Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-03-13


manlty, and holding in tame subsection the impulses
OF charity, justified the relentless exclamation "per-
Eii the colonies but save the prncipe."-The natu-
raj equality OF man maintained in Of society is
totally lrreconcileable with the preservation of
der, and with the possession and protection of proper
ty to any considerable extent. The whole earth is
mans dwelling place, and each is equally and nat
uroy entitled go much of its soil and fruits as is
necessary for his habtaton and subsistence; and no
niorc.--The laws of the Community, and not the
laws OF nature, authorize the acquisition of property
beyond the Individual capacity to enjoy or ability to
defend. The desire of reducing cverv man TO thu,
same level in all respects yas the avoweI motive
which guided the conduct Of the French Jatobins.
In the eager pursuit Of Il phantom, the Jacobnical
Jewellers disregarded every consideration of Justice
humanity, anu religion. Murder and coniiscation
were legitimate means Of establishing their system
Order and civil liberty were merged in the gulf of
RIGHTEOUSNESS, from which necessarily sprang profau
ity and nfdelity;; According to the revolutionary
creed, man could have superior. The Deity was
braved and nsuIted and the phrenzicd advocates of
equality would It the power had been possessed, have
dsthroncd the Governor of the Universe. Worship
OF Supreme Being uavoidably cniorces the idea of
interlority and dependence; hence the affairs were
crushed, and under their ruins were buried ali the
forms of religious devotion-wfiilst the Goddess of
Reason was proclaimed to be the only Divinity wor-
thy OF the homage OF MN. gu Men are by Ma
ture equally free aud independent" Here sir is the,
authority, superior to lays, which invites
TO torciblc and convusive dissolution of some of
the long established relations OF society. Yhis is
the general order under which the standard OF liberty
Is to be erecer, the banners Of equality unfured and
under the maddening inspirations OF the rrcsisble
genius or universal en,anclpaton, creJy inhabitunt
OF the country NAV march forth assert and lin
tain his natural freedom and independence. Yes SIR
this sublime abstraction IN our bill of rights il
enforced IN society," causes the Slave to swell beyond
the measure of his chains;'' it restores him to the
unqualified condition of free man; it enables him
TO walk abroad in all the majesty of native EQUALITY
and to traverse the hills and daes of Virginia with
as little restraint as his fore;aters sported
their their natal plaius. The gentleman from Wytire
MIR. Draper) vas constrained to admit that the
practical adoption of the doctrine for which he so
zealousy commended necessarily led to the enancipa-
ton OF slaves. The UTMOST ingenuity cannot
reconcile bondage With equal freedom The gentle
man however, it seemed was not prepared to extend
his principles to the liberation of the slave; on the
contrary he conceded that tn, existing condition of
society, and the sacred duty of selfsecuri,y justified
Us III resisting his natural claim to freedom. This
concession is virtual abandonment of the position
assumed, that the strict letter of the bill OF rights
ought alone to regulate the work of reform. Having
fearful apprehension sustained thinI, by recur-
renee to all past experience oil the disorder injustice
ana Violence Which must attend such an effort /
have laborcd tcdiously perhaps, but I hone NOT
altogether unsucccssfully to demonstrate that the
Idea OF preserving The natural equality of mar; in tho
formation OF socicty Is absurd that il is wholly
iN0practcablei and that 1t is DOT required BY fair
aud correct Interpretation Of the Ian uage which has
Peg1 so frequently quoted 20 sustain IT,
Alr Speaker, said Mr.. D. there is auothey provis
ION contained in our bill of rights which has been
fruitful thcma of dcclamation The right Of n ma
jorlty to alter the Government has been yindcnted
Win an earnest Zta! calculated to convey the pres-
son that 1t had encountered denial or Invasion rba
admission of this principle TO its full extent ouoh IN
enter into the creed OF every American politician
1t IS SIR nothing less than the assertion OF the trans
candsnt revolutionary doctrine of America upon
winch the illustr!ous patriots of &c proceeded 10
,rcnounce the Government of Great Britain and tn
Fccant their allegiance to the Kin.s-it was sealed
and confirmed by tho blood of martyred heroes, and
on ts truth rests the legitimacy Of all our Republican
institutions which have arisen in the waste places of
fogd! prerogative. T9Iis majestic poe,er of the
people once reused into action disoynines all obed;
ence to existing institutions, is from it's very nature
uncomfortable; it have no superior to prescribe
It's progress or TO indicate the ultimate point of its
destination Before the awful tribunal of popular
sovereignty, the constitution itself divcs ed of tho
pre)udce OF antiquity, and stript of the veil of rev.
9eak and defe1celesy
Prudence will suggest that Government should
not be changed for insufficient causes; and reason
ana experience vii! soemnly admonsh us of dan rers
beyond the reach OF human foresight, W hich must
necessarily accompany rcsor: to this Fundamental
nSht. When, however, the people Of Virginia shall
dee11 themselves so cruelty oppressed and crevof,sv
burdcncd, (and they alone admit are iud@es of tho
matter as to udtcc them to rise up and dissolve the
present government, for the purpose Of substittno
another I'D It's stead, no / presume, will draw
INTO debate this right Of action. Honest men NAV
differ as to the necessity or proprlety Of the n,ove
ucnt the lovers OF peace may deprecatc the turnos
o. revolution, but there can exist one opinion only
concerning the inherent right of the mnioritv Il
such sir, the real situation Of Vrginia?-are we &c.
tuaiy engaged in revising, altering or abosing our
constitution byan excrtion of primitive sovereignty?
NO, Mr. Speaker, we have not yet determined to act
upon this essential principle Of self.governnent the
existence Of which is indefeasble, Bat the exercise
Hull * peril and should therefore be wisely reserved
for cases Of dire necessity, when the nilier and less
convn!sive mems of reform had proved uDavailiuy
nor are YET prepared to incur the folly of attempt
ing to revert TO state of nature, in order that tho
inhabitants may meet upon the ground of their orr
"lnal equality, and that the voice Of each one NAV
alike prevail IN tie formation of ncW social com
pact. 4l1 strongest powers Of flncy cannot chain
The uind 10 an IDEAL saate;--thc bollcst effort of
mag nttlon cannot abstract the attention from o,,r
real iuation by producing the aIl;lson that we are
sim .la "aeTdsInen aud hunters" We cannot clos.