Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-11-10

f.h,s only but political powers, and from the last, the
absolute dsspotic right Of bare majority TO change the
fnnda laws, and 10 assume TO themselves under
nav form OF polity, the sovereign power to govern
without limitation or check. Read the whole article,
and IL will be seem that TO decla O. that when
the existing government fails produce happiness and
safety; fails to protect property we'll liberty which
I'm the first article recognized, the OF hap
piness and safety; and appears not 10 be r.ctuay
cured ainst the dangers Of NAL
and not ill then, the majority has the right reform
alter or abolish it, and TO substitute ancther cacu
lated produce happiness and safety; better suited
secure life, liberty and property without which nei-
Their life liberty can be enjoyed maintaned and
more secuay secured against the dangers of NAL adj
immigration But so long as the cs'abIished govern
ment answers those cardinal purposes Of its institution
the majority may, indeed have the physical po,oer but
II can have moral right 10 ovcturn II. Now, we
have the authority oil the venerable gentleman from
Loudoun (Mr. Monroel that under our present govern
ment in the course Of fifty our years, there has been
no wrong, no oppression. Again; the sentence which
the gentleman owe ooked distinctly afIirms the great
principle for which earnestly conten that
IL behoves engaged i'm framing government, 10
establish Just and wise government-not govern.
men founded on theoretical principles and squared
cordiug to the exact model of the natural rights Of
man, which,, being necessarily the in all socie.
ties ofmanknd, would, il followed, eventuatc every
where in the same form Of civil polybuta just and
wise government, adapted 10 the peculiar circupsisn.
othe people for whom is intended. No govern
be just, or wise, safe which, either wholly
Ia any material degree gives portion OF the peo-
pie the principal power OF taxation and imposes the
other the principal duty OF contribu,on-no govern
produce the greatest degree OF happiness and
safety fail to destroy them, which does provide
the most Jealous security for property, which does
wed power 10 property, which disc ams, in the first
principle Of its organization. all regard property. No
government can be just, or wis., safe for Virginia.
which shall place the property Of the Est in the power
and the disposal OF the West. Whenev YER thew shall
lake away the little earnings Of my labor, any part
Of them-whcnever they shall seize the bread earn
for chilren-for their own local purposes-against
rYUr ri nj anil Mt nj ...l~
sent my inerests--and shall be bound 10 submit,
70 such exac,on without means Of redress; shall lie
obliged to them, sincerely oblige to them take
my life too shall not desire TO survive hourTo
turn TO the sentence in the Bill Of Rights, which the
gentleman from Frederick overlooked; il wa, only by
that OMISSION that they te Georg, Ma.ons Bill u
Rights pronounce sentence OF condemnation upon
George Masons consti,uion; condemned him out of
hi, own mouth Of violating those sicreh right. Of man
which he acknowl .dgcd and declared So il happened
10 Zng-I ailude TO voltare's ale-a fragment OF pa
per was FUND.- containing these in his hand writ
ing
Gains. Peace nd Liberty,
. fla enemy prefes''d
And thee lines were construed into scditious and
trsierous libel against the regning prnce and the un
happy author was doomed to death But, a. they were
Trading him TO execution, parrot flew to the place
with another fragment which saved his life Tor it cx
ac''y fitted the former, and on it were written other
words which entirely changed the compile xon of the
supposed libel. The whole read thus
BY crime. o. deepest dye, rre The eart' made
Hss " ne ron. Possessed ,eAo all iAer qaei
e' i"oe'V, 1"oe GUY "dT-
The examples OF our sister States, who supposed
to have framed their governments upon the prncips
recommended by the Legislative Committee, ha. been
az earnestly pressed US, il were true that
they have in fact set such examples and certain,
that what rs suitable TO their condition IL also suitable
ours OF the six New ENGLAND States, it will he
found, on an examination OF their Institutions, that
one Of them has in fact adopted any ouch principle;
which is remarkable enough considering their dense
and homogeneous population, their comparatively small
territory and the consequent small diversity OF their
-.
ar IT be an amended no, shall presume 10
sayD processes TO adopt the principle nded
10 u.s. and yet departs FROM IT, in allowing each county,
no matter how few its population, at least one vote
very material modification: and supporting the City Of
M York shall continue TO grow for years ger.
~ has done for few years past il the State of N. York
do not rue the day gave the City such of
presentation, out OF mere respect TO theoretical and
tempt OF practical equaty,I shall abandon all
TO political foresight The Constitution Of New Jersey
gives each eouHiy an equal representation, does that
OF Delaware In Pennsylvania, the representation il
spp'rtoned according TO the taxable Inhabitants and
every county il allowed al least ono. When the Con
stitons OF the North Western State. form ed their
population small and all free, and there was no di.
versy Of interests: and when those Of the South Wes-
tern State. were formed, their population small too
and they were all planters aud slave holders. so tina
they hal no diversity OF interests, which il
say TO balance, in order TO North Carolina and
MARYLAND are in a similar situation with us-and the
constitutions of both give each county equal
s'naiion. Suppose Maryland should be seduced, in
Sead oil being warned and deferred, by example,
aud should he uEwise enough TO call Convention to
ansnd her Constitution, and 10 equalxe her represen-
TALON; does any suppose her people will be weak
enough, in Difference 10 the rights Of man, TO give
Baltimore representation in proportion to its
Tree white population, and thus in effect constitute
int city mistress OF the State? baltimore would have
one nth OF the whole repre- scntation; and, acting in
mass, would almost invariably prevail over the rest,
snce the rest would be w.skened by division South
Carolina, finding herself in circumstances similar 10
ours tho The diversity cf interests i' by no means
Er'at there as here, has adopted that very compound
basis oil population and taxation, which the amcn,nc
oil my friend from Cu!peper proposes; aud Georgia has
shop'ed The federal number apportio1ing her
senaiion, which comes very nearly TO the thing
IL IL wise TO re.pee The institutions our sister States
to obtain light, 10 borrow wisdom, to take warning,
from any quarterht surely. 10 follow the examples
othose, whose situation is different from ours and
were undrr no necessity 10 exercise any jealousy OF
numbers for The safeguard Of property and neglect
the example OF those whose situation is similar
provide such security Tor the Interests OF properytbs
would not be TO Profit by the examples OF other states,
but 10 despise them.
The gentleman from Norfolk (Mr. Taylor,) and the
geht'enan from Augusta, (Afr Baliwip0 have told u.s.
thdt, dsguie the principle Of the compound basis Of
whte population and tax iIion, we may can,
tits giving political power TO the few the many
10 The wealthy fcwto property ersonsand il is
ausiocracy Now, pray you, Sir, turn your attention
TO The Constitution OF the u States, which spporiions
Representation, and direct taxation too numbers
eerained by adding 10 the free population, three itbs
OF the slaves. And a.k those gentlemen to Tell me,
friends and supporters Of the federal constitution? IL
they answer no, have nothing to say. II they
anrwer yes-as think they will and mtst--do Ihey
c"rsd that principle in the federal nltuon 1ris