Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-02-24


tneir original force; when that occurrence happens all
the members Of the community, according to the
principles declared in tho bill of rights stand upon an
equal footing, aud majority of them have an undoubt
ID right, so to alter and remodel their form of row.
eminent, as IN thier opinion will be most conducive to
Their happiness. IL those who adopted the bill of
rights did not in the system of government they cs
taoshed, conform In every respect To the pruciulos
there proclaimed ii is accounted for from the ncccssi
" tfey were under of putting government in opera
ton without delay.
The ancient republics or most OF thcn we arc told
were destroyed IN vain atenit 20 sustain and rive
practical operation TO .hese principles of natural
rght. Vui the gentleman point It's To tho republic
OF ancient times III which these principles were zen
orally understood ifunderstood and practisod upon
which fell IN consequence Of the effort To- sustain them
The decline and fall Of those republics ia 10 be ascrb
cd - other causes, most generally to the corruption
ut their citizens. For tho true principles OF liberty
can mover be- appreciated sustained By cu.nInun-
w d'stitutc OF virtue. But France Is held the
beacon to warn us of the consequences which are
likely TO result from the assertion and practical opera
ton OF these principles of natural right. She i'm tho
midst OF her revolutionary exccsscs profrsscd the
greatest reverence for the doctrine othe natural
quality OF man. And have not the best principles of
morality and the piirest pTecepts of religion been
gro7sly perverted and abused in ovcrv apr of the
world: And because a national assembly of France
intoxicated by the possession of power, stimulated by
depfavcd and ignorant popuacc may have pronoun-
ocd decree of ffaternzatin or because the r;euds
OF the blacks under the influence of misguided
IPNl may nave brought about the dnESDlatlOn Of
HRyi. is the gentleman from Brunswick prepared 10
abandon the principles for which the patriots and ea
gcs ofour revolution toed and suffered PRINCIPLES
winch have since been approved by every state in this
based.
We arc assured that any system OF government
which does not extend equal protection to the r;rhs
OF person endof property, is DETECTIVES. What gov
eminent has ~ yet been established in the United
states, recognizing the principles for which we con-
cnd and which does not secure the rights of property
az Well as the government ST Virginia. But because
the rights of property should be held sacred docs i:
o'ow that minority ~ the people, residing within
particular portion oithc state should be invested with
dominion over the majority. in order 70 protect them
selves som danger which exists in their rinatiors
alone Property oiitsef can give claims to pot-
icai power. The right TO property is creature
OF civil society," tho strength of tho whole
community is invoked 70 maintain IL aud the
burthcns imposed upon it fully compensated
by the protection extended to t. Tho onn
teman from Brunswick says that any principle
which when pursued conducts to absurdity must
be erroneous, Test The principle which no Isbnrra 70
sustain, TINT property should be taken into the es
mate in fixing the basis Of representation by his own
rule little principle is correct, Is it not Legitimate
deduction Fomit, that cwhoposscsses the propcrtvs
most deeply interested in it's security should there
lore DO cloa'cd with the power protect it? What
claim can mis- neighbours the community circum-
scrloed by some imaginary lines within which ne
chances to reside, aeee TO tie exercise OF political
power IN consequence of his property? Political
power should De distributed not equally 10 the whole
community but TO each iii proportion 10 hs wealth
And would the gentleman from Brunswick or any
other, sanction TOR moment so mopstrous y prom
stion IT not, ifthG community are to exercise this
power, depending upon the possession Of property
where is the lire 10 Je drawn Ifuri, her tho
capitalists in tho city of Richmond or the inhabitants
resting within the limits of the corporation are to
receive this accession of power, why is the Blue
Ridge fixed upon as the line OF ,iemarkation?
We are assured that most of tie states in the Union
IN tlCfr o-atif,
OF the principle now contendcd for. Supposinp he
TACT to be So It does not affect tho present ouesIcn
II Is subject upon which the people and thoy ,o
have right to act. If. when nssembledi IN co,.,.,
ton, they deeIn It oXpedent to give weight AMI IL
uence 20 property in the government they are ass,
70 organize, IT is competent for them to do So If
apprehensions are entertained for the safety of any
species of property and constitutional u rartccs ~
desired, the application should be made to the peoua
when IN convention, and not TO rs For To r9 thcy
nave delegated no power over the subject. Our All
thorIty Is limited 70 grant OF the fnCiljtirs
which the existing government alone can furnish 10
enable the people 10 meet where these propositions
VIII properly rise for consideration. Such was tho
course pursued by Mt least state and in relation
too to that species ofpropPrty about which apnreher
sIons are entertained. BY the constitution Of the
state OF Mlshsspp the rights Of the owners Of slaves
are placed beyond the reach Of The ordinary lopsla
ture But what has been the practice Of other state,
N relation 10 this subject? The gentleman from
Brunswic; in discussing this subject appears to have
upon property ard if9taons imposed upon the rirht
OF suffrage. But four states in tine Union have acted
upon the first principle. The constitution Of Mossa-
ohusctts provide that the senate shall be elected
from districts laid of with reference 10 the assessed
value of property. The senate consists Of forty
mombers elected from thirteen districts and no dis
trict con elect mere than six members. This amor
tionnnent Of numbers in some measure must Z feat
the first provision There bo bat little doubt that
the assessed value tho property in the district which
includes Boston and It's envrons. would cxcccd the
value Of the property in several Of the Western
districts taken together This constitution was a2oo-
ted early as 1880, and it has been stated that
when the late convention revise it, an amend.
mont proposed which inthc spirit of The old con
stitution provided for representation in tho
senate according TO Tho nsscssed value Of property
1t was clearly perceived by The intelligent frccmcn
of the state, That this amendment would give TO
Boston and Some other large towns en- oycrThsl,n-
ing Influence, and the amendment was rejected.
They preferred the constitution slood, because
though it contained recognition Of tho sane prin-
ciple its effect was neu,ralizll by other uro-