Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-10-31

from this premise, he could but regard as al III
consequent one He would suppose that all men are
by nature equally free and independent. WIat con
nectio has this with the SOCIAL principles growing
of government Wss it necessary TO- him tn remind
tue gentleman, that in entering into the social con-
pact, all m'n surrender portion Of their natural
rights; aad that they derive from the provisions of
that social compact according to it's formation So
cial risas III the of those which they have
surrendered: Is 1t not therefore so.ecism 70 say
that the rights which exist among consequence
OF government and which inpa ted to us bv 90
ivernincnt, to be considered as haynu any thins
to do With those which existed precedent to state
OF government, and on which government could have
no sort OF bearlng'
Taking the question of the riuht of suf,fapc and
the eject which II ou@ht to have upon rcprese atio
ms mind was conducted from suffrage to election.
Election implies and involves the idea of constituent
aitu representative. Tie ISOLATION of co,,s tuc lit and
representative, We're established bv iioytrnment
fhey did not exist before there was government vet
principles which existed before these relations did
exist, are calledin by gentlemen to regulate riuic1
growing ont OF those relations LIE ONLY stated this
Tor the purpose of showing by illustration that no
class oil rights which existed before government
could bc property called in to regulate those which
have had their exclusive origin in government.
but he would take the other ground lie would
suppose it conceded thai had rights iii state of
nsture anterior to government, and that the rights
existing ana tie rules applied in tho natural condi
ton, might be adduced III relation rights subsc
q1eDtiy obtained He would ask even then if the
araimentu of gentlemen is consistent with Itself At
the very thrcshloli they are Obliged to admit that
there numerous classes OF Citizens vino must be
excluded from the exercise OF political rights. Il
they carry their idea TO Its full extent W. said by
the eloqucat gentleman from Northampton itma1,s,
infants, paupcri, conycts and fec coIourcd persons
have all sn equal right. HOY they to be cxciu
Gc! The laws OF nature, and Tho rights possessed
under hen. IN State OF nature, ii any such there
Wera, are uniform IN their opcr ton. and concr tile
same privileges upon all. Phcy must always be the
same. Ihcy belong To all persons aud extend to
all times, and exist under oil circumstances How
then could gentlemen limit, as system oil! rules for
any particular ciass Of men, rights which arc in
themselves, uniform and uilyarvinIs
He would Ike example. Among tht; rights
enjoyed by in n state OF nature arc life liberty
and the proceeds OF their labor. Is there any man in
state of nature, who's not entitled to his Ifs, So
you may gu on Is there any man who is rr,t cp'i-
tied to the rights which common to all? The
moment gentlemen ask that shall have their nat
ural rights, they must feel that they place hume
rous class OF men, VINO have been existing entirely
out OF the pale OF Political right in sitna.ion 10 de-
mund that they shall have their influence in the rep
resertaton. The gentleman from Northampton had
forclbly stated, that those excluded from political
rights, constitute vast ma oriiy OF the whole. The
female part OF society, amounts to 4 full r,ootv
Yet they all excluded what is called rrinci
pie Of nature, although it VIII not be denied that
nature deals iii uniform rules, and makes no danc-
tons either Of age OF All the restraints
to which and children can at any time be
Subject those merely which arise out oil con,cs-
tic relations 1t Is said that they be excluded
from because thew subject
dominion OF men. From the language Of that prog
osi!on he dissented; and he would ask those who
used it, to shcw him any sing authority which would
sustain it to the extent to which it was here laid
down. all minors and females are excluded for
want of free agency, and a due portion OF inteil-
gcnea, 6. because They subject dominion There
Is oLc difficulty to which gentlemen here expose
themselves We read OF Il nation of antiuu ty yytere
there were no nen-whcre they were exclusively f.
males. How would gentlemen apply their proyosf
ton there? IL would be seen that he had reference
to the Amazons But taking society as il is formed
of men and women, he asked gentlemen to shev
him any precedent, which justified the assertion that
is necessarily subject TO the dominion of man
after she becomes Of &c; where her own will was not
her guide and controuicI; and where it can be-.
demonstrated thai by the law of nature she is sub
jet to the dominion Of man. 70 what fountains the
gentleman had gone for heir nounation he could not
divine His idea of female rights tlis-that wo-
men entitled to all the rights which bcop 10 cv
cry human being, until they surrender portion OFF
them by entering into the matrimonial state Fa |
males and minors, he admitted were subject to the
dominion OF mau, wien tie former submitted herself
to the cuniroul Of husbaud and while the latter
we're dependent for support and education In these
cases, the domestic relations OF husband and wife
and parent and Child in conflict with the rrls
s. licii would otherwise belong to those classes of So
Lefty. But when minors arrive at proper age, &C.
ordn9 to the laws of society, they no lonner I'M
Ter restraints. While educated and Supported tlcv
nay be confronted, but when arrived at an agc
When they no longer indebted to others for edn
;ation and support, thoy at that moment free
Nature has not prescribed, by specific limitation of
lays and years, at what age education and nurture
'nnli terminate, and when those who have been ITS
subjects shall become free from control
The dominion belonging to man over females and
minors, is exclusively bounded by domestic relations
and it would puzzle the gentlemen, with all their re
search, to reiute the proposition that If wife or child
we're unwilling to remain under dnspotic cavern
ncnt, although the husband or father we're
DESTROYS that they should remain, they would not be
1t liberty TO foilpw their incinaops and retire to
some other countryside control which belonns TO
udn, being bounded by the domestic relations qxis
ing between him and the minor or female. Its i'm
possible to admit for moment, that in reference toI
,ither class that dominion is the result of any defcc
+vcncs5 OF Intelligence, which renders it necessary
hat they sha! bc excluded from self control
Without futguing the Committee with the nutoe-
Gus examples which he might be able to quote, in
efniailon OF this last proposition, he might content
nsnlf with referring renf1ctnnn 10 L. L;si,rn. r