Wheeling compiler. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [i.e. W. Va.]) 1829-1831, 1829-11-25

infused into the people, emboldend by the
accession which the rights of the people
had gained from the prince, they came I0r-
ward to prove that all power resided III Inc
neoDle: they did not confne themselves 10
the Governments, which had existed, nor 10
the experience of mankind under former
governments, but they availed themselves
Of that experience and applied It to the ma
mrar and unweamIed relation between the
governors and the governed. THESE Goc-
frines clearly illustrated we recorded as
he foundations of our government and
thew never ought to be treated as abstrac-
tio1s. as visionary theories, but as solemn
truths; as the articles of our political talth
and the standard of our political conduct.
To recall men to original maxlms IS recall
mo them to virtue-this is the language OF
2 great political writer-it IS the language
of truth, it is the language Of our bill OF
RiGbts in the Declaration, that no tree
Government can be sustained but by re
currence of fundamental principles. The
advocates of liberty, the friends OF good
government, in ancient times, thought It
important TO exhibit to the people, stand
ard of perfection, which, though they could
not follow, they might at least strive 10
initiate. The Republic OF Plato, was writ
ten TO exhibit the high standard OF perfec-
ton TO which men might aim, though 1t
was not reasonable to hope they would at
tain it. The Republic Of Cicero, was
written TO endeavor to recall the Roman
peoDls to their ancient virtue-to impress
il uDon their hearts; and recall them from
their alterations into which they had tallea
and reform the degeneracy Of the aye It
was written for valuable purposes, and bad
il been practicable to reform the nation.
reform would have been accomplished, and
he would have attained his efforts When
Edmund Burke, who was as much afraid
of the excuses of the French principles,
as any republican ought to be--wheD he
pointed out with eloquence. with prophetic
talent, the errors OF the French revolution.
and ITS deIelerious consequences; did he
deny principles-when warning the PEG
Dle of England against these evils; did
he content himself with ridlculmg prlncl-
ples2 or did he refer to the word and splr-
it of the English Declaration of Rights!
1t was to this spirit he appealed, when
warning against French excess; and 1t is
10 the work aud spirit Of OuJ immortal Bill
OR .rhts. thatI 1lul ~ bind the al
| .cc,iols of eve American Statesman.
Are we 10 DO nojn 10 render ours vene-
rated and sacred, or are we to rdlcue them
M practicel Is this the wisdom Of our
/ forefthers! We are told that the educa.
non Of every people should be shaped &C
cording 10 the circumstances in which they
are placed-accordng TO ihe principles
supported By the penplc--we should then
enquire what sort OF Legislation IS best cal.
culated 10 support these principles We
passed the law, docking eutaIls-~-Dt be-
cause of the injustice of the system--not
because OF any intrinsic improperly IN
/ making the elder son richer than the youL.
/ GER. but because { WIS incompatible wit,
the doctrines of our The
same wisdom dictated our statute Of des.
cents--fhat law which declared property
should pass to all children equally, rather
than to the first born son. Are not these
rules of reason, and ought not they to be
coun:enauced! Letus enquire what these
| doctrines are. and wherefore they are thus
! obnoxious, and wherefore we should mo-
reverence them. The first provislon Of our
| Bin Of Rights is There he read the lst ar
| ticle The first line then is the laoglage
of Locke himself with a very shght ait r.
/ alton. Locke declares that all men are
/ 59rn equally free equal and independent
our B.ll Of Rights, that all men are by ma
! fure equally free and independent We have
heard a commentary already upon THIS
word born, aud snail not extend o.; huN
this sentence has gwen rise to all this de-
ertation upon the natural rights Of man
Gentlemen have doubted whether amy such
rights could be traced to a state Of iure
or whether there could be any state prece-
| dent to cjvil society. ! am ready to con
cur in the opinion, that man can no where
be found except In a state Of society. that
/ he can no whore he found without the laws
incident 10 society; iliS stale winch pre-
cedes all society, never dad exist, unless
indeed Robinson CrusOo be an instance 10
the contrary, aed the instance given in BIZ
ble history; and then 10 existed only dur
ing that time ''whel adu the hermit SIGH
ed" and disappeared s. soon 'as woman
smiled - and terminated thn slate of VA
tue. II Is as we'll law of our nature that
we shall be governed by rules appousiung
TO society, as that we shall tive, and
move and have our being" Cor men can
not exist without some law governing their
relations one TO another-ae Is compelled
to labor for his subsisteuce-he Is actuaied
by instinct to preserve his beng and pro-
mote his comtorts-'hat instinct tbai pro-
.,,,t,.. DIT ,r.-,, l.. .t .,, ! ... e. d.