Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-03-27

aSG oAAoEs 0ukWo duu our county -luep 90 uot l.
ook upon ourselves to stand under so hard a re-
alton as that of lords and slaves. The parity Of
'ur descent inciines to keep up the like parity
u our laws; and to yield the presidency to moth |
ne but superior virtue and wisdom" -Isocrates |
was OF tho same opinion. He said, 1" Il seemed |
unjust to US (Athenians) that many should be ru- |
&C by the authority Of few; that those who |
were inferior in their fortunes alone, and in NO
other respect, should be debarred from share in
the magistracy and honors. And that while We
nave all The same common country and the same
privileges Of birth, some should be masters and
proprietors Of the Shareholders no better than
strangers and dependents,-and, that under the
pretencc Of law, persons by nature members Of
tho commonwealth, shoald be denied the offices
and employmcnts in it," These noble principles
OF republican government had their commenced
ment in the revolution Of affairs in that country
effected by Scion.
We have Mr.. Hobbs on the other side Of the
question, who has done much to establish the au.
thority OF the few to rule the many, who says
''that anarchy, oIigarchy, and tyranny are three
names imposed by those who either mislked the
Government, or the Governor" We have heard
nearly similar doctrine advanced in this coun-
try, but certainly few Americans will at this day
sustain il. Boron Pufendorie in commenting on
these ideas Of Mr.. Hobbs probably places them on
their true merits. He says, "that men Of haugh-
ty spirits, and who dislike the equality of a popu-
lar State, when they see all men without distinc-
ton, giving their voes in the public business, Of
whom the inferior ccmmonalty always make the
greater number, call this 0chiocrdcy, or a state
where the base rabble sit at the helm, and where
no prerogative is allowed to such extraordinary
merit as they look on themselves 10 be possessed
OIL" This is good answer to the advocates Of
arstocra,ic principles, in this country. Puffen-
dorfe in maintaining the principle that all free
men are to be accounted equally free and indie
pendent, declares that, "this equality we may
call an equality of right; the principle from
which it springs, is this, that the obligation to
social life equally binds all men, inasmuch as il
is the inseparable companion of human nature"
This is perfectly consistent with the principle
laid down by Mr.. Say, and goes to strength
en- it.
But, Mr.. M. asked, how are the. rights of pro-
perty secured i'll every country BY the physical
maintain the title to their estates' Not in the ma
lority OF their own power; but by the physical
power OF the many. How are they protected in
the enjoyment of their property against the wants
and necessities Of other parts Of the community!
BY the consent of the majority. When infrac-
tons are made upon the rights of the freebooter,
he calls upon the non-freeholder, who, with the
manly and gallant spirit OF a Republican,, steps
forth to his aid He is always ready TO maintain
the rights Of the community.
The best security, for the rights Of property and
persons consists in the love of the people for equi
ty, and their attachment to good form of govern
ment. This attachment is well expressed by a poet
OF distinction, in these lines:
Lives there mar, toith heart so dead,
Who TO himself hath neuer said,
Ihls IS nay otoI,, my native iand?"
This is the sentiment Of every virgiuian.-
There is no vrginion who does not feel its force.
All have the same love of country, and the same
attachment to the common good
Mr.. NJ. said, there is one other subject which
ought to be brought to the notice of the Senate:
and, altho' it may be too delicate for our present
consideration, yet We ought to consider every sub
ject which may have any bearing on the question
before us. He alluded to the slave population
This population Is becoming formidable from its
numbers, as well as its character. From statistical
information, the progress of increase in this class
OF persons, is far greater than that of the white
population; and, in few years, the superiority in
number OF these persons, will afford subject of
Just dread, to all rejecting in this part of the
State. Already there are more slaves East of the
Blue Ridge than free white persons. And, as we
have recent example OF their danger, in neigh
boring Island, (St Domingo,) we ought to spre ad
wide the foundation of our government, that all
white men have direct interest in its prote ction
This was the policy of Sparta; and even then, in
the days Of danger, she found herself too weak to
subjugate her own rebel slaves. Under this view
OF the subject, is it not the dictate of sound policy
as well as Of good feeling and JUSTICE on the part
of the East, to act towards their Western breth-
rem, in such way, IS 10 draw closer the bonds Of
friendship, and of interest. To whom il th.. East
to look in the days of danger and distress, but 20
the freemen Of the West, for protection and secu.
rity? Then should we not pause and weigh we'll
the consequences, before we determine to disfran-
chse SO large portion OF the active force, not on
ly in the West, but the East? We ought TO con.
slider WELL whether these men thus deprived of
their just rights, can fairly be expected to come
forth, in the hour of danger, to give that protec-
ton, which they alone afford the community
No man can tell, or even imagine, what may be
the course of those who have no direct voice in
the Government of the country, If the time shall
come, (Which we all hope NAV be ayerted nv Soma
providential cause) when o struggle for power
and revolution shall be made. Projection cannot
be sought in the States near to, and south of us;
they have even greater share OF this descrip-
ton of population than ourselves. But by the
proposition which is before the Senate, the
door is opened for conciliaou and for the securi-
ty OF every class Of people in every section OF the
country. Will you exclude those persons, who
are entitled, by birlh-right, common origin. and
those ties, which bind together people of the same
soil, from an entrance therein! Or will YOU, bv
giving them an equal participation in the rights and
advantages pertaining TO citizens connect them to
you by bonds which neither danger mol. adyersity
can sever,
Here MIR. NJ. said, he regretted that he had oc-
cupied so much of the time of the Senate. He
would only add, that the remarks which he had
offered, were pade 10 spirit Of good and friendly
feeling; and, he trusted, that nothing which he
had said, would be interpreted to arise from any
other than good will to every portion Of the Com
monweath.
MURDER
The following letter from one of the most high
ly respectable citizens OF Kentucky to the Editor.
details the circumstances attending the murder OF
the Editor Of the Kentucky Gazette. The murder
er is the son of Robert WickIfe, the LAWYER of
the Bank Of the United Siates-the bosom and
confidential friend of Mr.. Clay. As we do not
receive the Kentucky Reporter, we are unable 4,