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


tied will OF the majority Unlimited will, wherever
he found whether in the hands Of a majority or n mi
nority, is despo'ism. lie had bestowed much re1ec-
ton on this subject and il had produced the most per-
icct conviction, that despou is the in vi,able effect OF
unlimited will Tho utility of these caecks then, is
seen in controlling this unlimited will wherever it may
exist These are the liked aud stable pillars, upon
which rests the useful and beautiful superstructure of
our Constitutions These piliars, he feared were now
about to be torn down. and their fragments scattered to
the winds although he could not help hoping for better
things. The merits of this Constitution were demon
sra,ed by its beneficial results for 81 years; conspcu
ously by the present oral condition OF socie
~, over any other known TO him. Ii any other equal
ed it, in morals and i'm principles he should he glad to
he informed of IL. The merits of the Constitution are
still further seen, in the harmonious operate Of all
its parts. to produce unity Of objectono great
mon good Its merits still further seen. in the pc.
cuar favor aud protection afforded TO holders
In all complicated conrover ses, bstwean the poor and
The rich il is known that there exists n very strong bas
in favor of the poor. That during the short time no
was engaged in the practice of the Law he rocolcc,s
that he deemed it compime 1T to any County Court, in
which Justice might be had by the rich, in any compli
Gated controversy with the poor-not from any spo.i.
ton in the Court to do injustice to any, but from the diff
hcuy oil coun'eractng the popular bias in favor Of the
poor-and he believed this general npre s.ion.--
He ha1'rded nothing in saying that the poor better
protected against the influence OF the rich under our
Constitution, than any other in the United States
"hilt therefore, he discaimed all popular views, he
considered himself the real fend Of the poor in en-
deavouring to sustain our system. Under its peculiar
organization, Justice is admin tered TO the poor freely
without reward; and the whole Of his contributions, of
every description, DO not exceed Is 3d-wherea the
costs OF single warrant under the perqasite system
which Is proposed TO be substituted for the existing
would cost him, perhaps ten times much all his
present contributions put together He begged 10 call
The attention OF the Convention TO another point Much
had been sail about the order and rcorum of cleo
tons, and nothing more said, than msri,ed -
what do we hear from other States 10 which have
been referred Tor precedens; but which the gentleman
from Orange had truly regarded experiments in op
position to experienced Look every State where Su
TRACE has been extended TO Universal Suffrage, and you
ton OF all sorts. He had been amused for day two
in noticing what doing in the State of New York
The Convention of that State, had, lew years ago,
conferred a blessing on themselves by extending the
Right oil Suil age to people Of all co'orsred black
white and yellow. Ii phii0sphicdHy asserted that
mere difference OF colour ought not to have any nhu
ence, whatever on any question of rights. lie had
read, with Amusement, production headed "conn-
sion worse confounded" In the elections Just had in
New York, he found that there two parties, Jack
son and Anti-Jackson. each nominating regular ticket
Tor their elections Another nomination. however, un
eHpectedly appeared. supported by what designat
ell Miss Fanny Wrighrs party Yes, she started the
principle OF the Agraran Laws dividing property mor
and all the gifts of God equally, in common and indis
cminately amongst the whole of"We the people," For
the two first days. M.s Fanny Wrighrs ticket was far
ahead, and great was the alarm lest should
I'y great exer,ons of all parties in New York. and by
providenial interposition, Mis-. Fanny Wrghts ticket
did not succeed. (Since the delivery of this Speech
! II appears that one of the persons Miss Fanny
W'ights ticket did actually succeed) Thus that State
has escaped from Agraran Law, an utter sub.
version OF morals aud principles for the present bat for
how long God only knows Gentlemen will probably
reply, hat the population of New York is heerogene-
Gus, and not like ours, homogeneous. This, however
all must admit il slender distinction, on which TO
place all the dearest rights and liberties of man: A
mere preuined difference between heterogeneous and
homogeneous suppose this presumption TO exist in lie
gree. All must admit that must be very limited de-
gree Nav not gentlemen be mistaken in the conclu-
sions they have drawn from liz Under simir circum-
stances, men are the same every where and similar
causes will always produce similar effects Its merits
may still further be Inferred, from the honorable
plments awarded it in this debate, by its adversa
es, in the frank and candid admission OF the honorab
beraty OF the shareholders to the holders
west OF the Ridge, and yet from their total failure
10 show any misiule whatever under it, although EN-.
phaIically called upon 10 do by his most worthy and
honorable colleague, Mr.. Leigh of Chesterfield
Under IFS benign influence we have enjoyed all these
great civil and political blessings in the midst of MANY
others for 81 years In no one instance has the wis.
dom OF our forefaters been conspicuously dis.
played, Than in the means chosen 10 effect these great
ends These have consisted in the peculiar organEa
ton of the County Courts, and in throwing great pre-
ponderancy of power into the hands of the nidding
class OF society: He would rather have government
dependant on the middle classes, relying upon their
uniform moral tendencies, without any check bal.
ance whatever, than government entrusted to either
oil the extremes OF society,", with all the checks which
wisdom could devise. The organization of the Comfy
Courts is marked with peculiar wisdom. The County
Court magistrates, with their judicial functions, are
also entrusted with portion of the Executive powers
These magistrates are scattered in neighborhoods,
nearly equally, throughout the whole State: Each OF
them possessing degree OF moral Influence liz his own
influence, when
combined together, forms the strongest Executive in
he world.
Hence, the celebrity OF Virginia. for obedience 10
law Hence, IL has been frequently and emphaically
said hat idC is the only dcSpOt here. Here is seen
contradiction OF The common maxim, OF unity OF the
Executive and is exhibited the same time the most
numerous and most efficient Executive in the world
substituting for physical force in single hand its NOR
al and official influence combined-acling more upon
the affections than upon the fears of the peop,. An
other peculiarly OF this organizations that the magi.
tra;ss totally destitute OF compensation or reward
while acting in their Judicial aud Executive capsci
tee. Their only perquisc is their monopoly OF the
Sherfalty and vt Is now proposed to deprive them
oil even that inadequate chance Of compcnsa ion -
Even That compensation is received in their
Judicial capacity and this is OF the peculiar me.
IIts OF The system Justice being thus administered
freely without reward tends to keep its current pure
and unpollued. We received our county court sv..
TEN directly from Anglo Saxon ancestors but il NAV
De traced back more than 1900 years from the
tine, and beyond the period when the Saxon became
converted into the Anglo-Sdxon During that long NJ.
riod OF lime and amidst all the fluctuations Of bum,n
aii,Ts, II has been attended with the happie.i effects
lie had thought proper thus present to the Com.
mitiee this outline view Of the suiicc but il wa.
Tar from being exhausted, and he greatly feared that he
had fallen lar short Of its merits. He hoped however
that he had in some degree rescued the Virginia Con.
suution from the unmeri'ed imputa thrown a. |
ean' y; and ths he had prove ed il TO be founded OH fine
tue principles d political science.
lie would now accept the Invitations Of seysraI gan
yemen, TO enquire into the condition OF man. 'preyous
u state Of society, about which he found some d,C
ierenres OF opinion. lie observed he was placed in q
singular dilemma. lie felt himself conpeed TO ,gr.e
with gentlemen in their pre- mses on one tide of the aus.
ION, and TO diiler with them in their eoncons ybils
he agreed with genllenon on the otber side in teir CO.,