Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-12-17

Permanency OF our institutions, TO recommend them
the respect aud Difference Of the present generation to
the love aud veneration OF posteryl To recall men
TO original maxins is generally recalling them TO vr
tue;ihis il the language Of ds,inguihed political
writer; and is Oe language Of truth. which does not
require the support ct authority The advocates Tor
liberty, the friends of good government In all time,
have enicavored ~ incuca,c respect ard reverence
for principles. and have Thought il vice 10 bold up high
standards oi excellence for he emulation 81 tc people
Plao's republic mss written with the vain hope
that its perfection onli h. realised; but with view
10 inspire love of excellence, aud create emulation
Cicero's work De Rspubiicd written tor the pur-
pose Of recalling he Roman people 10 the fundamental
principles OF thsr government, aud OF ending
them TO their ar cnns anl their rsverence--Dnt il
came too lac TO reform IN. degeneracY OF lineage,
10 preserve the freedom the glory Of Rome. The
celebrated Edmund Burke, who dreaded the con'a gion
OF French principles and the lsveiing hand OF French
equality quite much anv good republican here
can do, when with much eioquence and ability and
prophetic taeRt, he traced The causes OF the French
Revolution, deplored It's sangnary excesse pointed
out its errors. and indicated s dangerous
when he endcavored 70 lay the evil spirit of reform
which was rising in England, and TO warn his
try-men against the runous exampl. which they
seemed disposed to imat-.-what did he appeal TO, "a
most dear 70 Englishmen.-he appealel,o =. the word
and spirit OF that immorAlaw," the Eaglish declara-
ton OF right IL IL TO the word and spirit Of our decla-
ration OF rights, 10 that law, which should desire TO
make immortal, that in my humble Judgment we should
at all times appeal. only guide against the dan
ger oiheedess reform. but - gsard us in making
"hoiesoIe amendments.
We have been taught. Mr.. Chairman. that the educa-
ton of people should always be conducted with ref
erence to the principles OF their government in order
that sentiments OF loyalty may be sown in their early
aifec,ious.-The same wisdom nstructs us TO mould
the subordinate aws, in conformity 10 the fhndamen
tai law of the country. Ii is in the spirit of these les
sons, that having adopted the republican form Of gov
eminent, have constantly nculcated the love Of lib
eriy, OF virtue, OF simple, unosentaous manners, and
that, to prevent injurious inequality in the fortunes
and conditions of men, the laws hove been passed
which abolish eni,s and the rights of prmoge niture
The act abo!ishing entails, which is coeva with
our government, and that prescribing the law of de-
sent which very quickly succeeded the war Of the
revolution, not founded on any supposed inius
tce intrinsic mpropriety in limiting tho estate Of
the parent TO his remotest descendants making the
hrst born son, the exclusive heir but were founded
on reasons purely political; reasons, which induced our
ancestors Ito believe, that however wise. however
cessary in England, for the preservation Of their gov
eminent il nigh; be, preserve family distinctions
and perpetuate family wealth such distinctions and such
wealth were unsuited TO republican government, and
that the laws for promoting them, would be- here, not
less impractcable than unwse.
IL Ia submitted to this committee whether all these
considerations do no. recommend 10 their most re-
srectiu attention. the principles which lie the foun
dahon ri our governmenti they think il hoped
they will not deem the time misspent which shall be
employed in further consideration OF the bill of rights
where these principles are dec.ared.-In performn q
this duty. shall not follow the example of the Judge
who condemned Zadg 10 death, upon the evidence of
the torn fragments Of his manuscrpt;-I shall not sun
der the different parts OF the instrument the text
from the con emporaneous commentary, the declaration
oil rights, from the constitution based upon il a. the
samA time, and by the same hands
Mr.. JOhnson's Speech to be Continued