Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-01-20

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the people of Powhatan, in all probability, become
the pay-rasters for all the necessary improvements
In the county OF Prestous and be told that these APP
preparations were designed to benefit them as much
as their western brethren, inasmuch as the effect
would be- to increase the facilities of intercourse be-
tween different parts of the State: and although
1t might be difhcuit to make the people of Powhatan
comprehend how the increased facilities of introd,-
eng western stock and whiskey into their country,
(which would be an additional draught upon their cir
cuiallng medium,) would remunerate them for the
sums thus expended, yet they would be bound sub
m-and thus the rights and interest Of the people of
one section would be sacrificed at least III would
have no other security for them than what might be
found In the Justice. mercy and magnanimitv of the
people OF another sections precisely the security
that the yeriest slave has under the absolute des
potism on earth Take another eXamulc, furnished
oy an of districts upon this basis ofhte
population, trawn up by the gentleman from Brooke,
and proposed substitute for the first section of the
Dill Two OF the eastern districts this and the one
ad)olmnglpay an aggregate tax of S76,456 AZ, would
DE entitled to members i'll the convention whilst
OF the western districts paying aggregate tax of
S32l32 81 would be entitled to Is representatives:
Now SIR what security would these eastern dis
trcts have, IT associated in government with those
tour western districts, when they wonld have double
the and pay considerably less than
afef the reYenuee These rights and interests must
necessarily be endangered, if not sacrificed. Mr. c.
do not pretend that ;hese cases, which have mem
toned, furnish fair representation of what would be
the result at present of the whole eastern and western
people associated upon this principle but it shews
most conclusvelv that there ST nothing i'm the pripc;
pie Itself that affords abiding security to the RIGHTS of
property fortultous state of things may some imes
exist where from the similarity of property and it's e.
quail distributions representation upon the basis of
white population would afford the desired sscurtv
Tor, IN such state of things the representation
would be the same upon the one as upon the 9TH
er basis: but such similarity and equality of dis
trbution, III relation to property, would necessarily
continue but Tor short time, if it ever existed and
ppfrp tnl..,
afford No astng security to the rights of PROPERTY
But we frequently referred for guide I'm the CON
sideraon ofths subject to elementary PRINCIPLES to
supposed ORIGINAL state of thinrs-a state of M
ture, as iii called, where individuals having no other
than personal rights associated for protection against
h'e aggressions of others: where the rights of all
were precisely the same none having yet acquired
the rights of property, presume. Nov, if such
state OF things did ever exist and such an ssociaton
was ever formed, it rather military than a civil
one However this may be, it is perfectly certain that
no such state Of things exists present or ever can
exist for if all laws and constitutions were repealed
ana abTogatcd, our situation would be very different
from this supposed original one and if we were then
about to orD u new social campact we should as
semble with very different views, and for very DIFF
erent purposes: instead OF personal protection be-
ing the sole object, q paramount consideration
would be, protection to the rights of property ac-
CURED IN the progress of society. Yes, sir if all the
existing institutions of the country were annued we
shoud still these rights and before we entered
dictated by common prudence-to see that such an
association gave the promise; at least of aordnp the
desired security. But agreeable to the elementary
principles OF some gentlemen, it seems that in such
state OF things, should have right to Stimulate
for any thing. There exists in the majority of tbe
whole people an inherent right do i'm the premises.
precisely what they please-to take from those who
nave property supPose-and give to those who
have none They may, sir have the physical ,oroe,-
to do provided the majority large; but that does
not, III my opinion, constitute any right; and when
THIS Interior measure of force resofted to- it will
supercede the necessity of all further argument Upon
TINS suDJect-and am glad, that the gentlemen from
Frederick and Brooke took occasion to inform us
that they did not mean to with THIS resort
for, without such information might very natu
rally have mistaken them.-But |, for one, cannot
agree hat because peradventurea state of things NAV
arise, In winch rights may be wrcstee from me by
force that, therefore, am bound surrender then,
voluntarily. No. sir, until that period shall arrive
"il insist upon 1T as matter OF right that any potica
body to be vested with the power Of forming rules
and regulations affecting the rights and interests If
inc andGly constituents shall be SO constituted asto
Afford as far practicable. security to those ,.ivhl
and interests l. sir, deny, that the majority of the
Whole people nave any inherent right to govern and
deny, that force as IS commended by the gentlemen
from frederick and Brooke is the foundation of al.
political power I'm this elementary state of thngsl
referred to- the majority of the whole people have no
right 10 govern but what is derived from CONSENT ex-
press or inped, and that actual or virtual il
the foundation of their political puwer-or instance
III all the political bonds by which this society is held
together were dissolved and were about TO form
social compact, as if none had previously existed
deny hat the majority of the people, residing ON this
side of the Ridge, would have any right to form rs
and regulations that would be binding OIL the minor
Hy, residing the other unless they should assooi
ate with us, and by their CONSENT express or imnied
invest us with the right to do So The majority oil
the whole people, never, | believe. in anv countrv
under the sum- claimed this as inherent right. II
has' presume always been matter of comnact and
sgreement; indeed, the majority of the whole people
believe. never did govern at all A certain poi;ti
cal communityif it may be so terned--has been do
signated, majority OF ,ohOm have exercised the
powers OF Governncnt,-and this political commu- |
nifty never, in any instance constituted one-baf IF
the whole people; for the whole of one SEX and Iaroc
portion of the other, has been invariably excluded
HE formation of UOvpfu,no,f