Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1829-12-21

made the basis OF their Government nj III. re.
volu,ion of l716.-ought III, Sc doctrines TO t,e
treated MS vain distractions, mrtaphy steal sub
,leiles. visionary lheorles'- Ought they not 10
be acknowledged as SOLEMN truths, confessed
as the articles OF or political fAiih-made the
standard OF our political conduct f-Onght we
not, rs we regard the permanencv of our instr
unions. To recommend them lo the respect aud
Difference nj The present generation. To the love
aud venersllon ot posteIhy IN recall men
10 original mayims Is generally recalling
them To virtue. this Is the language of dis.
ting ushrd orator, aud Is the language OF truth
= ich does cot require III suppD,i ol Ruthori
ty.-Ihe advocates ior hhrri. ,he friends Of
good government Ia all time, nave end at oI ed
10 lnculcate respect aud reverence Tor pflnct-
pies aud have thopghi=ii vie to bold up hieh
! standards Of cree Hence ior the emulation OF
the people Plato iepnhIic was not written
with the vain hope tina lis perfection would
he re lized but With view TO inspire love OF
excellence, and create emulation. Cicero's
! work De Rtpubiica was written Tor the pur
| posi- II recalling the X man people to the iua.
dhmrnlal principles Of their government, and
OF Recommending them 10 their affections, AVID
their reyerence.--Bui il came too iaie 10 reform
! the degeneracy ef the age, OF TO preserve the
freedom OF HE glory ol Rome he celebrated
| Edmund burke, who dreaded the coutngon Of
! French principles. aud the dwelling hand Of
| French equality quite AS niue AS any good =
| publican here ca do, "heu with so much eIo.
cue ce aud biity and pIopht tic talent. he
traced the causes Vi the F,cn, h revolution, de
plorrd It's unnecessary esre,ses, pointed IT its
| errors, aud Indicate It's dans aous teudencios,
| when he endravorrd 10 lay he evil split OF
reform winch vas llsing IN Englnnd, and
| warn his country men against Thu rnInOus ek
| aslule who they seemed J,sposcd tollmliale,-
what did he api"a' To, as mosI dehi I" En-
| glishmen he mp ,raied t. tue word anu
spirit Of hal i.nm, rial aw, thu English declar
alton Of r,gh " II IS the word nd spirit OF
our declaration If zig Is, 10 ,unt aw. which Ae
should desire 10 make Immortal. that IN my
| humble judgment We should all tunes not
only appeal, not only 10 guide us against the
danger Of needless reform, but TO guard Us ia
mhkng whoes me amendments.
We have been taught M. Chairman, that the
education of a'peoplr should ALWAYS be con
Quoted with reference to ,he principles of their
government, IN ord r that sentiments OF loyalty
| may be sown in IA ~ early affections u he
| same wisdom inslructs us to mould The subord-
nate laws in Uniformity To the fundamental
! law of the country II is IN the spirit OF ihese
lessons. that having adopted the republican
| form of government we have constantly inLul'
calrd the love of liberty, of virtue, of simple,
| unos eniaiious mnnncrs. aud that, 10 prevent
| an injurious inequality 10 the fortunes aud
| conditions Of men, the laws have been passed
| VIII CHI abolish entails aud the rights of primo.
| genture.--The al nboshing cuialls. which Is
1oeval with our government, aud thai prescrlb-
ing The law NJ descent, VINCE very quickly sue.
creded ihr war OF tn reyolulior. were not fouu.
ded on ans Supposed injustice or iniriLsc IN
| p'0prieiy III limiting the estate ofthc parrn' TO
! his remotrst dcsceIdauts, or making tn FIRST
born son The exclusive heir, but were founded
on reasons purely political, reasons which IN
ducrd our ancestors 10 believe that however
wise, however necessary in Englfnd, for the
preservation OF their government IT might be,
10 preserve family distinctions and perpetual
family wealth such distinctions aud such wealth
we're unsuiied to republican government, aud
that the laws for promoting them, would be.
here moi less impractcable than nneis'.
It is submitted 10 this committee whether all
these oHsderaiions DO not recommend 10 their
most respectful attention, the principles winch
lie at ihf foundation oi our government II
they thnk So il is hoped they will no, deem the
iime IN sspent which shall be employed 10 fur
Their consideration Of the bill OF rights. where
these principles are decldred.-ln performing
this duty | shall not follow the example OF the
Judge who cond mncd Xadig 10 death, upon the
evidence of the tor fragments oil his manu-
script IL shall rot sunder The different parts
ot tho ,ame instrument, the text from the con
temporaneons commentary, the declaration OF
righ's from the constitution based upon II at the
same i,me, aud by the same hands.
The FIRST article declares. " that ell men are
by nature, free & independent, have certain
inherent rights, of~hich, when they enter in
TO state of society, they cannot by any
compact, deprive or dWesl their pos,erity,
" namely tie enjoyment Of life aud liberty
i" With he means If acquiring &possessing pro
" peny pors i5e Z, Il IA nng hapPlne tx sat-
~ The firSi line of tuls article j. taken amos' l.
lrrally from Locke, WI. declares, tbat "al men,
are by nature free, equal and independent -
and II has given rise Ia TIN discussion here.
/ concerning the nnturai rights OF man. Gentle
men have endeavoIed to invest gate those
rights, in a condition oil man, which Is snppos.
ed 10 have preceded society. condition which
hey have termed the state of nature. Moi
being able 10 satisfy Themselves that such a
condition Of man ever existed. they reasonably
conclude That The rights peraining 10 il cannot
he ascertaned, and thai whatever they may he,
they cannot influence his rights. in a state Of
civil society readily CONCUR IN the opinion,
/ Mr. Chairman. that snCh unsocial condition Of
man has never existed, uni IS under such acci-
! dcut al circumstances, AS attended tne fahled
case Of Robinson Crus0e, quoted Ivy the gentle.
man from Chesterfield except the single in
| stance with which the bbe history commences.
! That We know was Of short duration, coniInu'
ing only, while +" man the hermit sighed aud
| ternna ting. when woman sunderland dis
prl,ed forever the gloom of his solitude Man
was created for society aud social intercourse
| is as much law OF hisnature, rs that he should
support bis existence by food. promote his
comfort by rament, procure supplies by labor,
or piotect himself irotn aggression by force. 10
every state OF society, whether savage or civili-
zed. whether psiriarchal or political, laws ari.
| sing from the nature OF nan. from his weakness,
his dependence, his wants, his desires. his APP
peutes, his passions and his intelligence, mus
necessarily govern his social relations, regulate
his rights aud duties These laws are deduced
by reason, from the known character and con-
dition ofman and the laws OF his nature =