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

TtVllTcd o fnIlNTftN tWO IhlrdN
eeson OF any question: Tor the election of Prcsi-
cut. or ct u select Committee But even the rule Of
wo-thrds, absurd asst would b. regarded would
erve It's sanction from the Will Of majority cf this
'ody. THIS doctrine Is interviewer IN all our
thoughts. habits OF political action, and modes of
udging. that 10 deny II. IS to wound the common
sense Of every poriinn OF the American people. Let
MS return, fur moment Ia IN. Island OF De Foe,
and the newly formed society we lct there. SupP"se
they desire Ia establish poi'icai government 10 I
organizes It's legislative, judicial, and executive de-
partmSus, would they oGop, any other rule Of pro-
ceedlrg than BY majority: 1t has been commended
thai IN our hill OF rights. the power Of majority to
change tho Constitution Is limited 10 wherein
the public good requires such change. But who
Is 20 judge when the case occurs: Tho public rood
is made up fihs good OF all the individuals who
impose the pubic. Each man Judges ihr himself
nnd the community, what Is bes', and the majority
must consequently prevail 1t being the majority Of
all tho judgments so tormcd, and having tho sane or
OF mai rty for ITS execution This sanction there
fore, moral well physical. Suppose the settlers
on the Island OF De Foe, to have brought their res
peCtve families with them, consisting OF women and
children. Count these, not, In the division by
which tho majority Is asCcrtaued. and the ratio IS
unchanged. For Is from any TWO numbers having
gvcu pr"portnn to each other, there be taken other
numbers bearing In each other the same ratio, the
former remains unaliCred And 81 Will be- lf. in
like proportion. augment t' numbers. Wo-
men undoubtedly add to tho physical force ot society
aud so do i1fants ! have voted III New Jersey
under constitution ct government. which docs not
exclude f'm,!es ftom the right of sriTragc but the
Constitutions has undergone 10 chang IN tins State
hut the society has. n woman vutcs, at present
because no lady viii 90 "a the polls.
Casuisiry ami sophi~try may pctpleX the docr Jne
of the natural freedom and equality of man. and Of the
consequent right of the majority OF society, already
formed, 10 govern 1t, whore positive agreement
has otherwise ordered; but the common of
kind viii Indicate their essen al and natural rights.
g'hc disorders of that Partisan mob, which over
nwcd the deliberations of the constituted authorities
M flln h.Nrl .,s, ,t,,t,,t
wer" the abuses of liberty by mere brutal trce,
ted against The principles by which lis leaders pro-
t's~ed To be guided
The abuse Of truth is n, argument against its cxs-
tencc. What hos not been abused'-A c.uud is now
passing over the suns but is that glorious lumngrv
eXtinCuished. The Gosla of peace has been buried
in superstition, after being shroudcd IN blood. But
l. religion ialsCS The most precious fhiuus uiC
abn ed. and for the very reason, th.t tIry ore So
they interest the passions of man IN the salnc pro-
port n that they are essential to his happiness.
Rejecting the authorities relied upon b. the mem
hcrs irom Northampton and from Chesterfield,
turn TO Others IN favor of human liberty, which
deem more pertinent To my subject. Since The Bill
of Rights prefxed 10 Constitution is deemed
equvocal, IN its language, by of opponents
and denied the validity of law, by others, ask the
Indulgence of the committee while look for author
Iiics, less questionable IN the Constitutions of our
sister States, to sustain the natural equality OF man
and he rights of majority, in the language ofmv
friend from Frederick, who 50 ably opened this De
bate. the jvS lqioris
Before | consult the Constitutions of the New
England States, must be allowed 10 cXprcss 10 the
gentleman from Orange, (Mr z. P Barbour to whose
ucd style Of reasoning always attend wirh pleasure
NY surprise, well aS regret, that he should have
- highly compliments ell the political institutions Of
Massachusetts, and have n the same :me denounced
50 unsparingy those which have been planted in /
he W!ds IN the west by the emrrants' descendants
If TINS sor1o hardy of freeman =
Ohio. Indiana aud Illinois, are but swarms from .
he fruitful northern hive, as Kenuncy. Ten
,,dN Tts-s- 4. T.
1ur own southern stock As they have rcccdad
farther from our royal char ere, and trained their !
institutions AZ greater leisure, with the advantages of
the same experience and untrammeed by prc-exist /
mo disabilities they have carried out our principles
with equal truth and greater simplicity
But will not offend the of any gentleman who may
howeyeI ias,d!oI,ly prefer the East TO the West
ours IN period Of war but after expelns the enemy
bosom and the leisure with which she
by the time which she consumed completing her labor which
was begun IN September 1873, and ended IN March 1880
Her Declaration OF Rights ~ expressly made constituent
part OF her Consiuon-and the first aricIc of aims
"Al men born free and equal, and have matur
essential and unalenabe rights among which, that seek
ing and obtaining their happiness
The preamble sets for, "The end of the institution n,in
ienance and administration of government secure tic
existence Of the body polite, to protect IT, and furnish
individuals who conpose it with the power enjoying safety
and tranquility, their natural rights"
asserts that The body formed by voluntary
ton of ndividuas IL is social compact" And the 9Th
article ofhe Declaration OF Rights these doctrines are rereed
and fortified after solemn assertion, that "Covcn,nen
instituted the protection, safey prosperity and happne.s
the people," by declaring that thc people alone have AN
"inconesible, unaenabe and indeeable right institute
government and to reform alter totally change the
and farther, that
A elections ought be free and all the inhabitants Of this
Commonwealth having such qualifications they shall esta
bh by their frame of government, have egudi rf elect
officers, and 10 be elected for public empluymeuts"
Article ~ asserts that zach individual tic society has
fright be protected by in the enjoyment orhis is liberty
aud property, according 10 the standing laws lie obliged
"cnnsq emily 70 contribute his share tho cxpeuce OF
roiecon to give his personal equivalent
urcesny Here the origin Taxation Its uualih
Gallon "But part nj property Of an indlvi
"oua with justice be- taken him or applied to the
"pu5c use without his that tie Representa-
GIVE body Of the fcoplr."
Again we rcad-"Ihe people have right in orderly
"peaceabc manner to assemble consult upon common
'good give instructions to their representative" Howis such
instructions % be gyeu> By representation Of proprry,
On the principles Of mixed basis by majority of those
authorized Ia give " And the majority Of the may
overruIc the representative by Instructions what becomes
sugppsed majority NJ interests ~ property legislation,
The Constitution of New Hampshire, o. altered
and amended BY Convention OF Delegates in Fc-
buary 1872 oiirng ~ thc first part of the rst art,
Gle, nearly IN tIIe language Of Massachusetts, that
"n.l mon are born equally free and independent
Ttersfore, all Government, ofrlght, originates from
he pco.i" IS ionnded in conscni, and instituted for
"thc general rood"