Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-12-12
VIRGINIA COhVENTION.
WEDNESDAY,. Nov. IL

a
49,; 80 ~y. namely the enjoyment of life and
s,hcrty with the means ot acquiring ana possessing
property, and pursuing aud obtaining happiness ana
safety The rst line OF this article 10 taken almost
from Locke, who declares, at"all men, are ny
nature tree, equal and independent ---andt mas CAV.
en- rise 20 the Discussion here, concerning the natural
gifts OF man. Gentlemen have endeaVoured 10 hVes-
tate those rights in a condition ot man, winch -
supposed to have preceded society, con li'ion which
theyhavc term ID the state of nature Not being able
60 satisfy the nselycs that such condition of man
ever existed they reasonably conclude that the rights
pertaining TO cannot be ascertaned that whatever
thcy may be- they cannot influence his rights in state
of civil society. readily concur in the opinion, Mr..
hartman that such unsocial condition of man has
never existed, unless under such accidental circu-
stances, as attended the tabled of Robinson
t;rusoc, quoted by the gentleman from Chesterfield
Except the single instance with which the bible his
tory commences. That we know was OF short duration,
continuing only, while ''man the hermit sghed"-
and terminating, when "woman smilcd'-and dispel.
cd forever the gloom of his solitude Man created
for society aud social intercourse is much law of
has nature, that he should support his existence by
food, promote his comfor, by rament, procure sup
plies by labor protect himself from aggression by
free. In every state Of society, whether savage
civilized whether patrarchd political, laws arising
ON the nature OF man, tom his weakness, his de-
pendence his wants. his DESIRES his appetites, his pas
sions and his Intelligence, must necessarily govern his
social relations, regulate his rights a;d duties. These
laws deduced by from the known character
aud condition of man. and the laws Of his they
accompany him iu all conditions life and to
that the bill of rights in this frs, article refers This
article means no, to declare those political rights which
may be varied by compact but those natural rights
only which spring from the invariabIe relations Of
man 10 sorety.-lt afiirms tn all equal freedom and
equal independence the gift of nature-not equal
political power, because that arises from comnact
between those, who having equal freedom and indie
pondence have associated together, and regulated
az crmeTt The political power of the society II is
reserved for the fifth article declare the political
power of the respective members of society bv iuli-
eating the basis OF the right of sutrage-and by re-
ferring for guidance in this behalf not TO natural
but To conventional law.
The first article of the bill Of rights has another
func iOn not less important than the declaration of
equal freedom and Independence and certainly more
practical IN ITS chardcerthe declaration those IN
heren, rights of which do not aud cannot divest
their postertv by any compact of society. AZ 10.
Vcrnnent is instituted foPthe protection Of life bber
~, operty, TO secure happiness and saf,tv-so no
government can be Legitimate 10 which these are sa-
crihced IL Is happy for us that the part of the bill
OF rig hishds boon soiemny al judged to be constiiu
iona law, and To II the citizen owes the protection
O. his property from the power of the 1oyernnnnt
The sec md article ofthe bill of rights is a further
a'iirmanoe OF the doctrines of Locke and Sidney in
opposition to Sir Robert Elmer recognizes tho MOO
pie not the prince, the fountain of political Doycr
and declares magistrates to be- their trustees snso,
aote TO them, not their irresponsible masters No
one here denied these to be the genuine doctrines of
our government.
ettuted for the common beneft-ihat "fhotTs he, ,
winch Is capable OF producing the greatest degree or
happiness and safety, and most eectuallv secu,oI
against the danger of al-admnistratlon-andt that
when any government shall be found insdrouo,e or
contrary TO these pur poses a majority of tba noI
fIath an ndubtabie, unalienable and indie fessibJe
fSit 10 REFORM after or abolish IT. IN such manner as
shall be adJudged most conducive TO the public T
veal Here we have plainly declared the obioct Of
government, the standard of It's excellence and the
rule tor It's reform-its object, the common bene6,.
te test OF Its excellence, Its capacity 70 ain that
OBJECT by ProoA cling the greatest degree of hapn,
ness and saftey, and being secured against NAL
administration; and the rule for its reform the iudo
ment OF the majority pronouncng it Inadequate 10
It's purposes and altering IT. with sole view to the
public veal. We are saved then the necessity of
looking to natural law for the right of the ,aiori,
TO reform; we have positive conventional law: the
mort solemn declaration the face of our social
compact, that the majority have right an indubiat
bie unalanabe and indefeasibe right. to reform.
etcT Or R!"sh IL is true that this power is to be
employed when the government is f,lnd nadconato
60 its obj ct, the common benefit and must be EN-
plOyed with single view to the public rood
But who Is to judge whether the government has
been adequate to the object of ITS institution who 10
lddge o. the manner Of its refurm? Surely the peope
Who ordained IT, the people for whose happiness and
safety iIwas instituted the peopleby majority of whom
the right Of reform is declared unquesonabIy to be .
long the people the COLE the exclusive in Iees
Il is their duty, admit, TO listen with all Difference
aud respect to tue counses Of their wise men wbo
may tell them,--We have been long and attentive
observers Of the operations of your government We
have compared II with all the governments of the
Woflo, ancient HlOdern we satisfied N is the
best that existed, demonstrate that Il has
Fulfilled all the great ends of ils Institution that il La,
secured you all the happiness and safety which :,
the province Of government TO secure, and that Nv
attemp TO change it essenlia y is wanton experiment
20 make that better, which IS already good, beyond
tie common lot Of human institutions is TO sport with
the blessings Of Providence and encounter tie nme
nent hazard of losing all that is valuable in practice
in he pursuit of all that is perfect IN t,rorv
After auentively aud mpaFally considering all ti.
arguments adduccd TO sustain these cOunscls and
carefully weighing every fact vii ch they real If
convinced by then Il is solemn duty to themselves
70 poserly, and 90 all mankind, feet all propos
IONS Ut reforn TO preserve model Of so much excel
renee AS an example TO the world. aud az rich nberi
lance TO the generations thai to come Bat iftbev
are not convinced, n on the contrary, their judgments
sie sausn Iha' cy have enjoyed the degree Of han.
phe am safely, winch good goverment ought 90 assure
ut usf government IS not only imperfect n theory bi,
deiectyc ~ practice Is defects may be safely rees
hnd Hs practical good much enhanced,-ten there ~ m GO
answer winch they can give 10 these counselYc ari,o,
hedge your experience your wisdom your virtue lilo o.,
superiority of your auauments, & tic emit sincere, ~ 80
"opnons-we admire the plain, candid and manlv Lr,,.
n which you have spoken dsagreeable iuuis.- We hit
Jou, sincerely thank you for the parental ,o ,u, y. "