Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1829-11-19

wisdom, ioi their l.aon ledge IN the science Of
government, mi f9r their experience ; but |
have been informed by all oi my mistake I
have been ,aueh, u acknowledge my error, by
the eonelWlpa.ta which my adversaries have
come, IN thDr Arguments during this debate.
| l was tue misfortune ofthr gentleman from
Frederick Nf Cooke 10 suppose that there
were settled principles declared by our Bill OF
Rights, aud TO think thai When he had shewn
thai ant proposition was sustained by its prin=
! ciples, II was Sufficient, and that any pioposf.
lion opposed 10 IL should be condemned Bat
this nnfarun opinion has been made the
basis ola most discursiye enquiry into the ma.
tnra rights OF man Into an examination OF all
history, and 10 period anlecedeni even 10.
history itself into an effort TO imagine unim-
ngihable things and TO cast odium upon all
principles aud all political doctrines. The elo.
queat gentleman from Northampton (Mr Up
sbur) IN order 10 prove how improper abslrac-
tions were, mdulged in long train of absirac-
lions and meiaphy seal Arguments, aud at last
came TO this bold conclusion that there were M
principles whatever 10 government. Well
may br supposed 10 errofin imagining there
are such principles. when the wit, the talent
the eloquenee of the gentleman from North.
ampton asserts. tina, there are no principles ia
government No principles, Sir - The char.
ecter ot the gentleman Is loo we'll known, his
taens 10 well understood TO believe that he
really enlcriains belief In the truth Of this as.
seriion but the nature Of the warfare wsged
here against the doctrines behind which We
in'rench ourselves, eompes gentlemen 10 throw
every thing into rdcule and confusion. No
principles because every question relating 10
government is question Of exptdiency S.--
because every government should DO made
moi with feierence 10 the situation Of the people
Tor whom the government is intended 1--WE
admit The premises and dnny the conclusion
does II follow because government should ba
adapted 10 the situation Of the people, tina.
there are ma principles THE gentleman
would tell us with equal truth, thar thaagh eve
~ bulldog should be constructed with intent
10 suit the business tu b. Transacted IN il. M
we'll ms the individual tenant yet that there
were no principles oi architecture Surely such
reasoning would require 40 refutafion II state
tbs to show that the gentleman dbl not mean
what he said suggest that The real obIec.
oi his argument IS az little 10 be yindcated as
the PLAIN meaning of tho proposition IN its
broedest apple a,ion--ifii was Intended 10 dis
credit those principles we have been taught 10
veaerale, winch have been Gonsecrated bv the
love 81 our ancestors, which VIZ baYa been
taught 10 look 10 as The guides for our political
faith, II IN as unwise as IL Is untrue. | has ne,.
ther been the doctrine OF ancient nor If mod
ern times to incnlcate such pr,nciples--i, has
not been the opinion Of any writer desoryne
the Leaf respect, from he days OF Plato, down
10 tn laH Southern Review They are the
principles winch have been recommended 10
~ for our adoption. for our love- aud is il wise
that princip plies which constitute part Of our
government Itself shou. d be thrown into dis.
repuia TO sustain any argument or proposition
whatever be lis character Thus much with
respect 10 tins arguneai Of no principles Ia
government.
Mr. Chairmaa. II becomes ns in approaching
the question noW under consideration 10 look
with attention 10 the real prin iples--the true
doctrines which lay Al the toundYtion Of our
government Much lime as has been bestowed
appn the declaration of rights II viii not be Il.
mis- 10 look at IL again with further attention.
This declaiauo0 IN said 10 be the basis upon
winch the Constitution itself WAS formed the
oasis, sir, Of Ill Ju4f RDvernment was inie nded
10 declare those dpoirlues upon which ibe re
vUlnli0n was Funded u Was intended and an
examination viii prove thai tho intention was
cxecnlet, 10 embpdy the doctrines OF Sidney
aud o1 Locke. II had been the province oi
these dis uguished men al Tho peiod which
preceded and followed tHe revolution IN Eng
land TO luaatain lie rights oi the pcople against
rights OF the prince, to deny Us egtlmatc the
foundations in the will ofthe prince /: inspired
by the prin, piles II liberty which the history
Of the English government had infused into the
people, embOldehed by The aCce,sions which
the rights Of people ban gained from the
prince. lhry eama forward 10 prove that all
power resided in the people they did not con
fac themselves 10 the government, which exis-
ted, nor TO the experience OF mankind under
former governments, but they ayaed them.
selves Of that experience aud applied il 10 the
natural aud unweariod rotation between the
and tIR a.
clearly illustrated we recorded as the fouada.
ions Of our government aud they never ought
10 be treated ~ abstracii0us, as visionary the.
cries. bat MS solemn truths, as the articles OF
our political faith aud the standard OF our poll
teal conduct 10 REGAL men To original max.
inns ia recalling them 10 yiriuc--this Is the Ian
guage Of great political writer--it is the Ian
guage OF truth, IL is the language ofour bill of
rights IN the declaration that no free govern
ment can be sustained but bya recurrence to-
fundamental principles. The ADVOCATES Of lib
erty, the friend, OF good government, in an.
cIeht limes. iho'l il important 10 exhlbii 10 tho
people, - standard Of perfection, which, though
they could not follow, they might AZ least
strive TO initiate. The Republic of Plato,
was written 10 exhibie the high standard of
Perfection 10 which man might, aim, though il
was not reasonable 10 hope they would attain
II. Tue Republic Of Cicero, was written, TO
eDdeayour TO recall the Roman people TO their
ancient yIrtue-to impress it upon their hearts,
and recall them from the alterations into
which they had fallen, and reform the degen-
craey OF the age- was written for valuable
purposes, aad had II been prac TO reform
the nation reform would have been accom-
plished, aud he would have attained his efforts
When Edmund Burke, whs was as much afraid
of the excuses of French principles, as any
republican ought 10 be--wheu he pointed out
with eloquence, with prophetic talent, the err
rors OF The French revolution, and its deIeter-
rions consequences did he deny principles
when warning the people Of England against
these evils did he content himself With ridi-
culing principles or did he refer to the word
aud spi,ii OF the English Declaration of Rights
II was to this spirit he appealed, when warning
against French excess; and il is TO the word