Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-10-15

commit his conscience las liberty The uncontrol-
led direction of others. To hun the prvstion ofright
OF that especially which is the only safe guard OF free
dom. ~ practically wrong. SO thought the fathers
VI the republic IL was not the oppressive weight of
the taxes Imposed by England in Arerica--lt was
Tue assertion of right to impose any burthcns what
ever upon those who were not represented; TO bind
by laws those who had no share personal or deiega-
ted IN their enactment, that reused this continent 10
arms. Have the principles and feelings that then
prevalied persisted with the conflict to which they
gave birth! II not, are they not now grossly out
ragged The question is submitted 10 your canGour
Never can your memorialiSts agree that pecunia-
ny ourthens or personal violence the sole injuries
OF winch mon may dare TO complain. II may be that
me ifeeholders have shewn no disposition greatly to
abuse the power they have assumed. They may
have borne themselves with exemplary moderation.
But their unrepresented brethren cannot submit q
degrading regulation which takes from them, OH the
spposition OF mental ineIorty or moral tepravi'y,
all S;are IN the government under which they live
They cannot yield to protensions of political suer-
orlty founded on the possession of bat of land OF
whatever dimenSon.-They cannot acuuiescc in no.
liticl bondage, because those who affect to sway
over them the rod of empire, treat them lcnently.
The privilege which they claim they respectfully in
Sst, Is theirs as OF right; and they under no obi
CATION to assign any reason whatever for claiming il
but that II Is their own
Let the picture be for q moment reversed Let i.
be- agncd that the frcchOldors, possessing the
physical superiority which alone can cause Their po-
htical influence to be dreaded, should at some future
day, after the manper Of the freehoders, take the
government into their own hands, and deal out 10
The latier tho same of Justice they have re-
cclved ~ their hands. Ii is needless TO enquire int
tire equity Of such proceeding; but would they not
ind for 1t IN the example set them least plausible
excuse, and TO The frccholdcs' remonstrance rctort
the treeholders argument? That argument your me-
moriallss will not now recapituatc; they leave it to
others to make the application.
Your memorialiSts have thought il due 10 the mag
nude Of the qCf stion, to examine some length the
grounds which their political prescription is usu-
ally defended If they have occasionally been be-
traycd into warmth of expression, the transccndant
impoI lance of the franchise thry claim and the MI
ture Of the objections they have been conrclled to
meet will plead their apology. Decpwould be their
humiliation IN now addressing you, delegated as YOU
ha' been by those who hold them political sub
lccllon, did they not but too well remember il is
their brethren TO whom they inpuie their wrongs and
from whom they eolic: rvparation. Never, indeed,
can they cease TO protest against the measures
which have made you. not the representatives of the
people, but the organ of privileged order. Still
they approach you as the guardians of the public
veal however so constitutet dispensers of the
public Justice; as an nssemblage of distinguished cit
Zcns welding the power. however rrccrularlv cop
erred, Of new modelling the fundamental INSTITUTIONS
of the State. They bow with respectful Difference
o the virtues and talents which have raised YOU TO
ne eminent station you now occupy. They appcal.
through you, 10 the Justice Of their county, and
trust under your auspices to assume that
equal rank IN the community, which thcy conceive
themselves justly entitled, and which, until thew shall
indeed be unworthy to enjoy it, they can never will
ingly renounce.
In behalf of the meeting
WALTER D. BLAIR, Chairman,
JOHN i. RIcHARpsov, Se'rY