Wheeling compiler. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [i.e. W. Va.]) 1829-1831, 1829-11-25

declaring the natural limit TO De placeouPO"
all Governments. which the governments |
Of laws intended for the protection oil '3ese
RIGHTS. could not be made TO destroy. on
are to Weld to the government only those
things which are necessary to ATTAIN 'ilG
legitimate ends of government; not 70 y'e'G
every thing which government is INTENDED
10 Guard Your liberty and your lives are
not 10 be yielded, for no government III
ito legitimate sphere, undertake to claim
life, liberty, and the earnings OF LABOR; 'ol
they are rightful and unallenable privileges
oflbe individual citizen. InOw give It 10
rescns the declaration of rights from the
sneers and obliquy which have been thrown
49,, ,,CT :, Here the second article was
MI. Johnson having read the second ar.
hcle of the Bill of Rights, declaring ''ha'
al mower is vested in and consequently de-
rived from the people," sc. proceeded
This too, Sir, is nothing more than
] -afirmance of the ancient doctrine oil
Sydney and Locke, which was itself I 0Gt
denial of the doctrine of Sir Robert til'
mer that the right of the king was OF d.
vine orioin:-this second article contains a
proposition which no one will now dare TO
controvert. and to which no one will now
refuse entire SUBMISSION.
! Mr. Johnson then read the third article,
in the Bill of Rights, that government
| IS. or ought to be executed for the com
mon benefit. protection and security OF the.
neonIe. nation or community, etc"
lTbis section contains a manifest truth,
Iclear and correct exposition Of standard
Inv which the excellence Of your govern.
ment NAV be tested, and rule by whIh
Government itself is to be formed, stand
and which is surely unexceptonable, aruls
which should be invarlabIe aud lHyloR-
Ible. The first sentence provides lie.
standard aud pointing to the object enables
YOU TO compare the standard with the Ole
iect and ascertains whether It be cg-
rect or not. What is the standard! of.
all modes and forms of government that's
best which IS capable fproducing the gea'
est degree of Happiness and safety aud Is
most effectually secured against the danger
OF Hlnlaa uAlOils GU A-hANAF Alio
opinion is true, if government be instituted
for the common benefit, that form is best
which produces the greatest share Of pub
, lie good; this gives to gentleme the fill
benefit of their argument, for It admits the
proposition that practical utility is ne
standard ofaIl beneficial governments; tbs
| intend to consider when examlng the true
rule by which the tandard should be appE.
ed. / state it here, that gentlemen may
, perceive that in facts there is no dlstlnc
ton or difference between us, and will nov
proceed TO the last clause of this third m.
ticle: THAT when any government shall be
, found inadequate or contrary to these puF-
poses. majority of the community haR
, an indubltable, etc. right TO reform, alter
or abolish it, etc" What is here declar.
3 Ied} The right of the majority 10 reform
the government, when 1t Is not found to
= answer the end in view. No one consid-
ering thus subject, can deny the truth OF
This proposition, and there ought TO be no
, difference Of opinion as to the method Of
, applying 1.-THE people grant the power
the people grant the authority to be eX-
ercsed for their bene6t--the people, the
majority of the people, have the unallena-
. bic, indeieaslble and indubItable right ia
p abrogate the power, to deny the authority,
p and to reform or abolish the government
s as to this majority shall seem right The
f people propose an alteration ndE-the peo-
r pie who granted the power orlginally-the
people whose happiness is to be promoted
seek this change, and shall they be asked
by what authority you seek this relorml
Shall they be told by one WHO'S opposed
. to reform, Il can demonstrate that you
suffer no inconvenience, you labor under
e. no grievances, you are happy, and no 9th.
s er form Of government could procure you
{ The same quantity Of good"-and then de
nlnd of you why you would alter itl what
answer would they not givel We &C.
. knowledge your slncerity-we know you
believe what you say--hIt you are argu.
ing to us a question about which you must
allow us to feel, to think, to understand
for ourselves; how great soever may be
{ your superiority of intellect, your superior
, n.y. Of virtue, your wisdom and your fore
sight; yet you cannot feel more than our.
selves You are proving to US by logic
that we ore prosperous and happy; but We
feel, we think, we know otherwise, and
we care not for your logic. lie may tell
them, you know that the government has
D qotattained all possible, imaginable happi-
ness; but bow can you tell how the new
one will operate, how can Won tell how a
. wdl compare with the old constitutional
They will answer, the right IS ours-lhe
stake is ours-the loss is ours-the gain is
ours-we feel, we know that happiness has
f,.f haor, soct,-oI -