Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-11-28

,ipy with the diversities ir situation, habits, and
Interests. OF the people TO be governed. They are
lew and simple .mong new people, Whose popu.
'aton Is homogeneous, whose interests are united and
among whom, no great disparitcs CT conrariees are
to be found: they become numerous, aud they multiply
IN geomercal ratio. such people advances ma;u-
ri'y, az they diversity their interests, AND by the long
continuance under system OF organic law, they he
come gradually moulded by il in al their habits and in
'eress These principles often take thsf origin from
different parts Of the social circlehey traverse and
tersect each oiher-oue principle often encounters an
antagonist principle-and then IL is the OF
wisdom to discern and of prudence TO allow the due
proportion OF force to each. Under the government OF
reason. all OF IN ent led to their preros.
tivesthongh not equal like fdncied republic of men
where all sequaD all have voce--aui tho ear
which will not hear all. 1. deaf from the Influence OF
prejudice, and sversc from the policy which alone
coniact tn peace and happiness. No principle 10
10 have de spoc sway and to hush and silence all the
rest. All are TO be hoarand here /, our point OF diff
ference.
Gentlemen have applied to the amendment Of my
friend from Culpep-r, the avowa the maintenance
OF the sentiment, that there principles in govern
ment-and they, on the opposite hand. have given to
one solitary principle, de poc sway, siicncing all The
resi. Gentlemen have applied themselves what they
pleased TO call analysis Of the principles OF go
vernment--and the result has been the evolution from
the concrete mass oil one single principle th they
administer in its essence utterly ardny all those
which modify AMI give all its .snstive eficacy-
They treat the subject Of government a chymist
would the food which sustsns u.s. ami which, in IL.
sative, healihful state is found la combination with
ny others,-one ingredient which gives il all its favour
and much OF its nourishng qhaity-bui which, when
cxractedfrom the mass and administe red in state
parated from that which assuagvs and ducities it, mad
'ens the brain, while il ministers nu,rment 10 the
body
r Let me tell the Reverend gentleman from Brooke
(or among The falace< OF the day. is his attic mprd APP
pcaiionsof analogies drawn from the
ihatof government) TO whom we indebted for the
reference of the Attn proposition of Euclhs lat book
that geometry, whether superficial solid, furnishes
but poor guide, when would the force as.
certain the value and fix the relations of moral aud po
litical quantities.
Under the guidance of a Eallacious analogy The gem
eman thinks il would he wsr to with certain
pioTi principles, certain posulata and axiomata and
then TO keep ourselves within the parallel lines
which these guides shall prescribe TO Let tell
that gentleman, that for the construction OF political
and moral theoreHs, there posiuata which give
nun strait line, that may be indefinitely extcn led;
point, wit bout length breadth; axiom which al
lows that given number Of Integers combined, is of
the same valne as the like number. indicated by
ming mp separate and detached integers All these
guides will fail him. and he will find himself
into the most desperate and fatal errors by submitting
himself 10 their absolute sway. Proceeding OH his
strait line, he will OH, linking consequence
quence, and induction to induction, almost inter-
minabie exten like Jacobs ladder. which led from
earth to Heaven-only, that this, fear, take. the OPP
po.i,e direction.
said, that in constructing moral and political theo-
rem', especially when providing organic law Tor So
cety, already NATURE " hose interests have been grow
ingup iorfwo centuries numerous principles
cessarily required, in order give form Govern
neot, which, viii secure to eaehthe enjoyment of lilo.
produce the greatest sum of public good.
Let me now attempt to furnish some illustrations,
and TO correct some psraiogisms, by which gentlemen
attempt To Tx on rs, that which condemn Ia them,
viz; tbs following out OF principle to extremes dis
regarding all othcrs.
Look to Engiand,-grown as she is 10 ma gnitude of
opulence and aggrandizement, with interests dsnetf
IN their natafe enormous their amount, and diverse
10 the parties possessing them Is there fanatic In
the land; who would take up priori principles il he
were called 10 make Constitution for that People IL
there one who has entirely surrendered his mind to
certain simple distractions that ne would undertake
blow. to level all these interests aud give lre1
and equ,i representative Government to that People!
Yet The general principle Of Republican Govern
ment Is no less true, aud without i, free Govern
men does can exit Ii is ioundin the British Con
s'iuon modified, Indeed, and maimcd-snd far below
what IL in this country-but, still en,uth make
that Tree Government so far civil rights are
concerned.
impeachment to the practical application Of this famou.
political teoron wiz: the equal rights OF man, and the
equal enjoymen! of political power) suppose say.
that he gels rid Of the Nobiliiy-the Clergy-the Cor
pora'ions-aud the Monarch--and th-n has only the
People themselves 10 provide for and he is called APP
ply his incipe is there here, who respects the
rights Of man. 10 the end of public happi-
ness, ia at would extend the principle, give in
the language Of the propositions OF the gentleman from
Norfolk 10 every man an equal portion OF political
er, and make the sole that equality, equal
NUMBER, however they may be yituated combined'
Sir, equal numbers are, in this natter not always
If equal vilu-. Their value depends on their local
then together. Would any give, for example to the
csnnty OF Middlesex and city Of London power in pro-
portion TO the numder Of polls wi;hin the bills Of
mortality: Far less according to The property within
those liIsts. The man who would 10 this, would prove
himself To- be drivellera poor closet speculator
Who knew knothing of man. his interests or his pas
sions. have selected this example, in order TO shew
the limits set tommy principle So far would be
from giving TO London and Middesex an average of
power according TO their numbers, that would look TO
the lessons OF experience taught us, and the wisdom
brought into practical operation in sister States
Of Massachusetts s. New Hampshire The former gives
to the number of representatives the
Boston, whatever may be the number of Inhabitants or
their wealth, and both require that the numbers of po
Pulaop multiply in township, larger and still larger
number in order TO obtain another integer Of political
representation. They could not, in consistency with
the preservation Of the darling principle Of political
equality, darling II is TO to any meto out to
large of population combined in one interest and
directed by will, representation equal TO that
ioyed by population of equal numbers dispersed i'm
morous smaller townships. Let take lessons not
from theory bat from practiceand that Of these do
scendaots OF the pilgrims reads a lesson which we
may prcitaby consider.
What, then, becomes Of the rcproach attempted TO be
fastened tho friends Of the that their object
to give superiority TO wealth. So far from giving wealth
the prevailing influence, would in the case to which
have resored for Illustration strike out altogether and
City, would look 10 the wealth and numbers COM
bncd in the counry-or apply the principle that has
been adopted i'm Massachusetts and New Hampshire, Of
requiring larger and arger numbers TO ente the grow
ing masses OF the pop Hlaon combined by interest,"
to an additional representative in the Legislature.
For further illustration let US take our poi n NOT on
foreign ground not IN a country where the Govern
ment and he community The growth Of 80 many
centuries hut IN our own land. Let look The
State OF New. Yo,k. Were called Upon 10 frame =