Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1829-01-15

ehei'e 10 high action and noble nurnos. aha
,Sn whom he has delegated to be
the guardian Of his rights.
my purpose, IN the following pages. to
SUMMIT 10 the consideration OF those fnnction..
fies' hurfieo sketch OF those elementary prin.
e'P'es OF government which ought. As sup.
pose, 10 DC heid sacred and inyiols,e in every
apPo'uohment ofpoiticsi power. tits my fur.
her purpose 10 show, by reference 10 those
principles, and TO the actual state of the COM
u'on"esiln' thar the apportionment recommen.
aed oy tue Convention committee ia fagran,lv
UNJUST, ru'nous in its practical tendency, and
one tus' ought not to be submitted to, under
any crcunsisnces, BY the people ofthe (com.
psrsuveij) non .sIsve-boldiug portion of the
commonwealth
VI We would learn the elementary princi.
pies on government. and solve the apparently
diihcuh problem what is the true measure
ol sPportIonment OF political power. we shall
pest ettain our object, by narrowly inspecting
ehe state and conci,ion Of community. before
wa, sppor'onmen, IS made, and by learning.
WIN u, 'he hrst lessons in political science. II
IS Inc artificial institutions of society, moulded
ana modified by fraud. or accident, or violence.
mat cover and conceal from our view those
s'"pie elementary truths in science of gov.
efnnent, which like the axioms Of mathe matt.
ca science, lead US by plain obvious steps, to
, ,le. soiu'ion OF Questions apparently the most
ulfhcaIt' We must forget then, for a moment.
the eloquent dscourses which we continually
near about the vested rights Of the counties.
the fitness and expedisncy, on lust PRINCIPLES
ct compromise, OF apportionment according 10
federal NUMBERS" and all he other topics of
tue day, transport ourselves, in iuaginsiion. to
distant age or distant land, and become
members OF society Of simple herdsmen and
hunters, assembled to form . government for
.heH lnfant community. with minds unsophis.
ucated and unwsrped byingenious theories or
inveterate preJHdices, and with no light to
guide them but the light OF reason.
The people OF this tafant community have
dweit for years. or ages, IN Contiguous villages
or hamiets, united, in war, under an occasional
ch'ettain, but living, in tranquil times, without
any government. in friendship with each other,
because they are connected by the social feeling
aud by blood and marriage, and because they
are essential to their protection against the hos
tility OF the neighboring tribes. But the com
munity has increased greatly in numbers, and
property has been acquired, consisting Of aocks
ana herds and prisoners taken in battle, and
detained In slavery. The right of properly
has been frequently invaded, by the INDECENT
AID the VICIOUS, and other disorders have arisen,
winch force on their native sagacity the con.
viction that the restraints of government and
law are essential to the safety and well being Of
the tribe
They assemble ca saasse, at a central point,
10 choose council OF wise men, who shall re.
guiate the affairs Of the community and repress
the disorders that have afflicted ID. When thew
nave thus assembled, the question occurs TO
them, for the first time, whether every mem.
Der of the tribe shall have voice in the cleo.
uon OF the council, or wheher the right Of suf.
trage should be limited, and on what princi.
pies.
The first idea that occurs to the assembly is,
that as the community, collectively. possesses
beyond dispute, the right Of forming govern
ment, every member of the community must.
OF necessity, be entitled to q share of that right
Eut little reflection convinces them that this
Propositions oftoo sweeping and comprehen-
eve character. For to say that Q right belongs
10 one who labors under natural incompetent.
cy TO exercise It, is to utter gross absurdiy.
be right TO choose rulers, implies free-agency
IN the person making the choice. And as Ma.
ture, oy making women weak and men strong.
has placed the former under the control Of the
latter, women are aot free agents, and SO not
competent to exercise the right; which il not
Only saying, in other words, that the law Of ma.
ture has denied it to them. The same obiec.
tioa applies to children; with this additional
one, tbat, as the safety and happiness Of the
community can be ensured only by wise
choice ct rulers. it would be folly, it would be
running counter to the law of reason and ma
tures TO entrust the choice to persons OF imma-
ture reason.
The considera; ION Of the question, in regard
to children, has thus suggested another prin-
eiple elimination. The ssfety ane happiness
OF the community being ,de great end and OBJ.
Ject OF government il u clear tSat the electors
ought TO feel some interest in its attainment;
because, il they feel nc suss Interest, or are
interested ia preventing the attainment, they
will not vote ior wise and sonesi rulers. The
thieves and robbers who have haF-assed the
community by their thefts, or disturbed it by
their violence, have shewn by the whole tenor
OF their lives. that they feel no interest in the
public welfare, but the contrary, aud cannot,
be safely trusted with voice in the election
of rulers. IL cannot be expected that men
who pass their lives in the habituai commission
Of crimes will vote TOR rulers. who will faithful
y dischsge their duty, by the punishment of
offenders.
All these limitations Of the right of suffrage
are accepted at once, by the good sense Of the
community; but there are others still TO be con.
sidered. Stragglers from the neighboring
tribes, have intruded themselves on the corr
munity, they are alien in blsod, foreign 10 hab-
it's and feelings, and unconnected with the
tribe by marriage. They hang loose On the
skirts of society, possess little or no property,
and have. in short. no evidence ofcomnon per-
msneEt interest with, or attachment to, the
community. l, is obvious that such men can.
not safely be entrusted with voice in the cleo.
ton, foe it can be. to them, matter of little or