Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-10-29
GgG1se On.
TEE CONVENTION,
DruaTE or TUESDAY,, Ger. 27-Concludcl
Speech Of MIR. COOKE--Coactulel.

D;cs it accord with the principles of the declaration
ot rlrhts-with the principles to which the member
from Culpcper, IN common with all, has given but
Gsodiay, the sanction of his approving vote,
1t will be perceived examination, that it violates,
not one OF those principles, only, but erery one--It
Ipnlaes The doctrine, that de people are the o,ilg
Legitimate source md fountain of political power and
power is derived ifomthe people" an,l makes
property one OF the SOURCES OF power, and declares it
i" be derived in part from property.
IL denies the correctness of the principle tim. nj
tie electors In the commonwealth are equal in nolt-
ca!righes, BY comforting small number of roeciihy
cfectorS, congrcgated together IN one cectora! dis.
+rc,, the power which comfers on large NUM-
OR IF poor cterors, copyrighted in another clec,o-
gal district.
1t subvcrts the jus mgjor,s, which is the third
great principle alluded to- and substitutes for it the
control OF the wealthy fcw-or in other words an
aristocracy of wealth.
And for what purpose, ] pray you, ere We thus to
dIiapidac the very foundations of our free ins,itu-
tons' What mighty good is to be attained by this
abandonment Of the principles of the revolution
We are left, sir, to imagiue the objects Of the
mover OF this amendment. For tho Faramenta-
~ usage, so far as I understand il, dcvuved upon
him the duty of developing the principles of his
amendment and tho we were regularly notified yes
terday, III the III which such notices are is,-
ally given, that he would proceed to-day to the per
tormance of TINT duty, he has pursued different
coure and the friends Of the resolution reported by
the Conmttec Lave bccG invited &c commence the
discussion.
But knowing, as do, incidentally the grounds or
WIuch tins great innovation Is proposed, viii pro-
Unusual course of procedure, to examine the n ru-
ment OF the friends of the proposed amendment
ihey alledge, then, Sir, that, though all the princi-
pies OF government contained Ill the declaration OF
rights may be correct, there is still another prin
clple, OF vital Importance, which may not safe
y be neglected IN thc formation o. our fl.la-
mental iaw--lt Is that The right If 1r,oert-,
must be completely and e6ectuatiy pyoe~tsl b. H. ~,
solutions of society.And the advocates o: tie Do
posed amendment insist that property cauuo, De etc-
tualiy protected without inrest;nc the lcr-. VI
of tn. 81
tled to "a men, citizens aud electors.
ii!at the right OF property is, and rul -; prJ.ec-
tcu IN all well regulated communities, ! an free n
admit. The 'npossiblity of giving that protection
without investing the holders of it With political
power, DERIVED fTo" hut possession, what utterly
deny.
The argument of the other side understand 70 Be
l.. That seb-interest is the great and oveyru.iug
paSSl'h OF men, which controls all other passions,
Q. That it is the interest of the mnay, who are
po'T to make spoil of the property 5er, who
rich
g. That if the power OF legislation be conferred
on the many, they will pursue their interest, and
adopt system OF legislative spoil ation by which the
rights OF property VIII be subvercd, and the whole
social fabric DO consequently Slapped and ovcriroyyn
4 That there is no method of avoiding this catas-
trophe but by investing wealth, by provision in the
fundamental, With poper to protect uSeJ.
This is fair statement Of the argument so far as
have incidentally gathered ii, relied on by the
trends OF the proposed amendment. And to this
-
exclusive controlling and overwhelming inGlenn
which the argument attributes to the feehog of self
interest While concede that interest is one of the
1naserspTings of human action must be pnrr,itfnd
20 oeieve that there other counteractinr prinri
fies In human nature, which always modify ann
sometimes control the feeling of seishness ~ ni
nue !" thg principles OF morality aud religion to the
s9cihl tccIDg' aud to the feelings of honour and
S;'ah'e' n nota Bile example of the prevalence of
!"ese couhteractIng principles is afforded BY the his
,oN 0! our own commonwealth. From tie founda ,
nj h tbo. 4 -.
,on mas he'd the supreme power in the State Fro,
t!e FOUNDATION oil the commonwealth there has evst
"a, "iu '!l"'e sun exists Numerous population on
nc western frontier, who comparatively dos |.
%ehte % slave property and whose wealth has GO,
consisted IN cattle INV other description or
property. no" IT the argument OF the gentlemen
be CORRECT 1t would follow that as it is and el,ove
has bcE''. he interest, (accor,r 10 ter ,;c,, -;
tercSj Of tie slave holding population to shift from,
themselves, and to lay on others the burthens IF no.
FeThheht hey wouIdimPose heavy taxes on the cattle
improperly OF the helpless minority and Cypress them
oy thi5 ana every other species of fiscal exaction
ana yet the very is the fact. For the slave
!ouefs' INFESTED with supreme power, and urged TO
us exercise by their "GptcreSt' have not only not
oycrtaEed the cattle of their Western brethren hut
nave, ~ fact, imposed on them no tax ut all And
>Y;-bccause they were governed by the principles
OF justice, and the feelings of honour Bcca,go
hcy thought and justly, that the people Of tho f,on
ter butthened as they with |the first cxncnen,
o. ssSle,y ana engaged in laying, as it were, the
tie additional burthcu of n t1x nm tbo;r eL .i
herds Bcc7usc the nor-slavc- holders Of The WI
were ct their mercy, and every feeling Of honour and
'n'gnauuHy forbade them to Cypress the veal. I
say 'hen SIR that the shareholders ofVrania, have
Sho"n ny hoir conduct in this particular the incnr
f"r.r"ss Of the theory which supposes man to h..
g'Torned By he sordd feelings alone of his nat,,-
u Tie exclusion Of the nober
But SIR, d not believe that is or r,,or ,...
. rent interest Of any man. or set Of men ~
'.3sS ID Tic community Of any cornrtirit,, ~ Ii
aJusc power, 70 opprcss the weak or to act win in
auce ~ 90 not believe that it is, OF ever can be
the real Interest of any man. or SET of ,ocn -, a.;
EcGard inc rnonltlcn5 Of conscience 10 break
down the barriers, and oblitcra,c the dis,incfio,
OctWteu rght and wrong, and thus TO involve
society III all the horrors Of anarchv The min
cPies Of Justice the foundation Of the sociaI
fabric: aud rash and forlIsl, i l, .,t IL; '