Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-10-31

whoic OASIS INTO the constitution, then will The ma
]ori ofuni,s who to the polls, he the legal ma
lority, and will control the results of all elections If
TINS be majority contoinabie to the public will or
not, he would not pretend TO say.
The Judge VINO sentences individual to imprison-
nent or death performs solitary Office but siill Ice
acts iii oheoieice To the wishes OF the majority vi, the
people expressed by their representatives and EN-,
boted IN tue laws oi the country. 1t has all tie Ell
fact OF an act done by nory of the people. If,
be was right IN the general position, that when we
come to the formation OF government We OUGHT TO
discard mere theory ami speculation, and pro-
ceeh on men anu things as they and in the Ian
euagc oi Scion, To aspire to what not the best nos
Si5ie but what Is the best practicable ,r,p OF ,roy
eTnnent-t, III politics. in morals we are to aspire
to what Is most practicable, then the way is open and
clear before There is question as To o,iy no,,,or
and tine inquiry resolves itself this is it fit is
meet, il practically useful? Let us investipotc tn,
matter III has way If when men proceed to form,
social compact or constitutions they surrender Meth
ing but their personal rights. II might then be conier
ded with some sasc of pausbiliv tina, n,mhe,s ouly
ought To be considered the basis of rcpresentnion
mis- right exists IN the ordinary contract between
man ana man. Ii one man s'irtenders any part of
his personal rights, al others surrender an equivalent
All give the same equivalent, and all rec.;v. tho
same equivalent. But when we recolcct that eyery
man surrcruers also control over his property one
man one portion OF bis property ard anut her anot
Ier portion, how could 1t lie but upona principle of
general equivalent?
He would put it on The principle of a compensa
ton OF equivaicnts Is it right That a man should
should receive the same eqlyaient as he vim ,,
only surrendered that wen portion but also some,
thifg more: lie was met by the argument that the
more property ycu surrender the more ,,rn.,c,i,,
You TCcclNc-thtI tile protection is proporl tomato
ana proceeds P'i' pdSSu with the amount OF propcrv
you shFfehuSf; ana That thus compensation ol
equivaIents vas constituted. There might be some
piauslbiiy III that argument, if il was ,rue not
government required further contributions tbrn
were necessary To meet the annual d;sburse,apt NJ
me ehc s?ofo OF the ordinary expenses of tic
eslS'atNreJ but did we not know that there were
drhi's mace upon the public ind!rcctv-of millions of
dollars Tor the purponcS OF Internal ImDroyenle,,
and fer all other subjects connected with tbn
Constitutional nermal pviicy of the CONFERENCE.-The
Let the argument be conctded-that so far as fbn
con'rbut rs GO, they given as an equivalent for
the protection OF property. But when we come to
disbursements which have reference to fine pro. or
ton OF property-the argument then fails ,rI ce.so,
to have application
Tho gentleman from Norfolk, (MR. PAYIoul nm
derook to compare the protection which government
gives 10 the property of those who contribute
TO lis support-iu the case of an indar,r;t
ana lnSuref-thc government to the fornlcr-
the CITIZEN to the latter lie would bc,r l.ove
To remind the gentleman from Norfolk that y
very hl9l authority had said, there was not Linn
SO apt to lead INTO error "a si.nle,-if the epn
iogy is not apparent through the whole If there ov
ISIS III II any discriminating feature, there s not hng
more fruitful! OF error and mistake than smile Co
Vcrnnent Is The underwater, saws tho rcntirnnn-
agreed. AND the people are the insurcrs-a!so adj
ihHted If we could in ordinary cases state h,,
previous agreement what the precise amount of the
premium was then the premium would certainly bcar
some proportion TO the amount of property in. ,,rcd
But imagine where the underwriters cIo;r
more than the premlunl-whcrc they can demand
Whatever preinium they please. The gentlemen
though skilled in mercantile la W. never heard ofo ~
OF mat sort Government is the underwrer-be Il
SO. Could we tlX the precise Premium could we sci
tie the exact amount which to be paid for The no.
,''s Oh issafs'hcc-We tSrce to pay much and no
nicTe-ln that case the analogy would be accurota
But let US return for moment and mi roJuc, fb a.;
tinguistng feature of this compa rison-hat H. nm
cefwrlter can demand what premium he wishes ,c
corning 10 ms pleasure or caprcc-herc then he ana
ingy ceases and the smile IS Shown to be a.lfcstly
absurd.
inns Is spoken OF BY gentlemen oil The other side,
~ terms which indicate an apparent injustice For
his own part, If he knew his OWN heart he would
not cont END for any thing. in this solemn dejie,ty.
assembly, which he considered to be unjust Re ngb+
DC WIong--de might be mistaken in Judgment but of
one thing he would assure gentlemen that whatever
1e IgnI 40 III another situation lie would not know
nSiy ADVOCATE principle here which he lid moi think
flght Is this new doctrine for winch we contend
ohe or the most ardent wings who ever wrote on DO
Vefliinenf enc who has ahOred moro than all others
~ .ne cause winch &c espoused--the most Jealous
"a.ocate Ill britain of the expansion of the ripb of.
SUM- oge has said that tle most adequate prince of
popular representation which could be adopted ia -
proporSoned to the contributions 20 the
public expenditure. Ihut this vas the correct sian
uaro Is the opinion of who might well be called
an enthusiast In the cause Of liberty bprnnr Wifi
q molly lrdor III its advancement?
bnt we were referred 10 our sister States THE
example OF some Of them is in our favor There s
sort OF regard PAID to property in North Carolina, in
the election of her Senator'S In South Carolina ono
nan OF the popular branch of the Cover nment is cleo
tea on the basis of property In Georgia Their ideas
on t9is subject re adapted to the principle of the f
GotaI eovcrnmen-thrce fiths Of the slave propcry
beng represented. Iu Ncw Hampshire and Mas
sachusetts the Senate is elected ON the basis
OF taxation, and that was the only basis In
reference to Massachusetts, lis history is prrr.
i.ane WIN interesting examples to Their 20
IL was proposed to alter their cons u ion TINT 1,ar
u was retained, the ncple, there that represent
sa!h III the senate is distinctly appor.i,ncd to tax
aol are referred to the experience of ,rr SIS
ter states AS fer their experience goas. it ;s in
GU favor as lar as experiment goes it is aga sf H..
j mere was marked line Of distinction IN he drawn