Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-11-07


Bring many men as you like as many women, or
both together, leave them without control and he
She, OF the strongest mintths male, female, will
be master, or MISTRESS of the society. Gentlemen
may have whatever theory to the natural rights of
man, they please But grant to me, said Mr.. l.. that
by the law OF nature, or of nations, by the NUM-
pal iaw--or laws Conventional otherwise,
.4"tquo cua7ve ais ncE,inc racata,
that am entitled to the products of the labor OF
hands, to whatever property have received from my
iather or mother transmitted by inhertancef they
grant me that mine should not be given to another,
TO dispose OF according to his pleasure or caprice, ii
they grant me these two propositions, then shall de-
ducc from them, the principle contained in the
amendment offered by the gentleman from CulPeper,
as certain as shall the condemnation and reproba
ton OF the report of the Legislative Committee.
Leaving the broad field of the rights of man. which,
after the speech of the gentleman from Northampton
nave been rendered barren and dcsolate wastes,
ana from which nothing can be gathered, they come
nearer home, and touch on the Bill of rts of Vir-
ginia and to the Amusement of some and the amaze
ment of others of the Committee the gentlemen
VINO nu'id their WHOLE argument questioning the
competency oil the Convention of 20, to establish
any form OF government You take the Bill of Rights
and draw from 1t your conclusion, and afterwards
DOUBT Its competency Mr. Jefferson, in his notes of
Virginia III 1888, called in question: the competency
OF tile Convention of 20. In his hands, the ar
gnen wasa matter ratherof curious speculation than
OF practical utility. But since that time NOTHING has
oeen SAID to that effect, yet Notwithstanding has
oeen quoted to shew the Incompetence of that Con-
vention 1t was prac ical illustration of the amount
oil serious mischief, which error emanatinp from SO
elevated source will produce. He first heard ofth
Hicompctehcy OF that Convention while he stu
dent at the College of William 81 Mary 81 he then i'm
iIcltly believed it. But when he arrived at maturity
CT mindhe could not state the precise period of tina,
occurrencc--but when lie arrived at maturity, he
laughed at it. 1t said, the Convention of 70
had no authority to establish form of Government
1T what time Jefferson discovered this, is matter
OF curious speculation. He would not tnIltien anv
thing lie was Ignorant of, but he would tell them what
q Ice
plojet of Constitution before the adonton of tho
present one. The preamble which was Mr. Jefier-
sons, was only retained, and the Constitution of
"hich George Mason was the author, was annexed
10 IL Tic saw that prHlet in Mr.. Jcfferson's hand
writing some years ago the Council Chamber
ID has since been taken away and he had often since
had occasion to curse hrs folly for not copvinu tso
as to sheW how mpracticahle that Constitution wa
when compared with the practical one of Mr. Mason
Whoever would read that preamble would be sntie
red that IT was the production of the same individual
WHO was the author of the Dec. alton of Indepen-
dence, ana that IT cmarated from the same mind
Let lis meet the arruncnt and plt il to rost Oar
sons may deny our competency to act definitely in
.HlS convention, because 1t Is established truth in
potics at the son by being son, is wiser than the
'ather Our competency may be questioned The
colona! government Of Virginia was superseded nv
Que ana the sahe act and at one and the same time
t'd' the present Constitution was passed IF then
our competency be denied by gentlemen thew must
admit that we are still the subjects of Geor1e ~
Every Constitution III this Union was established in
the same manner, (he begged parion-Connecticnt
was an eXceptlon,l and they all liable to the
same oDJectlon. The Convention was formed in the
same manner the present one; it was voted for by
ireeholders and the members were tolerated to make
constitution which would provide for the safety of
the rights and property of the people. So far then
as TINS State is concerned, if that Convention was
not competent. this is colonial government still
ana we must either admit that that Convention pos
sessed full and complete authority to act or VIC who
revoltcd are still owe allegiance to the British
Mniac
ana to his successors in the Hanoverian line forever
Out Lhat constitution was not binding power be
cause II was only referred to the freehoders and II
must be submitted to others. There must no I.r
ger extension of the right of SUFFRAGE Onr cow
VIII hereafter rise and say, why have YOU imposed
limit to This right? You confine il to bouseboIJr
ana tax payers alone. Where or by whom were Won
authorised to corlfine it to these men9 PM man
III savage state, and we must submit II IN
their votes. Some would say that man arrives in
TINS country 10 fafarty long before the people of
otier country on earth A boy here is man at II
not as In other countries at 81 years of are WIN
not allow these men the right to votee Why not to
the militia Our sops will say that this convention
was elected by no competent authority because #
enecteG exclusively by treeholders Why not allow
the privilege to pauPers too, They also have their
rights lie expected TO before his death (sunno
sing that this vantage ground will be Welded TO
al these schees) that by act of the Legislature
1t VIII be imposed duty the keeper Of the Pc
nItentlary TO bring out to vote at the POLLS on c,er
eiection day, the people who are under his care
lie would return to examination of the arcu
nents which were deduced from the Bill of R;obts
The first article of that instrument is in the following
words:-"Al men are by nature equally free and ine
dependent, and have certain inherent rights of which,
when they enter into state of society thew cannot
by any compact deprive dvest their posery name
~ the enjoyment of life and liberty, with the means
OF acquiring and possessing property, and pursuing
ana obtaining happiness and safety" q
The article ofthe Bill of Rights was expressed in the
words which Locke uses in his work on the Theory off
me Social Compact-a book which was fhenzin fimi-
liar use-studied by al politicians and by evcrv one
VINO ever considered the subject From this
taken from the lips of Locke by George Mason d.
dnction was made and transferred the Bill ofRiGhts
that was an essential Ingredient in all free govern
Inents that las all men were born equally frce-thev
were therefore entitled to equal power in the COM
ulmty to which they be onged
MI Locke was an Englshman, and he. knew of no
greater advocate than he was of a mixed monarchy.