Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-12-24

no poStuata, which give han strait lac, that may
ne indefinitely extended; no definition point, with
out length or breadth no axiom which allows that
Siv,n number of integers combined. is of the same
value as the like number, indicated by summing up
separate and detached integers. All these guides
will fhil him. and he will find himself betrayed into
himself to their absolute sway Proceeding his
strait linc he will go on, linking consequence to con-
sequence, and induction to induction, to almost
uterninabie extent; like Jacobs ladder which led
from earth to Iieayen-only, that this l fear, takes
the opposite direction.
said, that in constructing moral and political
ttico'ems, especially when providing organic law
Tor Society, already mature, whose interests have
peen growing up for two centuries, numerous prin-
"les necessarily required, in order to give form
TO government, which will secure to each the en-
ioyment of lifa liberty, property and the pursuit of
haPrinesS andt produce the greatest sum of public
good.
Lot me now attempt to furnish some illustrations,
ana to correct some paralogsms, by which rent emen
attempt TO fix on us, that which we ondemn in them
VIZ: the following out Of one principle to extremes
dlsrogarding all Others
Look to England grown as she is to a mauni-
tude OF opuence and ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. with interests
distinct III Their nature, enormous in their amount,
and diverse as to the parties possessing them Is
there fanatic in the land, who would take up u
Prio,i principles if he were called to make Constr
tatioE for that People & be governed by them alone:
Is there who has entirely surrendered his MINI
u CERTAIN Srnpe distractions that he would under
take, ut one blow. to i:vel all these iAtcrests and
give free anj eI,,ai representative, ,yovar,,;nat to
That peopie'Yct the general principle of Rapnbli-
can Go9crnment Is no less true, and without it. no
Tree government does exist II is found in
the british Constitution modified, indeed and main
e't.--and far below what it is i'll this counry----but
etIii enough to make that free governments so far
as mere civil rights concerned.
But, supposng him to get rid % the most ohv;ors
lnpediments to the practical application fthis famous
political teoreID (vlZ the equal rights OF man and
the equal enjoyment of political power, suppose
say, that lie gets rid of the Nobi y-thc Clerrvthe
Corporations-and the Monarch-and ,hcn has onl,
the People themselves to provide for od he j. called
I" apply his principles stere one here, who respects
the rights OF man, as means to the end of public
happiness, hat would extend the principle so as TO
give In the language of the propositions of the cen
tleinan from Norfolk to every man an enuul portion
fpotical power and make tile sole measure Of that
equality, equal numbers, however they NAV be stu
ated or combined? Sir equal numbers. are in tins
matter, not always of cQnal value Their value de.
Pends on Their localities their circumstances and The
interests which bind them together. Would any 9ive
tor example, to the county Of Miidlesex and civ of
London power III proportion to the number of nolls
within the bills of mortality? Par less accord,ur I'm
inc property within those limits. The who would
do this, would prove himself to be mere driyelIer-
poor closet SPECTATOR who knew, ,hiur of man
tils interests his passions have selected this ey
ample. In order to sbeW the limits ] sci to my own
principle: So far would be- from giving To London
ana hlIdd!eseX, an average of power according 20
their numbers, that would look the lessons Of cx
perlence taught Us and the wisdom brought into
practical operation in our sister States of Mas-och,
20 the number of representatives. the town of BIS
ton, whatever may be the number of inhubi,an or
their wealth. and both require the numbers of pop
ulatlon multiply IN township, argcs and, still lar
ger number. III order to obtain another iDterer If no.
iitIcai representation They could not in conssten
with the preservation OF the darling principle OF
political equality, Darling it is to me as 10 any sler
out to large masses of population combined in one in
terest and directed by VIII, representation eona
TO that enjoyed by population of equal number dis
perscd in numerous smaller townships To, s,oLo
lessons not fror 'ieory but from practce-nnj th.,
OF these descendants of the pilgrims reads us .sso,
which we may proftably consider.
What, then, becomes of the rcproach ot,ennte5to
be fastened on the friends of the amendment? that
their OBJECT to give superiority to wealth, So f
from giving wealth the prevailing influence Womb
III the case to which have resorted for illustration
stf!Ee IL out altogether; and to counerpoise the con-
suidated force of numbers IN the CITY would Ino
TO the wealth and numbers combined in the country
or apply the principle that has been adopted in
MASSACHUSETTS and New Hampshire, of requiring lar
ger ana larger numbers to entitle the growing
OF the population combined by interest to an adj
ditional representative in the Legislatures
For further Illustration let take our position not
on foreign ground, not IN country where the Gov
ernmenL and the community are the growth of On
many centuries, but in land Let us look NJ
the State OF New York. Were called upon TO frome
system OF organic law which should protect all the
interests OF society and preserve them III their proper
orbits, certainly would give to their great com
ulcrcial emporium representation ACCORDING TO It's
numbers; far less would add its two hundred mil
t1'1 Va P'oPe'Cy sun iarther to enhance Its
grown power. Gentlemen may not perhans in orr
day, witness any very evil effects frSn srch feature
nthe Constitution of that State-but when that great
city shall have extended itself over the whole Island
on WHICH 1t is seated, and shall have engufed all the
neghborng villages, then those " no shall have been
mlsled by the pragmatical idea of measuring moral
qualities by rules which apply physical QUANTITIES.
only, may rue the day when they adpted principle
winch viii have given the city of New York practi-
cal tom Mon over the whole State.
MF- Chairman, am sensible that have occupied
TOO much tine l. these illustrations: but was anxi-
Gus al tne threshold OF the discussion to withdraw
from gentlemen the other side the autI,orit; To
turn upon US the reasoning VIC condemn in them
"now would be easy to hew that II the principle
contained IN the amendment, were to be applied at
~ times and IN all circumstances such an application
OF twoud sacrifice the main principle to an antago
mist and subordinate one
We renounce sucba course. When we are called.