Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-03-11

-eoil' IN Soin, o0aiae" (which ctGnuatc{l ia lftst>
n2rFd and bloody massacre. This great phlosophc-
~ untn 'r'uiHpnst ever the generous feelings OF hu
nanty and h"l1irg IN tamc subieeton the impulses
81 charity, justified the relentless eNclana,ior per-
sn the colonies, but save the prneiplc.- natu-
raj equality of man maintained in state of society is
TOTALLY irrcconcieabe with the preservation of OF
DER and with the possession and protection of proper
~ TO any considerable extent. The whole earth is
mans dwelling place, and each one is equally sul nat
nraiy entitled TO so much of It's soil and fruits
necessary for ms hibi alton aud Subsistence and
morc.-fhe laws of tho Community and not tho
US al nature, authorize the ACQUISITION of cpcrty
ncyond tho individual capacity 10 enjoy or ability 10
defend. The desire Of reducing every man to the
same level IN all respects, was the avowcd motive
which guided tire conduct Of the French Jacobins.
In the eager pursuit ola phantom, the Jacobnica
Jewelers. dsrcgardcd every consideration of Justice
humanity, and religion. Murder and coniiscatiou
were legitimate means Of establishing their system
Order and civil liberty were merged in the Gulf of
Righteousness from which necessarily spranr profn
lily and inEdeiny. According 10 the revolutionary
creed. man could have no Superior. The Deity was
bravcd and iuYute, and tho phrcnzicd advocates Of
equality vonl the power had been possessed have
dcthroncd the Governor Of tho Universe Wcgship
ofa Supreme Being unavo;dahy cnorccs IL, idea of
,rltcriority and dependence; hence the a!ta-s were
crushed, ana under their ruins We're buried al the
forms of religious dcvotion:-,vhst the Goddess of
Reason vas proclaimed TO be the only Divinity wor-
thy OF the h1nilgc Of IN n. an Men are BY Ma
turc equally free and independent" Here sir, is the
authority, superior to oar laws, which invites
to fprcbie aud convulsvc dissolution of som. OF
the long established relations of soccty. This is
the general order under which the standard OF liberty
IS to be erected the banners OF equality urro,i and
onder tho niaddcnng inspirations Of the Irresistible
geni,s or universal emancipation" erfry irhabitant
OF tao country may march forth to assert and main
tain his natural freedom and Independence Yes sir
tins sublime abstraction in oUr bill a. rights. ii
enforced n society, causes inc slayc swell beyond
the measure OF his chains" il restores linn TO the
| mama IfirI -
20 wax abroad in all tho molcs;v Of native equality
and to traverse the bills II: dalCs Of Virginia with
as little restraint rs his f0refaihN-s once spor.cd on
tho: natal plains The gentleman from WythC
/ Ma. DraJe-) vas constrained 10 admit that the
practical adoption Of the doctrine for winch j., so
~nalousy cou.endCd necessarily led 10 fha enauciua-
ton ut slaves. Tie utmost ingenuity cannot
reconcile bonirGe with equal freedom. The rcn,le-
man however, II seemed. not prcpare 20 extend
his principles 10 the liberation Of the slave IN the
contrary he conceded that tn existing Condition of
society. and the sacred duty Of scifsccuri'v justified
rs IN resisting his natural csiri 10 freedom. This
concession is virtual abandonment Of the position
assumed, that the siTc, letter OF the bill Of rights
ought alone ~ regulate the work Of reform. Having
fearful apprehension. sustained think by rccur-
renee TO all past experience OF the disorder injustice
and violence which must attend such an effort |
! have laoored tcdiousiy pcrhans but | hopa not
altogether uusuccessimliy.. 10 demonstrate that tho
idea of preserving the natural equality of man in the
formation OF society IS absurd; that il is wholly
n
and correct intcrPrca'7a Of the LAM usgc which has
been so frequently 1rotcd % sustain l..
Nr. Speaker, said Mr. ID. there is another provis-
ION contained IN orr bill Of rights which has been
fruitful theme Of defamation. The ri-ht Of ma
iority TO alter the Government has been indicated
With IN earnest zeal calculated to convey t.e o,nres-
sion that 1t had cncoun red denial or invasion. Tho
admission OF this principle to its fill extern. ourlt to
enter into the creed of every American politician
It IS sir nothing css than the assertion OF inc frans
cendent revolutionary doe'riue Of America unon
which the illustrous D7triDts % IS proceeded TO
Tcnounce the Government Of Great BrWa;: .". 90 20
recant taeLT 9rHganec {" the hlftvred hcrocs. and
ana confirmed by thn 9hfnacv Of ali orr Remnb,.n
on IT'S truth TTch have arisen in tie waste pacrs Of
ilsN!u prcTogatire. This majestic power of tho
people once reused into action. disuwuing all oJedi
cnce 10 existing Institutions is from lis very nature
uncomfortable; it have no superior To r~7scrbo
It's progress, or to Indicate the Ultimate point Of It's
destination. before The awful tribunal of ronulor
sovereignty, the constitution itself Invested Of tho
prelnders d. antiquity and strpt OF the veil of rev
crcncc "ch protected i;s form from violation stands
wcak and dcfcncclcss.
Prudence VIII suggest that Government should
not be- changed lor insufficient causes: and reason
ana experience viii so"nanly aimonsh us of dangers
beyond H. reach OF hunan foree ght, " hich must
necessarily accompany resort 10 this fundamental
right W hen. howcvor, the people Of VIRGINIA shall
deem themselves cruelty oppressed and rrievo,,z
-burdcncG, land they alone admit ara rdncs Of ,b
NATTER 20 10 induce them 20 M and dissolve the
smother u it, stoad, m MIA / presume. viii drn,S
Mo debate this right Of action. Honest men nav
differ as to tho necessity or proprc:y OF the move
ment The lovers op"acc may deprccatc tie turrnos
Of revolution bG. there can ext one opinion oJ,i
concerning the Inherent hight Of the minority Is
sucn sir, the real situs'ion Of Virgniao-arc We az
toniiy engaged II revising, altering or aboisinr orr
constitution bvaB cXeftIou OF prji1itre govcrei@nt,
no, hr: Speaker Ve hive not yet determined 10 act
upon thu essential principle Ut sel-govcrnmcnt the
existence o. which i ildc;,as.b bic, but the exercise
ia!I OF peril end sbcld therefore be wisely reserved
Tor cases Of dYo necessity, when the ilder and loss
co"vu!s.Te means Of reform had proved unayailiry.
Nor are wcyet prepared TO incur the folly Of ATTEMPT
ing u revert TO state Of nature, in order that Tho
inhabitants may meet upon tho ground of their ori
ginaI equality md that the voice Of each one NAV
alike prevail in TIC formation Of new social com
P'It' fhe strongest powers Of incv cannot chain
Jie rllnd 20 an IDEAL satc;-.hc bOjdest effort ~
imagination cdnnot abstract tic attention from orr
real fi'u1iion by producing the olusun TINT VIC arc
*i"j'@ "n"rda'n9n and hunters" We cannot close
I'D pf fltstst ,or-, 1.....