Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-11-26

T,lEf
we are prepared for nothing moro We c;il rarson,b
ask LOT no more at present. But am very far fro
| thnking that the socml compact has vet been ne
lectea' or that society is yet prepared for the be
possible political institutions. That government
best tor any people TINT best adapted to their view
wants, wishes, and even preludices. Not that wbc
Is best administered, but that which bes, suits tie
to the great mass OF society," This seens no, ,
have been overlooked by the trainers of the RiII =
I Rights, and the founders of this government The
declaredne principles, the just and righteous prir
cP's OF the social compact; and progressed far
TIE Application rs they supposed the then eSistin
tate OF society required and perutted But fo r.
seeing that changes would take place, and that III
| hnnlan Tnd was progressing and would progress the
ADVISED ana most prudenty advised, frequen; re
| crrrcnce to fundamental principles. Not to chanp
those principles gculcman Mr.. Giles) ask -,
! bat opurge and reform our institutions bv brinpn
them up nearer TO the Interchangeable principles: bv
continual approximation to the cardinal princinle
| which they propounded Amongst all the great DO
litica truths which these sagrs declared not one j,
| more just or evident than this-.That no free trov
er'nen, or the blessing OF liberty, he preserved
to any people, hut by Il firm adherence to instice
moderation, temperance. frugaLy aud virtue and b,
trequen, recurrence to tundamenta! principles
Mr. Cha irmniI, have based the resolutions which
have had the honor to submit upn, the doctrine,
contained IL the 9th article Of he Bill of Rionts AND
SIR permit me 10 say that more attacti tor the
Ball of Rights than was before the late discussion
commenced. have seen that this instrument has
been our Patadum, and thc only biu a. AGAINST thc
demolition OF republican citadel and the d.s.
S'S"'rA'
truction OF inc republican character of our govern
nint. Nothing has saved from the estu blis h.
ment, the cunonzaion of the most prominent f.a-
lures o! an aristocracy, but this Bill of Rights
Have not the Efforts of all the gentlemen cr
InIsis zen directed in other 40 inst Lbt
letter OF this instrument: Some have oppuqned il
0ne way, and some another. But ali aho have pear
the mixed basis ana the freehold quaif alton have
fund II III heir way, AMI have nla lie il IN whole
or IN part, deld !e-trr Whether ia. " intended it OF
not, such has been the effect Of ali their Criticisms
! uF,OD Ard esr rriu Ia, 81
tlefnen had succeeded in their efforts and at thi,
time carried tie tqrtnn 6rsS upon their coustrc-
tons Of the Bill! OF Rights would it not be possible
some fifty years ence upDn Z more !bc-ai constrlc
ton, ana WITH lie precedent OF these proceedings he
tnre another Convention, originate egnZal ar
isocracy il the fullest ta term Yes sir if
IN the short period of fY fam years, great de-
paTture from IN" Erir:'rcs ey.uped End rrosrrih
by the trainers of the existing Constitutions slouli
have been cted the basng or this goyc. n
Dlcnt wealth. wealth sir repeat DISGUISE il
as gentlemen may, fifty four years and another
Convention following such examples. and such inter-
preta lions, and would have an oliparchy an ,ro-
p'ja Jor0,1, by law established nobility. Seeing
tue warfare which has been waged against this nov
more chan ever dear to instrument, and seeing she
barrier which IT has thrown III the way OF al, en-
croachmcnts upon free institutions, shall vote
for ITS being Iarpetuaiiy part of the fundaaeuta
law of our Country.
was glad on yesterday morning TO bear the rem
ticnun from Herrico Mr.. Nicholas bepin his speecb
with the doctrine of his section OF that instrument.
not Sir, with the application which he made of thar
doctrine. According to his Interpretation no man
has any attachment TO the community or country bu,
freeholdeT. You will observe, Sir, that have in
the resolutions bcire YOU only developed the mean
ing OF the sixth section of the Bill of Righs-the
plain English Interpretation Of the words. IF sin
gle idea not founded on the f;rest and most inst in
depreciation of these words, found in apv one of
those resolutions, hope it NAV not be retained -
Some gentlemen ailcge that in the year 1916 the
words common interest tciht, and attachment IN the
community, meant neither les nor more than free
holder. According 10 what dictionary or mode ofin-
depreciation this meaning is made out have not as
yet learned Words may be used in an appropriated
sense own, but some proof of this appropriate sense
must be produced-as yet have not heard any an
thority other than assertion Please observe that
the words "coDH0n INTEREST," do not e0uny inter
est. That they do not the single fact of the ie1,oi
fy Of the freeiods from % to 0G0 acres in extent
and from 25 TO 100 900 dolls in value unnuestionably
indicates. Common interest admits of the creates
variety in the extent and value of that interest Ono
gentleman hadspoken of the interest which one man
might have in ship which had a valuable cargo
aboard, and another who had only his person. The,
both had common interest it true but he nlIpll
have given to the figure greater extent. and sup
posed hat many individuals might have had different
stakes embarked on the same bottom. Besides thoi
own persons they rn'GAt have great diversity of in
terests and though a+proportiJnea i'll value equal,
interesting them all III the safety of the ship. No two
interests are precisely equal yet all have conaDo,
iuieTest. Bu it is sail that this common interest mus
also be perHlqae7i in crest. This further Gcfre
the nature OF this common interest. This RESTRICTIVE,
term denotes that il Is MT to be transient interest
But still this word permanent is only comparative an,
necessarily Limited. Tie various INSTRUMENTS WHICH
we found embarked in ihe same ship, IRE as perma
nent the voyage from port to port. 1t may be
long voyage or short voyage. 80 it may be- an,
50 of en- Is The journey OF human life. Our Interests
IN the State are as iranseni and uncertain as on
lives. We all have common interest in The State
bnt how permanent or now transient that intere.
may be- cannot he defined. Beide, it may i'm an,
& OiiT lives
who has freehold o' any given extent may either
sell or spcnd it n very short time and if we max,
his tenure Of that estate The test Of his pcruanent in
terrs' il The State hove fixed upon as great Al
uncertainty can he we'll conceived. IT is a yer,
prccarlous permaucucy, uncertain the tenure
| life, and not necessarily Of longer duration than en-,
/ other mans interosc in society. The landlord nnt
I the tenant have far as law or reason can de
/ ternine the same pcrmaueucy Of interest.
/ Bot mere is another consideration mentioned il
this article, TO which prcsuma this permanent com