Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-02-07


subject with an eye to the interest Of the proprc
tors, or 10 their securityhe will treat the spS
ject as one involving the control over our properr
because he says, the House of Lords in England
represent the property oil that country and he asl
what have they done for liberty. Sir, if.this h.
his conclusion, then find we have studied H. h
English form of recommendation form Of GOV II
ernmen',or body OF legislative forms dependent "a,
vital power, more upon the state and condition ~
property in the county, than any other circum
stance IL Isl, say, sir we have read and studio, u
the English Government at least to arrive at differ,
ent results OF opinion Perhaps the remark of MN
friend, (said Mr.. G may have good application
70 me ancient affairs oil that government when Ia
England the landed property remained circumscrI
ed by the federal policy and the system of Law,
made TO dam up that property.-Ceris:.ily, sir III.
House OF Lords is now not much more than a po n
mnal aristocracy-,hey do not at this day repre- II
sen, ,he property OF the country; as a coorlina,a
branch OF the Legislature, they are personal rcp.
reseniatives OF tn interest and privileges Of thes
class: but, sir, there is another and far more efe
1--WE representation of property in that country-
property which is as 20 millions TO one, perhaps
over the whole landed property. This new spe cis
oil property, the successful iva Of the feudal aris
tocracy,is in the hands of the commercial, ana
manufacturing parts the community-andw here
are we 10 look for its representation? Not in tho
foundations of the governments; they wero made
ior different interest; but, SIR find this rreat
property interest, well represented by the Borofh
system, ana this Is the secret of the stability OF he
Borough system-because, tho not connected 9TH
.he iahued property, as the county representation
u.s. yet, these close Boroug without being opet 10
the exercise of the right Of suffrage do in fact nm,
resent the pers nal property of the country Inits
masses OF accumulation. l would not sir be 81
posed, to appreciate The government Of that corn-
try' or 70 defend the existing state OF things-but
The question is not as to what given state of mo-
perry is the best; il is easy to see that is NOT on I'm,
best footing there-but our argument as fana,s
property Is concerned, refers TO the Just contrt,i
over property as found distributed in the comm
nifty. In our own country no vicious state ofrr
prietary rights be objected-but we are pro
viding for diversity Of interests applicable 10 two
great portions OF the alth-and s;rI
(said Mr.. g. you bound to notice this deem
and vital question Oppression may arise out of ie-
g'Siaiion, when not guided by community ofinter-
est, existing aId binding toge ther those NO MI.
"a majority, and thos. who ruled as minority
The najori,ies Of all communities act as IL they
were not governed and the security of the minor
NY Is the identity OF nterestWheie this cannot be
trusted TO, then, SIR, municipal monitor must be
provided-and, sir, in this view di, the feature of
the bill reported by the special committee addres,
itseitto my Judgment did approve that bill. az
lar a. went, and should have liked il better II II,
provisions had looked 10 the aggregate pouuIotiop
OF the State. Negrophobia however, had seized ON
THIS, as on former occasion it did another lie.
gsiature-and gentlemen denounced the compIex
ION oil the proposition-nec color imperii-is their
objection. Then, sir, l found another proposition
ih'o tie JOINT IOICv oil the East
and West-Dot by manage Ineni, sir-but IL va,
common ground where the Fast and West seemed
to agree, and II recommended itself TO me by the
III which Carried me back TO The personal feelings
oi my constituent, and being selected as tcnabie
by those who had agreed TO stand by it, viii
take II, not because my Judgment approves but
from necessity and crcuustance.-I do sir vet re-
gard my tavourite plan,whicil now sleeps on your
Table, as the potent rival of every proposition To
base representation oil white population In tru,b
sir, the Federal basis has rcf.sr
oil power-ln THIS point ofview il is offered to ,,s e.
those who Object 10 i,act OIL the same principe-fo.
the very reason that il is desirable to the Fast
Is 1t not desired by the Wesi?--and yet gentlemen
'aiR OF gong into Convention, in way TO do JUS.
ice TO the subject when in fact il is admitted.
mat the policy OF organizations is to give the prin-
cipies oil our reorganization. Sir in the review
taken by Lord Chatham, OF the policy of George
1renVHies system OF taxing the then Colonies,
he denied its rightful authority and Justice "a
much OIL the ground of want OF identify of inter-
est, as want OF representation Sir. there is a pain
argument in this, when we look at the SIayeboId
ers occupying almost separate spot OH the man OF
your State. But, if the doctrine of revenue ia.
SIS Tor Representations Is not the true princpIe
when united with population, in what does its CAL
lacy or impurity consist When all are interested
In property, certainly the system will be accepta
o'e 20 all IL simple direction of power does mt
~ wem answer any people, are they TO be de-
houhced, because one more complex and co,nb;n
s the essential ingredient Of political power dor.
SUI their condition, and suting them thew arr
found TO desire il? Is simplicity of forms essential
10 the purity OF governments Then, all govern
nent, except democracy, is impure in its simpIe
form. But, sir, we told that we are sent here
10 carry into effect the will of the naiorjty-tbat
III uoinS 'lis, Is our duty 10 Disregard every lin
itation. Our powers, say gentlemen are full and
coinp'ete-and, sir, we have heard of a majority
whose right 10 rule rests alone in physical force
sir, 1 revere the sound doctrines of the RevoIu
uon and tho immortal men, who set I'D The soye
reigh'y OF the people, against the divine right OF
kings More than one crowned head had. before
the era OF our Revolution, found that the poyer do
iacto, was in the people. But, SIR. whv should
gentlemen now disturb the settled doctrine, WIZ
nvert the beautiful Pyramid Of popular SOVEREIGN
W! III stands upon its broad foundations of moral
necessity, OF reason and Justice Itisyet perpen-
dicuiaf; and the graceful attitude given 10 il bv
our S'eo' anu Virtuous ancestors, commands our
veneration and esteem. Will it be more fixed II,
the new POSITION which in this debate baa bee,,
gwen 10 II! No, Sir. IL will toner and perbans
IAN Let gentlemen beware, and look 10 an on.
hshtened public opinion, as the true and ultirna
speS OF popular government.
IL would seem TO me, said SIR. G. tl,attbe mem
bers OF this House, acting so far in ol,ed;enco
TO the will Of the people, taking the vote os L.,
sofrng TO be lair expression of tina, will, as 10
D. engaged IN the discharge Of duty inposed.
bui also think, that respect for The SOVEREIGN ,lI
OF me people, IS as good an argument against the
assumption OF unlimited power, on the part of
those who wish 10 be moderate as IL is on the part
oil those who ask us TO unletter the whole subject
ana abandoii the present organization of the social
ahd political community. And, is it not worthy OF
consideration, that all doubt might have been re.
moved, had the Legislature, or the friends of Con-
Venuou IN that BODY, enacted law suited 10 fbe
honest purpose Of eciting from the people. Dr.
cision Oh every embarrassing question This course
was avoided; altho the influence of the Co,,rt,,
system was suhJccto rehension-sndits un.