Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-10-29

h' P'i'CPie co'ltelucCior OFT tire other c,,io
representation in the House OF Delepates n. !''11
hAoi Win regard to white DC pulation aonN. 81 %
'e"son ny WINCH tiat principle IS supported II tb,,
majority ought 10 rule. There are two kinds Of m
Jofihes: thefe Is MAJORITY of interest as wcu =.
majority OF numbers: and if gentlemen who ~,
the principle, mean by that term those Who ~.
Drought iuto the social compact the TT
interest, there could be III fl renee hot
Ii they arc ready to admit that those ,yb -
greatest Stake into the government OUGHT of r;Sh,
we greatest snare OF control in its affairs
n.iG Is at ohce az end OF all discussion. Blu. tint i;
not the majority to which the gentlemen refer: Il 10
not TO the greater interest, but the greater nnm
ueis 'ial 'hey WISH to give the control 1t NAV NOT
ue more curious than profitable to examine the
GROUNDS Oh which this pretensiou rests
1t is remarkable fact that this ripht of tho r,;o
ity 10 RUE rs assumed postuate It is not onjv
without proof, but without even an atternn
Ut PROOF. For that proof lie had waited II ;s asn,,
med that there is ali absolute inherent -,nJ -.
tructloe rigt in the majority to exercise perfct con
'roi over the minority, and I'LL the ARGUMENTS IF tIa
" .hs nd rest upon this assumption Upon what
III there be e,'s absolute and original riob in th 80
lor"y' from what source does it spring. Il must -,
oeiveu either fton AGREEMENT bet1recn those wbt
are Tie SUBJECTS OF government, or from so6-.ibo
source independent of government and nr; sieS
IRON what agreement is the right derye,p -. -.
oe 'onnd III any clause of our constitutions, P,o,;
! me only source to which we can Iook. aud - =. -
"uo .hcre' thefe is at once end of all cont ro,or
sy II the right of the majority be recoo,,iz cd in IT,
c INST whence Tie necessity to make anv
mause' All lle purposes which the gentlemen de-
s'rco To erect by change already answered rrL
IS no occasion to amend the constitution so NO 70 -
.Ioauce the white basis Of representation if il is al
ready there; but 1t is not there. Is there anv obs
compact, III which it is provided or recoonize3, W.
question is a superfuous one Ai!S
1t then this right is Conventional rioht rsn-
iceh must iook to some other source to sometbino
PRIOR TO- and independent of tie Copsiitnt;o, w,
tat prior source. they have fact referred for tbs
doctrine isannounced founded in necesst " e ,,o
Ike uia not intend to deny the fact that all men are
ltee or naturally equal but he did deny the
existence OF any absolute inherent rinbt in the nao
fy' derived from nature, to bind the minority in anv
c1se' WIN ms explanation, he would proceed to
II m the nature OF things there is any prn-
cpie which makes the minority subject to the no;nr
in what code OF nature we look for ita Perhops
the subject be examined infinitely, it VIII be founh
'hat thefe Is but single right derived from Nature
anu mat u.s. the right possessed by all the creatures
| OF God TO use the powers derived from Natnrc in
such Inooe as may best promote their own happi-
ness II not SO, tic laws OF nature are bot poorly
ooeyeo ny her creatures; for throu n,o,1t lIrr
Oounde5s range, the law of force is fo;t,d RI ;vo
the only rule OF action. The lion DESTROYS the 0y-
the OK drives tie lamb from the rick grass and The
lamb assals the animal that is weak and more tini
than ITSELF The same rule runs tIrouoh ali ,ha
ORDINATIONS of l!fe-inferior strength Yields to that
which is superior until finally the worm devourI ms an
put II !! DC iideHd' law of nature that majority
nave night to rule, 10 what consequence will il lead,
All are by nature equal; each hes his rights. which
are equal to the rights of his fell W. Among these
TshtS assuredy are those of opinion and of action
Il
rlsht 10 impose restraints. And thus in effect only
one less than majority of all the creatures of God
may be found without any rights at all
II by the law OF nature majority has the riui,t r.,
::::- a.'s = that majority to be ascertained?-Iet u,
imagine, II such he possible, that the wild men
OF Inc forest are congregating .o 6sst time, TO
ol J society Each man brings his rights v him
and among them, is the right 10 say whether tb -
IJ"fy shall rule or not If he saws the majority shall
not rule where do you get from the law of nature the
authority TO compel him ''4'
Slu tho
then' tnat the majority should rule the minoritv
now VIII you proceed 10 ascertain the msior3;t,,
nov WIZ me votes be given, who shall appoint the
teiiers aud how VIII the result be announced3 Tbos
operations necessarily imply order and arranGe
inent which are inconsistent with state of patnrs
bnt again. Within what limits is the principle
TO pe applea; W III you take the whole world: or
only part of it? Vi
II You take the whole, then two millions of Sava-
gcs' VINO range the american wilds, and subsst on
Tue Dix ana the Butaloe will have right to dictate
avs 70 one inlion of Savagcs inhabitinp the Asat
ic islands Two million who gain their sshsistenca
ny the bow and arrow, may prohibit the one million
from obtaining their subsistence from the ocean which
surrounds them Is there natural power vested
III majority by which it thus cruelty and minis,
~ destroy every particle of right in "a ninority?
suppose you do not take all the world but only !,
par; Ihen you act upon the idea that the world is
a,''"eu ihto separate communities, and that very
laee t'iF'Sis behind y0u every notion of state of
Hatue "iiciI must have b'sn shaken off, before those
communities could have been formed.
But II Nature gives rirlt-if X be so stron1I, i'm
pressed on the human mind that IL is irresistblv
made the rule Of our conduct, and we are unable to
depart from it, in what does it coraiste Consists il
m mr. mere . numbers, Is It there that wo n,t ,o&
ybv do tho .oi, ..'J',,ty to rule? IF SD,
IF no we select part only of the communi,ys
a. numbers give the right, how dare ~, w.:
umqcI5ake to apply the principle exo;psS, man ~
thu tha'ca Why not count women and ch;lS,So 10
ty o fo @oyeIO If by law Of nature the MAJOR
look for the discrimination as to nae law are we to
aTP assumed IS that all by nature eaa1 and
ofg g qocs not consist with gaary Of the n au
to orsces o'y lst the ladies are ut least, equal
T T must result from the adopt on of se 5a0
4u dd inirm who are entirely dependent on IN
gnuuey oi ota9rs' must be allowed the anne rgbt ~