Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-05-19

tended with oisce end honor, as well as with mo-
ney; can you then believe, that i have at any
time been stimulated by avarice! Can you believe.
that could condescend TO act under the influence
of that passion, when l would turn from your
treasury always full and ready to be squandered
and in despite of the oil philosophical axiom" ex
nihiIo, nihil fit" out of nothing, nothing can
be made" upon returning to private life, to in
dulge in the foolish attempt out OF nothing, lite
rally nothing, to make myself a second rOesus!
IL might appear invdious in me 10 make the APP
plcation of this moral; 1t cannot be so with you,
my friends. therefore leave the task with you.
] sincerely regret, MY friends, that have tres
passed so long upon your time In the examination
OF this subject, but you know that have been
impelltd 10 this course by provocatons of no
ordinary character wished 10 have presented my
views to you upon two subjects of much greater
importGnce-The proposition for calling conven-
ton to amend our state constitution and the
principle of slave-labor established amongst Us {;
and upon the actual condition of slaves under that
principle of labor Both of these i conceive to
be subjects OF the first impression. (Here pro-
posed to close my remarks, but several voices
cried out, Proceed The time chosen for amend
Ing the constitution, | conceive the most inauspi-
cious for that object. 1t is at 4 time, when, be
lleve, more political beresies afloat than ever
Were al any former period. Ihes. appear 10 me
10 have arisen from two promin ent causes The
elecioneering spirit, and the spirit of usurpstion
In the general government. These causes produce
the effects OF opposite extremes -: The first is for
throwing the whole government into the hands of
the people IN their original characters and thus
returning back 10 a state of nature. The other is
for usurping all power for the government s. leav-
ing none to the people and what is singular
In his extraordinary cries, the same individuals,
are often seen the devotees to both extremes.
This cannot be an suspicious state of public opin
ion for forming code of fundamental laws bu,
there are much more important considerations OPP
Grating upon this question. The constitution OF
Virginia not only the first written constitu-
ton ever formed upon the principle of social com
pacts, but is the best that has yet been form
ed wished to shew you, that it is the only sci
entilc constitution in the world, in direct opposi
ton 10 the elder Mr.. Adams's assertion, that The
British Is the only scientific government in the
world There can be scientific government
which is not founded upon some solid, durable
and ndet ucble substance. | know OF but one
substance of ths description, and hat Is earth or
Lind. There is principle, not substance, ofthis
description, If it be made applicable to the
fundamental laws of government That is the
divine right, in its application to governments
generally, called the divine right of Kings. | be
ileve the Lord never was accused of eiec,ing any
temporal officer, below king. Excluding this
principle, there is 10 other OF the foregoing de-
scription, but that which grows out of mother
earth out ofland. The Virginia constitution is the
only one known 10 me which is founded upon earth
upon land; and is therefore, in my judgement, the
Only scientific constitution. The constitution OF
Virginia formed the 9th of May l776 be
tore the declaration Of independence Ii is In it
sell declaration OF independence for Virginia.
The 9th OF May l776 ought to be the great Jubi-
lee day OF Virginia. On thai day our fat hers pro-
claimed the only rishlul principle OF governments,
the rights OF man. They did much more. They
hXed the rights OF man upon solid, permanent,
IndestruciIble substance, earth land. There are
peculiar relations and affiliations, between land
and all beings subsisting upon it, which render it
the only nj substance for he foundation of gov
eTnments 1t is the source of all existence, and
Of all other things. 1t affords US pabulum. 1t af
lords us luXuries- II affords ornaments 1t is then
too important an agent in human affairs, to be
dlsregarded in the formation of human govern
menis. The freehold right of suffrage, rests-upoD
ills solid basis, and of is the only inst and
legitimate right OF suffrage. The of our fathers
IN placing our rights upon the freehold principle.
Is the wisesi act that was done by man. II
is oil more importance than all the phiosOpbc dis.
coveries, which have ever been made in all the
high -houses CT the skies put together. Every
practical deviation from it has proved its excel
ience. All lis tendencies moral-All its eff
ects beneficial Its first tendencies are to keep the
administration OF the government in the hands of
the middling agriculuIists-- Although most mo-
life source, | am restrained from enlargiag fur
ther at this time. Our county courts form the
best judiciary system the world ever saw; all its
tendencies are moral. Its decisions almost ALWAYS
Just and impartial. 1t administers Justice withou,
reward. 1T IS peculiarly beneficent to the door
Its administrators, the justices, are literally
conservators OF the peace. Their interest," consists
IN keeping their neighbours at peace. The per
mi Tf.ag 49,. -.
meni upon it, is the worst judicial system that can
be devised-all its tendencies are immoral Its inn
moral tendencies ditEuse corruption into the mid
ding class OF society which is the very heart of
society. Its tendencies are rendered incaIcuIabIy
worse, when the people at large are made the cleo
tors OF the Justices 1t is, besides, the mos, expen
sive system in the world, particularly so 10 the
poor. Suppose two societies. The one ACTING
under the Influence OF moral tendencies, the other
under the influence of immoral tendencies for \
century; what would be the difference in the mo.
raj condition of the two countries at the end Of
the century?
There Is another principle in the Virginia Con-
sltuIion OF incaculable value II limits the rich,
OF suffrage to the legislative representative. The
executive Judicial, ministerial and military officers
are elected by intermediate agents. / wished
much to have had time and strength to have pre-
senied to you fine importance Of the principle of
elections by Intermediate agents to the very exist
ence OF the republican form of government.
wished to have shewn you that our prelent form of
government cannot exist long without both the
iederalive principle, not merely in form, bur in
substance, in energy, and in activity, and the prn
ciple OF election by intermediate agents, in rela-
ton to executive, judicial, ministerial, and militia
ry officers generally.
wished to demonstrate to you the absolute ne
cessity OF keeping forever separate and distinct.
f0H and religions rights from military duties.