Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-11-10

government which the wisdom Of our fathers gave:
ana with such representation in the Senate. they
would never seek to disturb II And the geatie-
man from Cslpeper (Mr. Green) gave warning, that
" the Claim to representation in the Senate the ba-
non would only be the motive to new demands. he
has lived to be acknowledged for prophe, In his
own country So now, give them iher favorite prin.
cipe OF representation in the House Of Deleg ates-and
guard property from taxation for any avoric purpose
by any eHsctna guaranty, If such thing be possible
or attempt TO SECURE property, by giving full repre-
sentaon In the Senate-,he moment the net power OF
the state shall feel any check upon its action and
no otherwise overcome IT, il will raise another clamor
for Convention to cut the knot cannot united
IL as true Of the love Of power il is Of the love Of
gold, Quo plus hdbet, Plus eupit Talk Of power
resting content while any power remains to be acquire
eu-tak OF to any green, very green person-but for
the love OF mercy, mock more, by reminding
Of the history Of that senatorial bill. As the bill Of
ne last session Tor organizing this body the basis Of
me congressional Districts, IL is not worth while 10
plain the way in which il lost-the gentleman from
Aih-mar. il best able 10 do Il.
The next argument for the basis OF white population
exclusively Is deduced from the natural right, Of man.
think tho genius OF the gentleman from Northampton
Mr op'hnr) has laid spell on that doctrine. fit
Tor any practical use. We employed in forming
government for civilized man. for horde of saws
gesJust emerging from an imaginary state Of nature.
i. me latter wa. our purpose, doubt whether we
they would think at all about their natural rights Their
political destiny would de determined by crcumstances
which political phosophy would be little fitted con-
fra-d'tingnished from social Conventional right-Ths
very word right word of relation, and implies
society While Robinson Cru.oc alone in his I.l-
end, what were his rights To catch the goats and
tame them-to kill their kids AMI eat them. When
Friday came, how did they regulate their natural
rights! He saved fridays liie-he gave him bread
and Friday became his servant And that, believe,
was about as republican government any thus
CONTINUOUSLY brought together. would ever form-the
stronger would he master. BY the way, think De-
better hook on the science OF government, than
Cookers Arithmetic or Pixies either. But gentle-
men may have just what system Of natural rights they
like bcstprovded they will only me, that, eli
ther by natural law, or Conventional law, municipal
law, or the jas centrum dut quocuique dIio noais
voedf'r-cvery man /. entitled TO the property he has
earned by his labor and TO that which his parents
earned and transmitted TO him by inhcritance-and that
what Is hi. property his To give and his dispose Of
hese, hope, are reasonable posuiates: and I am
much mistaken they do not lead. by fir induction, to
the utter overthrow Of the resolution of the Legislative
Committee, and TO the establishment of the proposed
amendment on irrefragable grounds.
Then gentlemen urge Bill Of Rights upon
us, as perfectly conclusive-and 10 the amazcment
Of some and the amusement of others Of th. Commit
tee, gentlemen, founding their whole argument on
the Bill OF Rights, deny the competency of the Con-
venilon OF 76-and by consequence, one would think,
the authority Of the Bill of Rights. Mr.. jefferson was
the hrti person that brought this charge of usurpatio
against that Conve n'ion-and $50 important are great
mems error tho with him it seemed rather matter OF
curious 'pecnation only, yet ever since, when old
Constitution has heen assailed for its supposed defects
this opinion Of Mr. Jefferson has been referred to az
conclusive authority. had implicit faith in the opin-
ION myself when was at Colege-how long after I
canno; say, not being able TO fix the date when my
mind came TO maturity At what period Mr. Jefferson
the Incompetence oil the COnve ntiOn
were vain TO conecturs--but apprchcnd. il wa. not
during the session Of that body;or know that Mr. J..
hn.eii prepared Constitution for Virginia and sent il
10 "han'hnfg, that il might he proposed the Con-
vention. during the session, from which the preambs
and nothing more, taken and pefixed to the pre-
sent Constitution Any one may see, at glance, that
mat preamble was written by the author OF the Deca-
ration OF Independence have the proi-t of the
Constitution which Mr. J. offered in the council cham
oer IN his own hand writing, tho il found
and have since cursed my folly that neglected to
taxi copy OF it, in order to compare Mr. Us democra-
cy Y that day with George Mascn's practical republic
canism Bus, sir, the validity Of the Constitution. A.
such, has been maintained by Pende,on Wythe Roans,
by the whole Commonwealth for hfty-four wears. III
the Convention OF 70 was incompetent to that act, il
was incompetent also TO abolish the Colonial govern
mcnt, and that yet remains in force in like manner a.
me Colonial form OF government Of Connecticut re-.
famed Tor years; and all the objection, 10 the
OF our Convention Of TO- might be urged with equal
'orce, against all the Constitutions established in our
sister states during the revolution Ii is said the exist
ing Constitution il not lawful government, because IL
was ordained by the representatives of the
only and never submitted the great body of the peo.
pie. To whom il il intended th,, mr. amended or ~,
Constitution shall be submitted To those pre- sumo to
whom We shall allow the ght is IL gen.
tiemen su"cred according their wishes in that parcu-
ar to sasc-hodrs house keepers and tax PAYERS as
wen rreholers It's remarkable truth i'm the natural
history OF man in this country that the sons are invar
any WIS 81 than their fathers such is the march of mind!
Our sons may aege hereafter that our acts never had
the sanction Of the people-why did we -clnde women
and children? Why Minors tho enrolled in the militia
ana pound to bear arms Why paupers. whose only sin
Al arc part OF The great body Of the peonIe Sir II wa
shall acknowledge. that we this moment in state
Of naiure that mon have resumed their natural rigbr,
and are entitled TO insist them to the ,tcrrno,,; we
may 1--we 10 see the day, when il will he claimed as mat.
yer OF right That the keeper Of the Pr ntary shall
bring his prisoners TO the polls
Now, az TO the Bill of Rights-Tha FIRST article de-
cIares, that all men are by nature equally free and
independent and have certain inherent rights of
which, when they enter into a state OF soriey they
cannot by any compact, deprive vest their
namely, the enjoyment of life and liberty, with the
means Of acquiring and possessing property and pursu-
ing and obtaining happiness and sfety The article
ennmernies property equally dear and sacred with
NE and hbery and the principal OF happiness
and snety-and with good reason-for in order 10 live
Tree and happy is necessary that live and property
necessary 10 susain life, and Just as necessary to
maintain liberty. Yet properly is be wholly disre-
Sardcd IN our fundamental ns utions- But not 10 re-
peat what has been better said by Others shall do.
SIRE me committee to remember, that this article
IS expressed in the language of Iockes theory of 90
vernment, then familiarity known; and that Locke no
more than the Convention Of 10 understood the pro.
position in the broad ascbed TO ii. Locke
has had singular fate. He jealous advocate
Of mixed morarchy--hs Essay on government was
his notions OF practical government are exhibited in
caciqucs and land graves yet. from his book bays
been deduced the widest democracy, and denented
French iacobinisn. II exploded the right divine Of
hmRs-he showed that all government is Of human
institution yet he supposed have established tho
d'pine right IF democracy. So, he pious Chris
tian OF The Church Of Eng gland Of tho low Church,
howevsrye from his chapter on innate IDEAS in his