alter or abolish its government, in such
manner as shall be judged most conducive to
the public veal believe no man in this ma
ton ever denied the lawfulness of Reform, or
ouire either. have, however, always denied
the expediency Of any reform OF our insttu-
tons, in any mode. But our present ques-
ton is, whether it be not of most dangerous
and pernicious consequence, and, IN I he pre-
sent circumstances of the republic, wholly un.
Unsuitable, to attempt Reform upon Revolution
principles =,
shall not repeat what myself have said,
concerning the principle ofirregular assocla,
tons, organized to influence the established
constituted authorities; will speak in no O.
Their words but those of Gen. Washington. -
"The basis of our political systems, is the
right of the people to make and alter their
constitutions of government-but the constl-
tuition, which at any time exists, until changed
by an explicit and authentic act of the whole
people, is sacredly obligatory upon all. The
very idea of the power and right of the people
to establish government, presupposes the du.
ty of every individual to obey the established
government. All distractions to the execu-
ton of the laws, all combinations and dssocia.
lions, under chateser plausible character, 'oifh
real design TO direct, CONTROL eounteract, or G,re
the regular deliberiion and action Of the consti'
tufed authorities, are destructive of this funda-
mental principle, and of fatal tendency. They
serve to organize faction, to give it an artifi.
cial and extraordinary force, to put in the
place of the delegated will of the nation, the
will of a party, often small but artful and
enterpnsing minority of the community; and
according to the alternate triumphs Of differ
ent parties, to make the public administration,
the mirror of the ilf-concerted and incongru'
GUS projects of faction, rather than the organ
of consistent and wholesome plans, digested
by common councils and modified by mutual IN
tereSts.
Now, in order to determine the true politi-
cal character of the projected Staunton Con-
vention, let me ask an honest answer to the
following plain questions. Whether such a
convention be not an association of individuals
unknown to the laws, and an organized asso-
citation, in the strictest sense of the phrase
organized upon the principle of representa-.
tom Whether it be not the real design OF
those who projected, and ofall who have join
ed in the scheme, to produce by force ofcom-
bination and organization, an influence on the
regular deliberations and action of the Legis-
lature, which they despair of producing with
out such combination and organization Whe-
ther it be not the real design, under the piau-
e Info