Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-12-11

~" I" WHOM NUMBERS, or IN COunilnC A mn
lority' has at last arrived at the bold conclusion
bold he himself seemed to consider ,t-,ha, ,b.r.
We're no principles in government. We cannot NJ.
CHAIRMAN understand the gentleman from North
anp'oh according to the literal import of h,s phrase.
ne ""n principles are too well settlcd-hls charac
ter ana talents are too well known. and too hioblv
esteemed, to allow us for a moment In bsl,cv. fb,,
ne would deny Tn the science of yovsrnmen, those
c'cuheHtary truths, which constitute its principles
wnhou' winch all reasoning concerning It is destl-
.u's u 'ounua'ion, and incapable of CONDUCTING us
10 any conclusions. He was BETRAYED into ,b,. Ian
guagc he has used, by an over ANXIETY IN u;,bdr,u
from hts advcrsarics the aid of those settled doc
trlheS' on which they have rested their ARGUMENT.
To persuade us that those doctrines are moro ab.t,oc'
tons ana 10 BRING the question IN discussion to the
'eSt oi eAPedlency, Indeed he has told us, than eyc-
~ qn'stlol OF government, is n question of exped,
ency--and that every government should be con.
strnc'eh' not with reference TO original priut ,ples
out WIN a sole view To the character antcircam
l nonnf tSis d do 'nT r, peO nS ts{y kss% i j. sstssskd. Adj
VI conforming the government To The character and
circumstances OF the pcople,--and no one ndu,;,s :,
more readily than | do,-yet 1t does not follow that
there ac no principles, by which to decide the oues.
Uo" o' 'Npedlency' none TO aid III constructing the
gov eIrnleut-s" asst make 1t desirable to the pco-
pie-Ihe plan OF every building for the use ~, man
presents a question OF eXpedirncv. on which ,h,
purposes Tor winch II Is destined, aud the circum
stances OF the tenant, are to be duly considered;-
ou no wise man would disregard in its structure
those principles of architecture, which belong In the
nuinOiest cottage, as well as to the Hottest templ..
Is 1t more wise, by representing the principles of our
government Us metaphysical distractions, ftIrnishlng
no ala To the deliberations of the statesman, no safe
guards to his conduct, 10 dlsparagc those principles
IN our estimation, c1danger disloyalty Co the govern
ment which rc.is upon them, and confound NH our
political reasoning TINS has not bena The wisdom of
ancient or OF modern times Fr IN the DAVIS of Pinto
uown 70 me period otthe last Southern review. wise
mon Iasal phA.. A. a. II "
eminent, TO inculcate political truths. TO recommend
them to the respect OF mankind, and to Mace ,hcm
IN 'he hands ct statesmen as guides to direct their
~ asures' and as weapons To defend them. The author
OF Puoncus, who had profoundly studied tn principles
ana understood these truths. commences his Hs nun
Der with the postu'Sies, that sin disouisi,iops or &C.,
Kind there arc certain primary truths, or first princi
pies, on which all subsequent reasonings must de.
pend" ""' &c
For the primary truths, which b long to this d;scu..
sion NC can look no where, with so much propr;e,,
US 10 that solemn act, which announces the doc'
'r,'es OF our reNoiutIoh-that declaration of rights"
N""Cn proc'arns the principles pertaining to the gov
OF "A tree people, and ~ made the 'basis and
OF our Own-Ihis declaration Mr. Cba,rm,n
eInhodies the doctrines, which rav, to Al.
!einon Sydncy ms cr.wn of martrydum. and to John
LOCKE imPet'ehab.e fame. These distinguished men.
by the spirit OF freedom, which the b,story Of
ne English Government had infused INTO the neonlc
aud emboid' ned by the accsssions which The r,gL.S
me people had gradually gained from the mower
the crown openly assailcd the slnvsh doct riuc,
~ "Ilch the parasites of power had cndeavoured to
eIeld ne tyrrany ot the Stuaris, dIscerned and con-
nted the dogma of Sir Robert Timer, which asscr-
cd the divine right OF Kings, and traced tho ORIGIN
government TO Its Legitimate foundation. tho viii
inc people, GUIDED bv the experience of their ov,,
government. enlightened by the history OF all otbers
III" ABOVE AL examining, with the sagaclty of wise
te"' S'c ni'o'aI ana nnvarylng relations, between
-he Governors and the governed-lhcv moi,t,iroJ
nose doctrines, which the Wings in Enpland no,-
i"Hy recognised IN tlei6 constitution. at the reyolr-
ION OF io0G, and which the American Statesmen
iu"e inc basis OF heir Government, at the fevolu.
Ion oil lT16.-Ought these doctrines IN h., ,,o,taJ
~ VAN distractions, met aphvs,cal snh,Io,;a- 80
iry the'ries;-Ought they not 10 be acknnv edg.d n
'oIe'nh truths, confessed as the articles of our nol;t.
cal ialth-madc the standard of our pobtica con.
-Ougnt we not as We regard thc pcrmanency
- ~. INSTITUTIONS To recommend them to, The res
pct ana difference Of the present generation. IN tho
'oVe ana Vcneratlon of posterit,3 "To recall mon 30
orl6nlai naXlms Is generally recalling them TO viz
'uS' -tni' Il tue language ola DISTINGUISHED noliti-
=. oIItor' ana 10 the language IF truth, which does
not require the support ofauihoritv -T'be ndvooa,as
Tor liberty, the friends of good gov.rnncD, ~ Ii
Time, have cndeavorcd to Inculcate respect md 20
erencc Tor principles. and have thought il wise q, hold
up high standards of excellence for the crouIo ion or
tHe p~cople.-Plaio's republic was not written win the
VAN nope that It's perfection would be realisod. b,,
WIN a view TO inspire a love of excel nee. and GRO
ate emulation. Cicero'5 work De ReD,ibLco uos
"tltteht Tor the purpose Of recalling the Romep ne,-
PFC 10 the principles of their Uoveru-
hent, and OF recommending them To their afac,;ons
ana helr reverence But it came too late to reform
~ IegeneTacy ofthe age, or to preserve the freedom
or the glory vi Rome. The celebrated II rnnnd
BURKE who dreaded the con,agion of French prin-
clpIes' ana the leveling hand If French eouaLtv ppni,o
as much as any good T pub can mere can d., wb n
with so much eloquence aud ability aud p1ophrric
talent. ne traced the causes of the French rrvoIu-
ton, dcPlored lis unnecessary oxcesses. pointed out ~
errors, and Indicated it's dangerous tendencies. when
TIC endeavored TO lay the evil spirit Of reform which
was rising in England, aud TO warn his counlrv-men
against the rmnous example which they seem dis.
posed TO Iinltate,-what did he appeal 10. as most
dear To- E~ngllshmen'-he appealed TO the word and
spirit OF that immortal law the Engl sh declaration
OF right. IL Is to the word and spirit of our doc.
%laratIon OF rights, to that law, which We should
desire to make immortal, that 10 my humble Judgment
we should 1t all times not only appeal, not onIv IN
guide Us against the danger ofheedlrss reform. but 20
guard MS m maxim wholesome amendments.
we nave been taught hr. Chairman, that the educo.
ton OF a people should alwai be conducted with REF
elrence TO lhe principles Of their government, in order
that sentiments of loyalty may be sown in their earlv
ateCttOOs.-Ihe Same vyiq1on ;r,r,et- -