Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-12-05

OF the an
Die argument aysins, his pretensions
In every one Of the States, noticed by tho gentleman
from Loudoun, aye. In every one OF them. without
single exception (uness be that modern scheme OF
representative government, with which the State o.
New York has favored the world the elk and siruc.
ture OF those very sages, with all their advantages OF
mature experience, and tranquil times. and deliberate
investigation. shew, most convincugIy, the utter fAa-
cy OF the prstension. he upholds.
The Constitution Of Massachusetts,. OF New Hamp-
shire, OF Maine, Of Connecticut, Of Yermont,--all
shew, that this political Dogma in its adaptation 10
mature society, with interests far advanced, ami long
estabi.hed-this idea OF carving and cutting on, the
mass OF sociey, so as to assign TO each equal
portion oil political power, has not been attempted by
their and Notwithstanding all the facilities, which
the condition Of Of these States In respec; to their
oca' o. municipal arrangements state Of society. at
orded t1r the application OF h. principle OF equality
having regard to naked principles only has been dis
regarded in one branch of their legislature; AMI ira
versed by greater and stronger checks in the other
branch, than any propose to adopt Let the tell
him too that though the feature does appear
in the Constitution OF Pennsyiv yet il he will look
lnto the proceedings Of the Convention which formed
II, he will hnd that ia that honog snious
1t Is In population, and uniform it is 10 almost all is
interests, in that Convention cent aiming Of the
ter-sprts OF the Revolution, and the standard rspub
liedns Of tho day. il proposed introduce the
limitation in the Senate OF that State, which we pro-
pose, by basing representation upon the number Of
tie taxable inhabitants only, but upon ratio deduce
from combination OF taxation and numbers Of taxable
inhabitants
But sit not little remarkable, that the gentleman
from Loudoun, after going into such elaborate inves
legation Of the Cons,i uiions and Bill OF Rights, Of other
States In this Union should all at have stopped
that precise point, when he would have come in
tact with States, whose iHterest and situation In re-
'pect TO population. are analogous TO ourss North Car
oina South Carolina, Georgia. and Tennessee, are all
kept carefully out OF view. They probably 10 no, de-
serve enquiryprecissly for the very on, which,
all Others, ought to recommend their example us.
VIZ: conformity Of their interests TO ours, and the
claim oil those interests to the notifications in their po
ii;ca institutions, which we propose in ours.
My next voucher /, the Constitution OF the United
States Yes, sir the Constitution Of the United St,'es
And. here, il pleased the gentleman from Loudoun. q
speak, OF course, OF the tendency Of hi. remarks 10
disparage that instrument; and the eminent men who
recommended il TO the adoption Of the American peo-
pie, by holding up that series OF papers. which have
so often heard gentlemen this floor refer to the
articles OF their political creed. q speak Of the Federal
st obno xious TO the criticism that the in
part it and contradict those used
IN another part IL gave surprise, confess from
the known sagacy of that gentleman, that he had not
ouud solution for the apparent cont ADDICTION to which
he alluded; that he had not discovered the principle
which at would solve it competely that ha did
discard from his mind the influence OF one dominant
principle, and allow the anatogon principle its proper
place and effect in controlling il.
That would have explained all the seeming eontrari-
ety. Ii is verify Of remark that in his zeal 10 sustain
his proposition, not merely means but with steady
gaze toward the end he added the principles Of the
Bill Of Rights, the doctrine in Of those papers which
regards numbers Of the elements of power and
exutDgly referred to it-and yet the very work fur
nishes direct condemnation Of the he proposes
make of that is, 10 shew that numbers Is the sole ee-
ment of power.
What is the character of the government OF the u
niteG Safest II is full and plenary for
all purposes; but is complete political entity, for the
purposes Of conducting the foreign relations Of the u
ned States, and between the States OF the
federscy TO settle their differences members Of that
roniedeiacy. IL is shorn OF all power TO interfere with
The municipal regulations OF the Safe: but its iimta-
lion TO foreign relations, does not change its cassh
cation 1t does to be republican. because it
refers to external concerns only yet is in effect con-
tended that the same government. applied TO our in.
ernal cOncerns is artocratic and olgarchca Surely,
the Limitation the Of its power does not qualify
change the designation OF the government ITSELF and
II a government is republican, when charged with
part Of csncerns does not TO be republican,
Il charged with the whole OF our concerns as one peo-
Pile.
Now, look at the principles which enter into the Con-
'tuon of that COVE, nslent. The Federal Government
q government formed by association Of sovcregns
The governments OF the several States by associa ions OF
Now it happens in respect TO Slater that the
principle OF their equality is not admitted by only
Dut by all Christie dom all civilized people admit
quality OF States. Whether their governments be
publican Observation-Disclosures political power be
exercised by the people in person, by their represen
aiives, by the Autocrat upon his throne, are
isnied equality among themselves. But the equality
ndivd has the force Of au,hority that
denied by all the rest OF Chisiendom. States are
6cial entities; they political corporations. and with
Us they associated TO form Dt just in
iividuai would associate for the pur pose
Their primitive equality is confessed dispute IL
Federal Government Looking indeed to of the de-
,arfne of that government, find their equality
preserved strictly; but IL look TO other departments
,f IL, shal, find that other consider sons have SUI
perveDed which political considerations required to he
" ghed and due allowance to be made for, in order
10 effect the great end Of government viz: the prose-
ton Of all. In other departments, these entities are
Ire ated not integral, but as representing different
masses OF populaiion and power Is allowed the
rordDg to the proporieR Of those each other
while in third branch OF the government, we find
compound principle made up OF both combined The
Executive branch is the progeny Of union Of these
principles. There Is an equality OF the parties in
and there IL difference OF power In another; yet
Is not this republican government Will the gentle
man from Loudoun. (Mr. Mercer0 or the gentleman
ma against II as an aristocracy, an oiENehy! Look
at The modification OF the principle In order TO the
relative dimensions Of entities which equal in one
ense, one part OF the population 10 allowed value ac
-odiOg to lite number, and the other according TO
ain proportion Of its numbers.
Well, sir. Has this changed it into any other than
epublican Government II is said that this arrange
nent the result Of a compromise Admitting this, i
demand to know whether all compromises are not the
ruit OF modification Of antagonist principles? Are
hey made by mere GUEST in manner perfectly arbi-
rary? Have they principles to guide them? Or 10
rot the compromise to fix the precise point where
agonst principles intersec each other TO give TO
10Th their due Operaton2
refer TO the Constitution OF the United States, not
merely to vindcate scheme from the stigma which
attempted 10 be fixed upon IT, but fer another, and
more important purpose. That government has been
eferred o,no only example TO shew the consdera-
ion Of all population, bond and free, but because OF its
influence this state member Of the confederacy
md subject TO that government government charged
1h the external relations Of this and the other States
AIKEN into account from which a large por-
ion Of the weight Of this State is derived Expel that