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

sthhuard should he applied. i state II here, that
gentlemen may perceive that n fact there is no
distinction or diHorence between us, and will
now proceed 10 the last clause ofthis third ar.i-
tiele =" that when any government shall be
found inadequate or contrary to these purposes
majority of the comnnunityl hath aa indubitablc,
ect. right To REFORM alter ~ abolish It,; cct."
What is here declared, The right of the ma
II"ritv to reform tho government, when it is not
found To answer the endin view. No con-
sidering this subjects. can deny The truth of
this proposition, and there ought a. be no differ
cnce of opinions as To the method of applying
h.-Tbe people grant the power-ths people
give the authority to be exercised Cor their
benefit-,hc people, the majority "f the people,
have the unalienablc, indeeasible and indubi-
table, right To arI"gate the power, to deny the
authority, and to reform or abolished the go.
vernment rs to this majority shall seem right.
The people propose an alteration n"w--thc
people who granted tho power original'y-thc
people whose happiness is to be promoted, seek
this change; and shall they be asked by what
authority you seek this reform ? Shall they be
told BY one who is opposed to reform, can
demonstrate, that you suffer no Inconvenience,
you'labnr; under no grievances. you are happy,
and no other form Of government could procure
you the same qunntum of good"--and then de-
mand of You why you would alter it? what an.
swer would they not give'' We acknowledge
your sincerity know you believe what you
say but you are arguing to us n question about
which you must allow us to feel, to think, to un-
dersland for ourselves how great soever may
be your superiority of intellect, your superiority
of virtue, your wisdom and your foresight !; yet
you cannot feel more than ourselves. You
are proving to us by logic that we prosper
Gus and happy ; but we 6nd we think, we know
otherwise, and not for your logic. He
may tell them, you may know that the govern
ment has not attained oil possible, imaginable
happiness hut how you tell how the new
one will operate, how you tell how il will
compare with the old Constitution They will
answer, the right is ours-thc stake is ours-the
SIS IS ours-the gain is ours-we feel, we know
that happiness has not hecn secured to us-and
it is our province to make the hazard, our risk
and therefore our right to abolish it. Who is to
Judge between them the answer proves the
principle laid down to be perfectly correct =
the majority must Judge The article was not
intended to set forth vain and impossible things
for in the nature of things it must result in this
that the majority must judge, and that is the
UNREASONABLE meaning. II is not my purpose
ito take up passages in the Bill of Rights,
slider it independent of the Constitution for
admit that both were made at the same time,
and each sheds light upon the other and what
ever light the Constitution would throw upon
the construction of the Bill Of Rights, ought to
ho Rate 81,
sitntion ITSELF in the commentary, which
the great men of that day placed upon it, Iio-
thing in the superstructurc which denies that
the majority have this right ! CLAIM the Dene-
fit to consider them both. and believe it neces
saiy to interpret them pr"perly-What then is
declared That as government is made for the
benefit Of the people, they have the right,
when it is found inadequate to this intention, to
alter or abolish it. How was this Constitution
tn be received, ! am not one Of those who
contend it has no sanction, or that we have any
good reason 70 doubt its validity. II was sent
forth to the people, not with the Bill of RIGHTS
Iconceaicd, but both together openly and plainly.
The great men of that day, our glorious fore
fathers, told our ancestors, we believe the go.
vernment we give you now, the best we can a.
dapt to your condition and when you believe
it not so. you have the right, and can abolish it
you are TO use it as long as you please, until,
a majority shall declare it no longer obligatory.
This was the compact entered into at that time !:
and is il not the most solemn of all compacts |?
Can i, be more distinctly acknowledged We
, look then not I" the laws of nature, but 10 the
, COL pact of society itself, which declares ex.
pressly the right in the ajority 10 reform, al.
ter os abolish il at pleasure. This proposition
thus established, does not lead to the conclusion,
that because the majority have the right TO re-.
form, that therefore, the majority have the rig
to control the Legislation of the country il
does not prove that the majority may not confer
upon me minority, the powers of Legislation ;
'hat ISL question, however, ofpropIcty but the
extent To whie II should be carried iu.ii6es us
IN considering these things which should aclu.
ate aus n cur deliberations. The maturity have
the right to reform and IL they have. they
should at least be asked the liberty 20 explain
lhs'r equality and declare who shall give the
law u VIII occur readily toyou, sir that the
reconsideration 1T ihis question, is calculated 10
Pr"sase some h.Ile delieaey in the deliberations
OF this house We cane here 10 enquire into the
VIII 81 this majority; how then IL Il 10 be as.
} eeTsa'ned' The people are not represented
, here VA proportion 10 lhsr Rumbsrs therefore,
Whist n'ay he "a fact lhs will Of the maj rity Of
the ms'aes'' Il this boGy may no, be lhs vii IT
msj"niy II their sonsi,isenis. --Gs ubst b.
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