Virginia advocate. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1827-1860, 1829-12-11

; raj rights OF man: into. an examination o
OF all history, and to period antecedeu
} even to history itself into an etfprt to i'm.
agine unlmaginaaie things, aud to cast %
dunn upon all principles aud all poIi,ica
doctrines. The eloquent gentleman frou
Northampton, (Mr. UpsNur) in order to
prove how improper distractions and me,
aPhysical arguments, ard at INST came Ia
this bold conclusion that there we've no.
principles whatever ia government. Well
may be supposed IN error in imagining
there are such principles. when the wit,
the talent, the einguence Of the gentleman
from Northampton asserts there are no
principles in government. M principles,
Sir The character of the gentleman is
too well known. his talents too well under
stood to believe that he really entertains a
belief IN the trhth of this assertion, but
the nature OF the warfare waged here a.
ga'nst the doctrines behind which we in
trench ourselves, compels gentlemen to
throw every thing into ridicuie aud con(u-
sion.-Nn principles because every ques-
ton relating to government is a question
OF expedIency ?-because every govern.
ment should be made not with reference
to any given standard, but with reference
to the situation OF the people for whom the
gSvorateent is Intended ave admit the
premises and deny the, con cIusion docs
II follow because government should he a.
daPied to the situation of The people, that
there are no principles ? The gel tleman
would tell us with equal truth, that though
every building should he constructed with
intent to suit the business to be transact
ed III 1t, as well as the individual tenant,
yet that there were no principles of ARCH.
lecture. Surely such reasoning would re-
quire no reiutation.--l state this To s;,ew
that the gentleman did not mean what he
sald.-l suggest that the real object of his
argument IS as little to be vindicated az
the PLAIN mea"lng of the proposition in its
broadest apphcation-If 1t was intended
to d'scrcd't those principles we have been
taught to venerat", which have been cam.
secrated by the love four ancestors, whic h
we have been taught to look to as the
guiles Tor "ur political faith, it is as I'M
wise as It is untrue. 1t has neither been
the doctrine OF antient nor of modern
times to incnlcate such principles-it has
not been The opinion OF any writer deserv-
ing the least respect from The days of Pla-
Ia, down to the last Southern Review
They are the principles which have been
recommended TO us Tor our adoption for
our love and IS 1t wise that prncipIes
which constitute. a part ofour government
issrli, should be thrown iRto disrepu,e
To sustain any argument or proposition.
whatever be lis character Thus much
with respect To ibis argument Of no prin-
cip'es III government
Mr.. Chairman, il becomes us i'm an.
preaching this question now under con-
sidcrat,on to look with attention to the
real principles - the true doctrines which
'ay at the foundation of our government.
Much time as has beeu bestowed upau
he declaration of rights, it will not be a.
miss TO ] ok at It again with further at
| t'n'lon. This declaration is said to be
the basis upon which the Constitution it.
| sell was formed, the basis, sir, of all lust
government was intended to declare those
doctrines upon which the revolution was
| inn0ded, II was intended aud an examina-
ton will prove thai the intention was OK.
ecuted, to embody the doctrines of Sidney
aud of Locke. 1t had been the province
ot these distinguished men at the period
Which preceded and followed the reyolu-
ton IN England to maintain the lights OF
tie people against the rights "fihe prince,
and to deny It's legitimate foundation in
the viii OF the Pllncc inspired by the
principles Of liberty which the history OF
the English government had Infused int,
the people, emboldened by The accessions
which tho rights OF the people had gained
from the prince, they came forward to
prove that all power resided in the peo.
pie they did not confine themselves TO
the government, which had existed not
to the experience Of mankind under form
er governments, but they avaIed them
selves OF that experience and applied it to
the natural and unvaiIed relation between
the governors and the governed. These
doctrines clearly illustrated we recorded
as the foundations four government, and
they never ought TO be treated as abstrac.
tons, as visionary theories, but as solemn
truths, as the articles of our political faith
aud the standard OF our political conduct.
To Iecai men to original maxims is recall
ling them to yiriue--this is the language
OF great political wriler-it is the Ian.
guage Of truth. it is tho language OF our
bill Of rights IN the declaration that no
free government can he sustained but by
a recurrence 10 fundamental principles.
The advocates OF liberty. the friends Of
good government, ia ancient time, lho'l il
important 20 exhibit TO the people, stand.
ard OF periec'ion, which, though they
could not FOLLOW, they might at least strive
To initiate. The Republic OF Plato,
was written to exhibit the high tsndsrd OF
perfection u which man might aim,
though u was not reasonable tn hope they
would attain a. The Republican af Cie
gro, was written, 10 eadesgouf ia iseall
the Roman people 10 their aneient virtue
| IN lnnFa.a "A tanau H..