Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-12-19
QONWMYr4IWWe
DEBATE ON BASIS OF REPRESENTATION
Is COMMITTEE WHoLH THE CossrrrvrIoy
MIR. CHAPMAN JOHNSON'S SPEECH.
WEpNEsDAY Nov IL

WEDNESDAY, Nov. H.
Continued
The first article declares, that all men are by ma.
ture free and independent; and have certain inherent
rights, OF which, when they enter into state of soce.
ty, they cannot, by any compact, deprive divest
their posterty namely, the enjoyment of life and H.
berty, with the OF acquiring and pos ssing pro-
perty, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safe.
y"-Ths first line of this article taken almost liz.
orally from Locke, who declares, that all men are by
nature free, equal and indie enden"-and il has give
rise to the discussion here, the natural
Of nan. Gentleman have endeavoured to invs.
those rights, in condition Of man, which is suppose ed
to have preceded sOcieiy,-a condition. which they
have termed the state Of nature. Not being able to
satisfy Themselves, that such condition Of man ever
existed they reasonably conclude, that the rights per-
tanning 10 it, cannot be ascerained, aud that whatever
they may be, they cannot influence his rights in state
oil civil society | readily concur in the opinion, Mr.
Chairman, that such uRsocal condition OF man has ne
existed, unless under such accidental
ces, attended the f,bed case Of Robinson Crusoe
quoted by the gentleman from Chesterfield except the
single instance with which the Bible history
ces. That know was of short duration continuing
only, while " man the hermit sighed"-and terminal
ing, when /" woman smiled, and di,peed fore n
the gloom of his solitude. Man was created for socie
ty; and social intercourse is much law Of his ma
tmre that he should support his existence BY food
promote his comfort by rament procure supplies bv Ia
hour. protect himself from aggression by force. In
every state OF socety,-whether savage or civilized
whether patrarchaI or POLITICAL laws arising from the
nature OF man,-from his weakness, his dependence,
his wants, his DESIRES his appetites, his passions and
his nteiligence,-nvst necessarily govern his social
reIa,ionsregulate his rights and duties. These laws
drduced by reason, from the known character and
condition of man, and the laws OF bis naure:--bey
accompany him in all conditions Of e and TO the
that the Bill Of Rights in this rs article refers This
article means not 10 declare those political rights
which may he varied 10y compact, but those "a nr
rights only, which spring from the invarabe relations
OF 70 sosiety.-lt arms to all equal freedom and
equal Independence a. the gin Of mot equal
political power,-because that arises from compact he
tween those, who, having equal freedom and ndepep-
dence have associated together, and regulated by
agreement, the political power Of the society. II 10
reserved for the fifth article, to declare the polite
power Of the respective members OF society, by indi-
eating the basis Of the Right OF SufTrage-an nd by re-
errng for guidance in this beha,-not TO n natural
but TO nveDtionsl law.
The first article OF the bill Of rights has another fnc-
kon not less important than the declaration of equal
freedom and independence and certainly practical
in its Characteristic declaration OF hose nheen rights
Of which do and cannot dvest their postrrity
by any compact Of society A, government s in,.utsd
for the protection Of life, liberty, property, secure
happiness and safety-so no government be egit.
mate to which thsse are sacrificed Its happy for us,
that this part OF the bill Of rights has been soemnly AID
judged to be constitutional law, and IL the citizen
owes the protection OF his property from the power OF
the government
The second article Of the bill Of rights s further sf-
rnsnce Of the doctrines Of Locke and Sndey in oppo-
son to Sir Robert Fiimer, recognize, the people not
the prince, as the fountain Of political power, and de-.
clares magistrates TO he their trusiee answerabe 10
denied these 10 be the genuine doctrines Of our srn
meni.
The third article arns, that government is instu-
ed for the common beneh,-that shat is best which
capable Of producing the greatest degree Of happiness
and safety and is most ehctualiy secured against the
danger Of NAL administration and that when any 70
vernent shall be found inadequate contrary the
purposes majority Of the people hath an indubit4bIe
unaensble and indefessble right TO reform, alter or
abolish II, in such shall be adiudged most
conducive to the public veal" Here we have plainly
declared the object Of government the standard Of its
excellence and the rule for its rcformts object the
common benefit; the test Cf s excellence it's capacity
attain that obect, Ivy producing the area degree
Of happiness and safety, and being secured against NAL
administration; and The rule for its REFORM the indg-
ment ofhe majority pronouncing nadequste ils pur-
poses and altering IL, with sole view 10 the public
veal We are saved then the necessity Of Io1oking 10
natural ,w tor the right Of the majority to reform; VIC
have positive conven ion law he solemn derl.
ration on the face Of social compact that the mai r.
y have right, indnbItable, unaenshle and Ind
feasible right to reform, alter abolish isue that
this power is 10 be employed when the government s
found inadequate to its object the bene, and
must be employed with sge Wow TO The public good.
But who is TO Judge whether the government has
beee adequate to the object Of its institution; who 10