Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-10-29


Is that the right to prescribe the lazy depends on tn
power OF applying the sanction, and that this poyve
necessarily resides in majority If soft rirh
.o;lows power /" Is necessary to look back to th
Gamer proPnsition also. 1t right follows power I,
what partos the creatures of God are we to look5-
as nature has made all equal, we ought to loo), +,
ai-not to men alone, but also to women ana
children. 1t Is difficult to reason on this sort o
abstraction. He would suppose the case of .
coHiinunlty-'t communities could exist in state
o' nature; the two rank in the propor-
'"n or is to IL; add To these the decrepid and
Place by the side of the ladies a few children
ana the majority is complete. Is power there +
ho1 power to be found in the physical strength the
s!li and intrepidity which are To be found il :, tt
OF nature, and which will frequently he found nm NO..
ioci Tor numbers, the elements of which ar. more
iere linen Is strength in the hands of the mi
r;y mere gentlemen may find power in the hi
LILY 20 RUE minority in that very law of nature
= iiies Icter for the right of the majority TO
control the few. Tita is the manifest absur,ty TO
which the reasoning of TIM gentlemen who advocate
the extended principle of suffrage from the law of
nature, inevitably leads them. But the idea may be
carried still further Why not paupers to be ad
mitted to the pollse Why are not women and
children? Is there any law of nature which fixes the
precise nge tor the maturity of iii elect, which pro-
Vues that the faculties shall be free precisely ut q
years of age? So far from this being the case the
human constitution natures in different climates al
ufeFent periods. Under the line, it is ripe at l6
while In the latitude of 60 ii is not mature bcf, 2o
There IS no lazy which provides that at one particular
age, the development OF the faculty of election shall
take place.
But thereis still further obicctonto the course
al reasoning which gentlemen are disposed To aaopt
In order to get at the principle contended for we are
compelled to go back to state Fittings prior to all
history, and which probably had existence
4hc original equality which is supposed exists only in
The imagination. We have no knowledge of man
:nd prior to that history of him which is presented
III the Bible We there Informed that AfIar vac
the first man, and that the very fiat which broprh
Eve into existence subjcctedher to the domin Of
her husband. And Cain the first born of man
ana at what period of his life could he be said to he
tie equal ofhis parents' Not surely while he was
me Object OF their .an the dependent upon their
bounty
The very aIvocates of this doctrine abandon il,
oecause they cannot but perceive that is impossible
III practical government To push il it's fair results
II tree whites alone to give the measure of politi
cai power upon what principles it that any one ndi-
Gunal Is deprived of his share that power Poiifi
capower, IN established government denentls ON the
fght OF surage-if this right be abridged is cear
'sat the supposed equality destroyed, and that in
cItect the minority ia election district NAV hay
the sole power OF choosing their represent ativc
Hence the principle, which commended for us cor
1ect VIVID to The state AT large may be- &
probably viii be abandoned in partlar paris of
ne cardinal error III our rcasQ;f!nr on the subject
CONSISTS IN the endeavor tc scduce from stale of
nature anaiogies tor the regulation of state of soci
eiya state which pr>suPposes that nature with all
her rights, and all fer laws, has been SIN ken Of.
The subject IS perhaps worth the. labor which
mas oeeT bestowed upon 1t, but it mar perhaDs be
hseiu III enaD! us 10 understand The true PRINCIPLES
l:pr
iHl not to oewider ourselves with theoretical prin !
cpieS. There are in fact original fundamriItni
principles OF government at ALL The princinles of ore
government 40 not apply to another-nor will the
Siile principles apply to the government ut diff
ierent times and under different circumstances In
urkoy the government is lodged in one man. in Enr
iie.Ata OF three branches, the Democratic
hristoerltc and monarchc, and III the republics; of
the United States profess at least to have gov
crGmeRt of the people alone. Neither in Turkey, nor
in England does the majority rule and yet it would BE
strange to say that for this reason there govern
Trcnt at Ell IN those countries. The principles Of
government are such only rs those who make il
choose adopt und to apply to tilv,nsalrs C.ovrrn
Incnts are free, otherwise, only as in proper
lion the people have been consulted III forming them
and the rulers strictly and directly responsible
Tor the execution Of the peoples will 1t matters not
what form they assume, nor who are the immediate
repositories OF political power. 1t may suit their pur
poses. it suited the people of Rome to invest
all authority in dictator, and if the people choose
this form of government-if their interest and safety
require that they shall submit to it, what original
principle is there which renders it illegimate? Il
the majority possess all power they possess power to
surrender their power And if it is either just or
wise that they should do it is still their gov
crnment, and no one can impugn its Legitimacy.
1t Is true, as general rule that i'll free govern
hiens, power should be given to the majority; and
whys The rule is founded the idea Of identity
OF interest In all the members of the body polite; an
the presumption naturally arises that - =
number possess the greater in..,ee, R, .En 80 III
does NOT apply IN st% sc things in which the GREAT
sf il.erest Ut Size belongs to minority In aica
Us pure question fjusticc and expedicncy, What
IiE' saal be adopted. 1t has been his object to
sn0Y that there are no original principles which
,,,, -t-2t we are free to choose, and are under no
oirations Il '"l0yi, 10 adopt rulc another
And it now rernair: for TO enquire what rule we
c,rght to adopt in the existing state of things We
contend that the basis of representation, Compounded
Of nopulation and taxation. the rule Wat ore
hs elements of society Property and pers" As. Does
the history Of mankind present an pie of 50
i SIct
chillren, without property? Me-, was there ever
society to whose formation ,operty originally enter
cd and i'll which the bis providing for its security
had ceased to be respected, which did not nimc-
diately fall q prey to vioience' We must always
connect persons and property together Property
as part OF The social compact must be Protccted
as one half of the compound, little respect must
be paid to it in the relations Of that compound