Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-10-17

prove It's policy, upon precisely the grounds
competency OF each individual Judge what is best aud
most proper for him, WILL upon the slightest analysis, be
| proved entirely false.
According to the assertion Of the free trade advocates
each one is best acquainted with his individual in
terest, and should be allowed the manage
ment OF them at his discretion, far as they do
not conflict with the perfect rights Of others La the
case however, Of the Representatives in Congress each
pronounces, not only upon the interests of his own
district but upon the interests Of all the others like
WISE Now, granting his superior knowledge of the in
Of his own district, does not follow that he is
acquainted with that Of other districts; or il he
possess that knowledge, that he will accordingly.
cannot better illustrate the difference between the
two cases, than by extending ltle Djero,s persona
hcation OF the FIVE senses, and making out OF sort Of
fable. Dlerot supposcs FIVE men exist, each one OF
whom had but one sense. Let denomina'c those five in
divduals SEEING Hearing, Tasting, Smelling Touch
ing, according 10 the which suppose each
possess, and that they have the power Of Speech and
| the capacity Of communicating These FIVE form
ell club society," for the transaction Of business
The first subjsct which engaged the attention of this
little society, was ono which had reference number
Upon this subject all could form Jus, notions
for, Seeing had seen different colours, objects, Sc
H-ariRg hat heard different sounds Tasting had tasted
different substances Smelling had smelt various oiors;
and Touching had touched variety Of bodies All
Of them wero acquainted with number; and the fret
subject was accordingly well debated and the decision
was a olcrably wise one. pause Of a few nome nts
ensucd, and Seeing and addressed the society-
He discussed upon colours, fights and shades, when
all the other MEMBERS with voice. aud pro-
nounced him a maniac discussing On subjects which
they supposed had no existence; for Hearing had
yer heard colour shade; Tasting had never tasted
one; Smelling never smelt one; nor Touching touched
ono They all, therefore, not only voted against the
proposition submitted by Seeing, they supposed him
derauged. Hearing then arose. and submitted propo-
'on to the society or sounds, and mounting his Pega
sus, he began TO speak i'm lofty of the neighng
Of the war horse. the whstlne Of the wind, the
Of artillery, and the thunder Of Heaven. In the midst
oil his Hight he was likewise put down, his proposition
rejected, without an approbarg vote, his own; aud
ihe astonshed orator had the modification oo to hear
himself pronounced maniac. Smelling shared
the same fate; and Tasting and Touching likewise
| And thus, every proposition which submitted was
| rejected, save tho number. And every member
was pronounced de'ansed by tho unanimous Of the
4 remainder.
| Now, this little fable will serve well to she how the
majority OF any body OF men may the at
fairs oil Individuals each one Of the five in the fable
was best acquainted with his own individual concerns
but when called TO decide in reference others he
decided wrong, for want OF information
Seeing the best judge Of colours, because they
alone concerned him; but he knew nothing Of sounds
| tastes, smells, &c. So Hearing acquainted with
| sounds, but knew nothing OF colours, smells tastes
SC. But, when formed into deliberatve body, each
one was required not only to in reference to
his individual concerns, but likewise in ference
II. affairs of all the rest. Therefore, in the fable, the
chances OF four to one.
So likewise, in the Congress of the United States
each member is best acquainted with the peculiar in
tere',s OF his own district but then he is called upon
vote not only that but upon the interests of more
than 200 others besides; his chances of error
are increased in proportion to his ignorance neglect
Of the concerns OF others. This is consequently
not at all analogous TO the principle OF the free trade
tenn, which supposes each the best Judge of his
affairs alone; and deHes his capabi,y Of judging in
the private concerns OF another.
But let turn from this supposed analogy, the fala
cy OF Which is so easily detected, and consider for
ment the political evils resulting from that facility with
which the various interests seeking for government
faction are enabled 10 combine and domincer the
interests in society.
In my lectures, in the commencement OF the political
course, on government have already informed yoY
he an infA
separate from and opposed the interest of the
cd state Of nature is not safe state TO exist in; for
the inerestot the strong opposed to that Of the weak
monarchy is not safe state; for the interest Of the
monarch be opposed TO the interest OF the subject
An arsocracy is not safe, because the interest OF the
minority who govern may initiate against the interests
OF the minority who are governed republic alone
| would answer, where power lodged but a short
time in the hands of the public agents. whose interest
could never be separated from those OF the society
which they represent, and who thus, too made iii.
recly responsible for their conduct and made to answer
for IL at the bar of public opinion. But here great
evils appear: the majority all occasions rule, and
they may frequently have interests opposed to the in
erests OF the minority, and whenever the former is
without controu abuses will arise; man will be govern
ed by his interest The majority will Cypress the mi
norily and perhaps such oppression may be
than the oppression which arises under monarchica
government; for in the former CASE the oppression is
systematic; it arises mainly from opposition OF local in
terests hich may depend circumstances Of per-
manent character; and therefore the sections in the mi
nori'y may remain almost for ages, and may BE-
stantly and systematically oppressed by the majority
during this long time. Under the monarchca govern.
ment the oppression is systematic and long
tnued on any section: il may perhaps be burhen
ed to-day but it will be relieved TO- morrow An Ed.
ward may tax and Cypress il, but Henry will encou
rage and resuscitae it, There is hope however, for
minority in republican government, with unlimited
powers in the hands Of public agents, responsible only
TO their immediate constituents, who form the majority
oil the nation Oppression is not felt to-day and
Tomorrow, but IL continues from day TO day, with in
creasing pressure.
You may be then ready to ask, what is to be done!
seeing the majority have the dangerous privilege OF u
deny the right OF the majority suppong there is
no Constitution by which they governed or customs
and presidents which they respect make any aw or
pass any regulation, which may benefit class ex-
cusivey, at the expense Of another and which may
have the general welfare in view. Should you say,
stew us the restraint which is imposed upon the will
oil the Legislator answer, il flows from the very ma
ture and end OF government which is devised for mu-
ual protection and welfare, and for the aggrandze
men OF the majority, by the opprc Of the minority
The minority may we'll say, when its Interest,", are open
y condemned and trampled under foot would rather
return to state Of nature, than remain parties to this
unequal and oppressive alliance; there, the strong man
may Cypress the weak one but than the ma
JOii.y does the minority, under present system OF
government.
beg you to bear in mind, that am here suppo.inc
palpabc and undenabe breach Of the lust rights OF
the minority, made by the selfishness of the majority
fou are not to suppose that equality can be pre-
served in the operation Of all the laws Of society Some
will be benefited more Than Others the burlhen too
from necessity, from the nature and constitution of
INNS he atIl,t .,ho