Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-11-17


n such local interests do exist, and they are too i'm
por'an' either to be overlooked disree. To Or
Werale Them, would seem to be impossible TIL. ,,f
erene' oil interests cosss in the un-ousf ,o.;,,on nj
c save property In this State, aud this ip,. res, !. G
InPoft"ni, that the production of the Isbour nj M,
sayes' forms the foundation OF one third of the ,rho.
,s. ~ ,ne S,ste. But, although confronted ~ .hs
,hs % ~ nl' unfortunate stumbling block IL wa.
c Oh u" 10 meet and snbdue the diffcuIty or 10
apply such remedy as would be acceptable. to ,Ii
me venerable gentleman from Loudoun (Nfr Mon.
aid Of the Federal tov.rnn.n,. -a,nJ n.rSan, ' :,
would not be possible even with tina, siI-sn all
which, could II be had. could not be desirable 10,
tie hoped the venerable gentleman wou,d xcu.. hin
Tor saying, that he did the precise applic lv
oi h' remarks to tho precise subject under ron,dera
tion, and ne could hot avoid saying, that hi. eess
spon the Federal Government for aid ia so d.,ic,,.
question: What WOULD be The effect of calling nm IN.
edersi government. to aid us in tho common, ordin-
s'y' municipal regulations OF tho State. Some zen.
tiemen call for The aid Of the General Cove in
the prosecution OF Internal improvements. The ven
cradle gentleman from Loudoun think, Il NAV n. =.
CURED Tor the emancipation of our slaves. and saw. h
even doubts II disposed to divide the star.
whether we should be permitted do 50 by the Gener
o. rovernmeht What will be the effect of all tbe..
dependencies on that government. The .fr,c,. ma,
Dc the snnihila'ion Of all State rights,he
o, Tue State GovsrRments-and more, the amalgsms-
uon OF great mass OF .ower In the Federal Govern.
"sht. nave gentlemen reflected, the tendencie, of
vast momentum OF power, collected in anv banI,
', are beyond their conrol' l, not inevitable
wa" must beat down the barriers OF ali political pow
yrs. which may be inerposed to palsy Its influence bv
DIVISION! The best we could hope under such an ANAL
somaon' would DO consolidated depoti,m. Thi. con-
'uinmaion could be desirable none. He had mereIv
made these general remarks with view Of
Neahs' 'hs interference OF the General Government
anu OF preventing their intrusion in the he
lore us, ny disposing OF them at this e.rIv per,d
were II not Tor this import difference of .econ,I
nsre''s, ne would indulge the most fatterihg nope
hat the Convention should be enabled 10 inrova III.
condition oil man. by adding the polite shed On
ms and the whole world, by veners,ed fore fs-
~. considered the science OF politics in state of
infancy Wh'e ne observed tho march of the human in
tcec bringing to perfection all the other ART. md sc
ences, viewing with wonder the improvements which
nave been made In the last century, or st moro
I'm the last half century Ire could not bur observe tha,
science OF politics. had kept pace in improvements
win any oil the other arts and sciences The only effort
at Improvement, was the originally adopted bv tbe
trainers oil our Constitution This only 81 wears AGO
mere speck in the progress Of nie-and had ntrodc
ed new and just principle in tire science Of politics.
one IN direct hostility to the xisng basis on which
all other governments founded. Ii opened new
ra in the science Of politics. and he hoped sincerelv
noped that our American statesmen would abandon that
system which had long prevailed and had proved so
destructive TO the rights and liberties of the human race
ana found new science upon tie great discov ries
., our ,ore'ahers. we have not done so. We have
rather retog, AIDED to those principles which our lore
fathers hal abandoned. We have gone back In im.,s
the British System, far regards
economy, alter having established the most happy and
beautiful fundamental system of our own And t6,s Ia
one cause why We have added new science te tho
eAsung political economy, suited to great eveope
cause All other governments were AZ no conceivea
founded on fraud aud backed by torce. The few who
haa oy combinations u'urped the rights of the many
ana possessed themseves OF oil the proceed of their
productive Iabour, have employed ali their mean. IN
prevent furiher improvements in the science of politics.
70 avod me detection and exposure Of the fraud which
vas the foundation OF their sysem,. W. know it,vya
their great object TO prevent an examination, 81
these subjects. and to such extent did they carry
their rigorous vgaDce, that the first patriots HampJ
den and Sydney, fell victims to their patrio.ic on
quire' into the science Of politics. These cause. cor
'riouted 10 throw the science Of potcs back aad 10
prevent i. from making is way under tho influence of
that march Of intellect which pressed rward ali tba
other sciences.
He should suppose II wa, the dufy Of mi. Conv.r.
ZION, 10 turn Their researches into political science.
great discovery had been in oppo.i ion TO loru
systems that all the rights Of government are fonndsd
~ the consent OF man. and that consent is ascerab
ed through the social compact. or, in other words. IN.
written Constitution. There is difere nee OF opinion
however in regard to the of The a.
cal compact and particularly in relation TO The 1art
TO it, In the origin and progress the social
every member party toi'; each repTese ptine hi,
own Individual iaieress, as hi. own sovereign uniofu
enced by the majority. Al its completion the partis.
become changed by the consent Of all its memLerSs
The compact is then made to consist of only two paA
ties the governors and the gov erneda ve her thu
majority shall exercise the government or not or IN
what extent, mus, depend solely the w.:;len com
pact. Gentlemen had imputed 10 he honorable ven
tleman from orangc.io whom he listened with grea,
pleasure, the assertion that minority ought 10 60.
vern as well, as majority. This impuia ion had hc.n
extended too far he had rightly the gcns
Hsn Hoth orange OH understand that pentle-
man, A. declaring, that minority ought in any csse
TO eIereiss active affirmative legislation but that mi
nory was sometime, invested with authority 10 Icgi..
late, in negative capacity. minority cannot r;gh,
July govern, in any case, but is often used a. Fl
instrument to prevent majority from doing what in
ought not to do. The rights Of the majority de-
pend solely upon the compact will be seen there
how lar majority may govern, and how far ought to
be checked. Here we have local interest which
Is admitted by all to be applicable 10 peculiar ,eE
tons oil the State, but not 70 the whole of IL. This LOAF
interest must be secured, by provisions in the fnads-
mental laws. h not, upon general principles the IorL
~ would govera H.! lift he Improper that the majority
should govern where there 10 particular local inter-
ost the minority should have power Of controlling the
majority, TAR as to afford protection such particular
local interest. Such the case in the Fedsrsi Go.
vernment as wa, illustrated by The gentleman frsm o.
from whose lucid remarks he de rived both rea
and instruction. lie took II Tor granted that the
majority had rights but those that were vested in
them by the compact.
Under written Constitution, or Social Compact,
the 'cfenco Of politics was divided into two parts One
great branch OF the science is that which relates to the
organization Of the fundamental laws. Aud the other
branch is, that which relates the policy obsery
ed by the practical government as established BY the "a
laws No effort has been yet made TO enquire into
these subject', distinct branches Of political science
The American mind has been drawn from the eoD,en-
plaiion Of these subjects by imitation The love Of ni-
tston is Of toe strongest passions Of the human
10 dscOveries have been led into the ioi-
aton Of British Systems Of practical political eeonomv
Here them isa field opened before u.s. for the ex
tension Of political science.
An example Of this spirit OF imitation nav he seen I'm
The organization OF the Executive Of the United STATES
There We have exhibited the anomaly of an Ex cative
'tt,ched 70 Republican Legislature, having more