Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-09-11

classes of society, thereby gaining ,ho 'he better
III the adnnistraton, that has too often hrongh n.
about the downfallof cominonwe altbs 'iooght
Tho great objects of government 10 man
snc Justice ihen II considered designed for ~
safety ot property, as well persons IL would .ne
Dut justice, IN as much the wealth IF m. c;,,o'
constitutes the main support Of tho civil .i;,;.nA
ton tbat the holders of property from, WHOM, H.,
support proceeds, should be entitled 10 grca,er 60
sideration, than those who have none, For thew.
possessing nothing but their persons cven a,n,;,,
their patriotism; at least less Interested C,r &c
der and stability, they have less al per Inv revoI
,on' "ho ADMITTED TO equal participation i'm power
mvy aSn 700 soon evnce disposition to an equal
participation oil property also; ofwhich exnmnes
not wanting In history, ancient or modern. On tho
other hand, government considered "a n cor,,.ns
amongst individuals for defence against invnsop j.,
which all are required to cooperate il can but no
n,ittcd hardship, that the poor who nre incrn,ts
ed with The care Of nothing but their persons which
they could easily, u without loss trnnsfcr witIou, ,
threatened limits until danger was ovcrl, should be
held bound to peril their lives for the proection of
property in which they have no share, and for the
ticipatlon f
Governed by considerations perhaps somewhat II,
ths character, law gvcrs IN the institution of COM
mohweaitis, seem generally to have endeavoured to
snt their institutions to like difficulties; by gradua-
ing the consequence of individuals by artificial ar
rangements either according to degrees of wealth
! or from the standing of families For some of ,bs
leading consequences of such contrivances will nd
vert 10 out TWO OF the most ustrious historical ex-
u.:Pics. coion the Atnenian law givcr divided the
citzens OF that commonwealth ntn four classes m 4
! apportioned power and authority Among them some
what proportional to their incomes limiting clirib,v
TO the highest Offices of stste, exclusively to the
hrst, or most wealthy class, and lcavin. but verv
snah snare ot power, to the fourth and most numer.
Gus class of citizens.
The Romans adopted the still more except;onah,c
based IN family standing, Zone Of th,.
ehta'eu curses OF monarchy from which their COIN
ohwcaith sprany), dividing the whole ponuIa ion ir
10 TWO great classes of Patrcian, and plcbian and
giving nearly all the power and consequence to Tire
Patricians In both states fns has been rela.o, ~
poorer, or least privileged classes repeatedlv con,
ded Tor their natural rights aud in both their efforts
were crowned with success, and ended, lin conse-
o. tne unhnilowed use they made of author
Those classitcations have been reckoned bv r,ny
mouern writer's particularly of England result, OF
inc most profound Legislative wisdom and to have
been purposely designed 10 enable tho executive
authorities to control the people simply by
the equilibrium between the contendng parties. Shit
ting their weight from scale To scae as might be me-
csSsatyto MAINTAIN the balance ms though the peo-
PIC were designed for no other end but tho conye
nicnco0 their rulers. Tho plan is well enou .h su,
cd to English politics. and is n pretty scbcr3e in
monarch to make the people the self supporters &C
Their tyranny, and turn attention from HIMSELF b
widening the breach, fonentinr their djssens;o,r.
and increasing their nvctcrncy against one another
rms Jcsu'ca theory of n balancing principle. has
~ NY Js.l'a'oh' oeen productive of much mischief
I'D modern cnIninonwealths. The pcople amused
with speculation, on projects of balancing tho oyer
shadowing powers, with which they have invested
lnc,t ruicrs' the one department with another and
with themselves loose their control; aad whilst thew
speculate, their servants, BY concerted encroac h'
n'ents, are becoming their masters. Modern Rnnnb-
'ics' ana believe should speak adyisedv in sav;m,
~" i,oGcrn TeP"hhc with the exception ofthose con-
shuted WITHIN the last half ccntury,l have fallen
prey 10 entertainments the part of .1r;stocroc,
i ne people, IN consequence of the complication oe
their balancing machinery, but seldom kno,,inu in
what department to look for inspirations nd sh,'s
ma bQ nf fheir
OF the necessity for their corrections until technical
~ speaking they have lost their weight in the fol
anGe, and The popular scale has kicked the beam
We search history in vain, for an examine NJ nm
orderly commonwealth, conducted on env susb 500
tc'n 1t Is principle in nature, that applies 10 Gov
c''' as wen as TO every thing cse that '.tie more
sple any thng is, tho less liable is be disorder.
cu ana inc easier repaired when dsor,lered."
Then IT the balance must be used in cops,;t,,;,,, q
government let the people hold the scales and ndTnit
INTO the elective franchise. only such as by their nren
LII rs!"ce disposition to maintain their part;
WIN p,wat TO control the preponderance. Confnt.
tie balancing 10 tue ruling departments with the CIV
ecutlve Legislative, and judiciary; let the ennose no
as accurate rs possible bot have the people supreme
uinnits OF The people, (exclusive of the worthless
and unprincipcd) conceive wonId rarely ;f nver
nc or much duration, productive of much disaster
wore u not, that they have generally heen found :,
hno OF trr excitement to have placed at their
hcnd' some ambitious sycophant. and clothed hin,
win degree OF military power, that they can oftey
Whrds neither control, put down For rho noe
Pe eohectiVely though prone to err on the spur of
'e moment, whilst animatod by the heat of contcn-
tion havo always boon found willing when thc co,
test was ended to return to their duty, and dis
P oSe9 on theIT own account, to reAstatc good
@ 10y snouIn hey IN their limul have SEA up tyraut
& '.r" nun with armed vassas, tiiey IL but All
oe 700 ae 70 regret their headong course when ,hev
their heads ~ ' W So''so' 'he error %
NO system 81 which we have record, for the regulation If
IVeges' has ever produced the efrf. Of al
laying or preventing discussions and yeyouops ,y,I
gV"s which from oil history afe 10 be so much
oa'eu u all tried plans then expctineutallv sbevn
10 oc eScponabe surely there be no great i
d,"pn! new expedent That which would propose & OF
nc i'i SIMPLE NATIVES and IL on fonnd nexpe,ent ay
W Vp,h EASILY anI safely changed orreroked.
~ me 7uTcaf'oa for ne rsA IF slrers be ne rosss
- ~ o""oSP ~ "r",N yf2uyc that pOfer sInu moi
ony nc me ooner bt SeH actually appear nj me pos eos
~ ''S" "'"'''y
nus tic right Of suffrage will he constituted reward 10 the
virginia citizen, and The cost Of arnoug will exclude from the
rol' of the pongaie and dissoIe who sro
generally The unhrify portion nj tie community Placing the
elective franchise such footing, has in il in INV hStc
conception, less which y excite I