Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-10-07

The yo.Se~Spr and oirnersbio Of require Hdt
,geh ,,., nm ,, opiy be the o,rnc DIT shat qctu-
dily appear az me Polls completely eQaPt IN amour,
for ;n6frtry caooiry or artillery scrr'ce
TO CHEF JUSTICE MARSHALL
Ii has been some time since [ addressed You the
subject of n Military Arrangement of the Right of
Suffrage al that time had mo intention of troubling
you tho public uny farther about the matter, but
nputstlons of nisncerty charges ut design 80 break
the array OF the great organi ell parties, tho a!vo
rates of freehold and those of general sua1c) that
have been aledgod against me, the warm advocates
of each Of which, (ny incog enables 10 discovery
observe with Jealous rust, has induced tins en-
dcavor 90 remove al such unounded suspicious
hone TO m1Se II appear | was actuatcd 20 over my
crude notions on this mouentous subject, from mo-
uvcs which if not wise, werc at least Pure.
Iconccivod tis to hc an epoch IN our political cN
istencc, one which required and demanded tho aid o.
al who could suggest idea that woudhe Of eivar-
tage, even the smallest 10 the public welfare. The
proposon then Suggested by me- l2dcxpandcd itself
IN ulv inn ynation - measure q erantic mar,ui-
tldc aud Importance, aud should have conceived my
self guilty of meXcusablc political stu, in Withholding
y from the crave consideration OF the country TO
90 away unjust and unchaTitablc imputetions, and
slew that have been acul' IL by sinister DESIGNS
will briefly sketch the Causes which first suggested
the idea of an armed community, and the rationale bv
which II was expanded and strengthened. until fixed
in my mind great aud important fundamental
principle for government.
have ever held in utter dctcstatiou every thing in
the shape ofoppresson, AMI have held in adherence
main of il, degree of inc quality Of rank
III society, except TINT which Is asserted by nature
and eX' orted by merit. l have always esteemed
government of freedom, instituted on principles c
equality to citizens, Heavens best g 20 mar; and
most dcvouty am thankful to Almighty God, that
was born TO thor enjoyment; and | most ardru;jv
wish always TO be as able, as wiling TO pcfpe
tUste the ri1.
But who to himself can indulge the enjoyment OF
s1ch thoughts, without rcverting with painful emotion
10 the situation ofthst people, tho history Of whose
ancestors has for 50 many ages glcacd 20 an adm
fing world the beacon oflibcry and frccoms guide;
whose brilliant career and triumphant glory has crti-
ecu succeeding generations to adopt their institutions
and tn emulate their noble examples.
When have contemplated the cheering probabili-
s. that Greece would one day triumph and discncun
Der herself from the thraldoul Of the Turks the prog
Pect was ever enshrowded in gloom, with the thought
that the event could but achieve change of masters
Such Is the known aversion of the great European
tyrants to all examples of free government that If
Greece were successful in her struggle and in tbs cs-
tahlishnent of a Republican Cove nrncnt = could
2 hardly DE expected she would peaceaby bcpernnittcd
Its enjoyment Rejecting those matters ard spc-
culating the which would probably host pro-
tect emancipatcd Greeks in the enjoyment OF free in
stitutOnS, (Which reckoned from the feDius If heir
ancestors would be the Government oftLeir choice
II occurred to me, that to equip every citizen for
soldier, IAN expedient monarchy dare venture upon
offered the fairest prospect; and in studying the
means, l could conceive simple In Itself
so economical TO the nation and to the bear
or OF arms, as making their possession the ba-
SIS Of the right of suffrage and looking into
tie niS!ory o. their ancestors, well that
OF other nations, confirmed m my notions of
the great efficacy Of arms in the hands OF tho connu-
nty Tor the support and nantainance of free nstitu
tons The armed portion OF the inhabitants, whe
teT the many or the few in al instances in al
countries, 10 huvc swaycd the desnies of government
Going far to show that man, natural unarmed man
Is about the most defenceless animal III nature
Swift's Honyhuhum, most truly remarks; we have
neither mouths adapted for biting nor claws for tear
ing
Without combining tie observation exclusively to
Greece, we find generally, such portions fte globe
have been divided INFO small stafps and whose
Princes Rulers have been constrained TO en+rl,s
TINS tn the inhabitants to repcl the incursions of the
one upon another, have ever been the nurseries OF
freedom Thus situated, the people, no matter by
what tile their government Is know, are essenta y
Tree; they have within themselves at all times the
actual aud entire control of their destmies.
Such was the situation Of tho states OF ancient
treece, which ThucidIdes informs US long submit.
ted through choice to Nonarchicel Government 81.
rler Us convenience or from principles founded y
their religion. The dignity Of King was generally con
ferred on some successful military leader whom tho,
often chose to defy, and whose memory thew hon,
CURED after death, by perpetuating his authority 70
his descendants But, says he ''the fatal Dictates nj
ambition and avarce led them TO transrress the pre-
EGrbed limits, and TO tTaInple those laws which
their predecessors held sacred;" until sick of ON.
preston, and tired ont with repeated acts of rockies,
tyranny, n spirit OF freedom seemed almost nj tht
same moment TO peyade all Greece and the faciiitl
WIN Which they effected change OF government
well exempliiies the fact that warlike comu,urit,
With in their hands have but to viii to be free
and they are so.
Aristotle sPeaii1g Of Aurrnnus at about the sam,
period Of Grcciaa history, says "Thc prcroratiye;
OF Royalty were not rs yet supported by the exclu
sye weight Of the Gword, by which particular cjaes
OF mon might inmidate and control tile resolutions
Of their fellow subjects. Tho more indopenden, ard
insious citizens, VINO bad been accustomed from he
earliest times 10 como AIMED TO the council or assem-
bly,, communicated their grievances and took proper
means to redress them" The Argiyes condemned
their king to tea.h 'tor usurpinn absolute authori-
~ ~ Attica, on the death Of the devoted pstriot
todmus, the regal Office was abolished. The exam
pie Of this shrewd md celebrated state was o,iirkI,.
followed ny ue rest. os Was the case il almost cycry
tmn5 else until IN all Greece, there remaincd not
king hut ot Sparta, AID this was but in name n
king.
INC gnvornnen' ~ first established by the Atbe-
mans differed but Et'e from that they had abo,:shnd.
M ohce5 and honouts were uunopoiizcd bv n
powerful Arstocracy: the common people had 1uIv
multiplied their masters. "The great body Of no.
pie" says Aristotle, gained nothing b. those revol