Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-09-11

and Justice Then if considered designed for tbss
SAFETY OF properyas well as persons, it would seem
but justice, in as much as the wealth of the c;t.o
constitutes the main support of the civil admips,ra
tloh' that the holders of property from whom thai
support proceeds should be entitled to greater con-
sideraton, than those who have none For tbey
possessing nothing but their persons even o,lm;,t;nn
their patriotism least less Interested for oy
der and stability as they have less peril by reyon
tioh and II admitted to equal participation i'm mower
'hey might too soon evince disposition to an equal
participation of property also which examples are
NOT wanting In history, ancient or modern. On the
other mana, government considered as n con,poct
amongst individuals for defence aranst invasion IN
which all are required to cooperate it can but he od
mitted hardship, that the poor who are ncumber.
ed with the care OF nothing but their persons (which
they could easily, without loss transfer without the
threatened limits until danger was over), should he
held bound TO peril their lives, for the protec,on of
property in which they have no share and for the
defence OF government in which they have no mr.
ticipaton. -
Governed by considerations perhaps somewhat of
TINS character, law gvers the institution of COM
monwealths, seem generally to have endeavoured to
snt their institutions to like difficulties by gradua,
ng the consequence OF individuals by artificial arr
engagements, either according to deurees of wealth
or from the standing of families. For some of the
leadipg consequences of such contrvances, will ad-
vert to but two of the most llustrous historical cx-
ampies' SCION the Athenian law gver, divided the
ciuZens ofthat commonwealth into four classes and
apportloned power and authority among them some
"hat proportioned tn their income; limiting eligibility
TO the highest offices of state, exclusively to the
hrst, or most wealthy class, and leaving but yerv
small share ofpower, to the fourth and most numer
GUS class of citizens.
The Romans adopted the still more exceptonable
arrangement based in family standing (one of the
entalled curses OF monarchy from which their COM
nonweath sprany) dividing the whole population in
10 TWO great casses of Patrcinn, and Plebian, and
giving nearly all the power and consequence to the
fatricians In both states, (as has been reIael the
poorer or least privileged classes repeatedly conten
deo for their natural rights and in both their eGorts
were crowned with success, and ended lin co,se-
quence OF the unhallowed they made of author
= ity,l in the subvcrson of their commonwealth.
Those ciassifications have been reckoned by many
modern writers, particularly of England result of
the most profound legislative wisdom and To have
been purposely designed enable the executive
10 control the people simply by managing
the equilibrium between the conendng PARTIES efit,
ting their weight from scale tn scale as mioht he ne
cessary to maintain the balance rs though the peo
pic were designed for no other end but the conVe-
mence0 f their rulers The plan is we'll enough sut.
ed to English politics. and is n prettv scheme in ,
monarch, to make the people the seifsupporters of
fne'r tyranny, and turn attention from himself by
widening the breach, fomentino their ,fissensorrs
and increasing their nveteracy against one another
rms Jesuiiical theory of balancing principle has
III my estimation, been productive of much mischief
TO modern commonwealth. The people amused
with speculation, on projects of balancing the over
shadoWing powers, with which they have invested
their rulers the one department with another. and
witn themselves loose their control; aad whilst they
speculate, their servants, by concerted encroach-
= ments, are becoming their masters Modern Rennh
ics' ana believe should speak advisedy in sayirr
al modern republics with the exception ofhose con-
s'itn,ed within the last half century, have fallen
prey TO encroachments the part of. .4rstocracy
: me people, IN consequence of the complication Of
their balancing machinery, but seldom knowing in
what department to look for usurpations and abuses
however sensible they may be of their existence ard
OF the necessity for their correction until technical
speaSIng' they have lost their weight in the bal
i, ahcc, ana the popular scale has kicked the beam
we search history in vain. for an example of an
orderly commonwealth conducted on sny such ,sya
tci 1t principle in nature, that applies 10 Gov
Has
snPie any thing is, the less liable it is 10 be disorder
cd ana the easier repaired when disordered"
men II the balance must be ussaip constituting
government, let the people hold tic S2aes and sdTo.
INTO the elective franchise only such ms bv their nro
aratian eVince disposition to maintain their mart
WIZ" power 70 control tho preponderance. Confun
te balancing to the ruling departments with the ey
ecntlve Legislative and judiciary; let the ecninoise h,
as accurate as possible; but have the people supreme
i uinuits OF the peoples (eXcusve of the worthless
ana unprncIpied0 conceive, would rarelv if over
be of much duration, or productive of mucb J; go,
wore not, that they have generally been found n
the excess of their excitement to have placed at fb
s some ainoitlons sycophant, and clothed him
WIN degree OF military power that they can infer
WARDS neither control, put down. For the moo
pie, collectively, though prone to err On The sn,r
the moment, whilst anirnated by the heat of cpnton
tlon' nave always been found willing when tho ron
: TEST WIS ended, to return to their duty and dis
posed on their own account, to reiDstate oood
and fortified him armed yassals fthey If b' yIan
MOB come too late TO regret their headong course h the
their heads. 10y " ' "e s'fof "
nsys'em OF WHICH we have record, for the eeln,on 81,
puaI privileges has ever produce intended ea, 81 81.
laying or preventing discussions revolutions vii; VI az
GVis E'cb from ali history fluid are to be SO n,u
w VI an ed plans tl'en syperirnen,aiy she WIN
De eNcepiionabe, surely there can be no treat
be Inos, r new eEPsient Tia! which would propose q
be boih easily and safely changed or revoked F' may
o ns g4aIJfa''on for the right IF suffrage, he The posses
soy G"a ownership n require thai eoS5 uoi,r stt
opy DC me oaer but sh actay opysrr at The poV, c
SerUjce ~" 'I"'y " cno"fy or nr6t1ry
nus The right Of suffrage viii be constituted reward 10 tho
liz cuzeF ana the cost of armour will exclude from Tie
poiis le great mass of the poh;rae and disso,,e ho VIC
siy me pn,hty portion of the community Placing ths
e on snch footing ds has in it my hiInba