Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-03-01

IL has often been asserted that there
was misunderstanding between this Great. good
man and myself. Sir, was thus afforded every
opportunity OF Judging If the excellence of his
heart. and OF the requirements of his head: and
now take great pleasure in giving my testimony
IN their favour. Allowing for the imperfec,ionsl
common to human nature. now ass.r, a most
thorough conviction, that his heart was unbleni-l
ed and ms mind pre-emnently euibsllished am
told, sir, that the name, Of this lamented ben.fac
tor OF his country and of mankind, has had greater
influence in aiding the passage of th. bill. than.
perhaps any other circumstance whatever; whist |
think l hazard nothing in expressing The O |
pinion, that not one of its advocates would rive
his consent 10 the Eu'opian form of government
he has recommended for adoption. But. sir. moi. |
withsanding my admiration and veneration of his |
talents, l could nc' always subscribe TO his opin
ions. No man, MIR. Speaker, is wise at all hours
Mist therefore, must give the gentleman all
"e aia ,ha' he desires IRON this great name, hope
may be permitted to call TO my aid, in thi, i'm
poTtsnt point Ut The argument, principles laid
down oy him In his posthumous letters. In one of
those letters, Mr.. Jefferson Gays onlv Law down
sure principles, and adhere TO them inflexibjy.'
Here, then, is perfect agreement between Mi.
jefferson and myself agree that nothing will
produce good effects, that violates PRINCIPLES how
ever specious may be the pre.ext for its adoption
Mr. Jefferson then proceeds lay down the prin-
cPie In the following words {: I" The sure founda
ton OF Republican Government, is the eguofr ights
OF every eli Zen in his psrsoa and rroperty and i'm
fhs1r man az Cement" Here, too, we asree per
iec'iy IN the printip laid down. II would seem
from this principle, that Mr.. J.fferso, himself adj
Ei's 'he propriety OF property qualification fl
some SORT In this sense, then, we should agree
IN the application OF this principle We NAV diff
Ter, however, widely in some of the results vba,
Is the meaning Of the last words ia the princ;nI.
,su IoSn! and In their management" Does
"ii. 'eneF.on mean' that the equal right of evefy
CITIZEN Is to manage his property. or thar of
another? II his own property, then he No., -.
property before he has its management; and in thu,
CASE II would irresistbly follow, thai Mr. Z
conceived property qualification of the voter IVA.
indispensable. In this case, then. W. shall mo 49,
iec'iy agreed But If Mr.. Jefferson mean. ,h,,
the man without property shall have the mn.
."' OF The property OF another, then we are
aFecuy al pon's; deny the right the Justice a.
me policy OF his principle. This how ever ia b ~,
s,ouno upon which the right OF general res.
ffesuining hat Mr.. Jefferson could never s,,r,;oo
WIS principle, he OF course, admits the ripb, ~
! property qualification Of some sort, TT,
.nen' 'of granted that property gusfcatio, ia
80; y TWO questions arise The first is-wbat
A"u Oh property is best suited TO the ob;ec,> ~,
second i how mu' property, This Ie,,ls ,;,...i'
20 an examination OF the merits of frs.bcIJ I;..
W 'he right oil suffrage. And this question r;J 49,
,e''eo Wy an inquiry mo the peculiar prons,,o -
iahd' as contra distinguished from every o,ha. 49,
I.es "a properly. Land is the only sslid. 6xsd
.u'aoe' anu 'hdss'ructible substance given bv Cod
10 man. Separate any thing from land ,h,, 80.
/ upon 1t, and it Immediately become. ..N' o I'VE
anu destructible; whilst land itself nossss.ss
Ienuy inc faculty CT regeneration aud renrodr..;o
1'S the source OF all other Thugs. II ia ~.
source OIL our own existence; and whe,bsr 49,,
'"Ae she Mosaic account OF the creation of ma
co,,d h,s s VI ho'' we all know, without il we
80 n"'e no existence Il furnishes all human
ihc'is encies All the necessaries. coo,Cor,a
luKu'ies OF life derived from mo,h...'t H"'
from 'oconda's most brilliant gem 10 In. co.r...
paouiuH that susiains human existence IT,
oes'ues another intimate connection and ann,,..t1o.
| ue'"eeh earth, land, and The inbabi,an,s - :.
"ese WIZ De .ound IN our conceptions. when ,,,o
.t % pa or nation. When we sneak of
tsrri,o- S'"ia' W. include all the land or
'1i'nofy within the limits of Virginia a, Gel, =.
al the inhabitants upon it, Ii ia inros,;L,
v" conceptions, 10 separate the inl,, h;,,,,s s..
VIC ianu' or the land from the inhabitants Ch
same conception will be found in sos,L;, ~,
OF any other nsiOn--it will always in
.s oo'n 'ae inhabitants and territory. accord
| 'hsiy' liz speaking OF uninhabed terri,orr :,
never called nation The tsrri,o, 10
never Called the nation OF Arabia, bur the g.,
" n,"o'a' Anc the wandering Arabs are ,,g.r
eaiso tue Arabian nation, but ribe, of At
ns "'ses from The want OF that application and
nA'u'e Q! iae people to the territory ,oh;ch 10y
'ai 20 'he foTm'ton of a nation. So in rs-
eai" 10 me AooriG'Ges OF this couot,v ,,bc 49,
%i'o" GU oh'J tie usniruct OF The soil for the pu,
pose OF huhuns, while the u. States claim ,bs
| l,gt OF soil They are caIIsi Indian Tribes. anJ
"''n0uen' III common parlsnce, thew are s,,,,
caiieo nations, as the Creek Nation. e. GO, =;
the Constitution of the u S.. thew are a1oo ot' :"
| caIly called TRIES, in Contrast with ,o,;d..~
So"s'ess Snail nave power TO reguis comnerc.
Wv. io'e' nations, among The several states ana
Win 'he ihoan tribes" From all these co,.;,s,.
"o"e' " seems evident, that land earth terr,,nru
., VOC Important an agent in the concern, of ,,,n
Sinu' TO be entirely disregardeJ in the nc"
iuhuain enta laws Tor the government nj a.. ,I,:
tah's 'hereupon; and, from lis peculiar n,o,ar,ia
ip'"is 'he pest Limit upon the right of surface -
"e 'ePieSea'ahVe system. This CONCLUSION ,so,II
oe 'he inevitable result upon the consultation If
80: le"son, Phnoscphy and science; BECAUSE !,
i'rhishes the pest evidence Of permanen, 60,
mon attachment to the Country To a~as",': I'm
pon' more iulIy, let g contrast be drawn h,..
'he properties OF land and another spsrie. ~ -"
Pe''S' Il nae morse, bride snd saddle e. s,.n
| e'ee'h' pair oil spurs. However Opposed a,,, n'
'e"ah mere may be, to freehold ouslif;c,,io :,
% p'e'un'ed' 'hat NOT one would fx upoo this sn.
cieS OF property as better qual6ca,io, c. r.
Voer why not! Because il has no te,Jan..,'
inspire tue owner With that permanent, CO., "
attachment TO The country, which "a rho o,J'' !
PiedSe Tor the fidelity of the voter. Comn.,o -,
na'ufal pfopensities OF the owner of this sna
ee' VI properly with those Of The freehoIder Of
hVeisnd twenty acres of land the a,rn,., 80. VI
by our constitution. Suppose The .,iu"eu
have cultivated and improved this la '''.i 10
own hands, and derived from it. A. con,fa.,.,'I,
subsistence Tor himself and family. WILL -
not naturally become attached in The =, -