Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-01-15

JoaInesa on their authority" For NJ Work
. Ina no declaration Of rights; there is, howcve.
SNORT Preafnofe 10 her constitution, by which the
government IS recognized as emanatjng from Tho
people. Perhaps the day may come with her h..
i lear 1t has with us, when her people NAV re- OUR,
r o,uea 100 stern Tor the temper Of her practica
government,in seeking its reform. But, Fsrar-
rant you'll she does not find tie principle in mech
meps authority, she will search IL Out in the stur.
=; y interference OF her Independent yeomanry.-
~ ne constitution OF New Jersey was framed amid
me storm Of revolution; BIN there is asuuin;ins
mere 10 possible. reconciliation With tie hfothes
country and perhaps they thoug ht Il Yin se to d
ve'ope TOO broadly, in such event the unwefcons
ruth, ruth mat the people alone possess all peitles8
power. Inc constitution Of PepnsyJyy MIA .con-
tans protest Of rights in this strong ami emy,a,
&c language--' That the general. great. aua &C
senfidf principles free government, ,nnv Be- re-
e1gnsea ana .nalferdoty established sc. ,De DC
cure nat on p0tCer is inherent in the pe1 Z
pfe and all free governments are founded on nj
authority, and instituted for their peace harn;. ,
ness and safety" &c &c. Next comes De,asrayA
IN me preamble 10 her constitution" IN rust dl.
isr;rca ' an ms institutions Of pohtiea!society Is
might thus, Mr.. Chairman, 60 tliro' All the
states, and shew TO the gentleman with what ~.
nI,orin perunaeity the people in modelling their
governments, have adhered to this.rreat and lead
ing pFinciple-tbat political po,Der il tbefrs AMI
!ne'rs aione-how carefully they have treasure.f
II up IN their archives, and how steadily their r,,
,ers ana magistrates are referred to It, in alcues.
Gu; guns :. .; reform or change in their civil poluy
Sir II Is the polar star of all popular governments
Inc only safe guard Of popular libcrty-cherish,
II then, beseech you, with lore ami reverence
under Its guidance our free institutions are for
ever saie.Apandon if-denounce it as we have
nearo, as the abstra ction of wild theory ami yo,
ABANDON with il the whole ground os free ,rore-r
ments-the last hope of the Republic
'rist, then, sir, that gentlemen will vet spree
WIN me IN the proposition" that political powe-
resides alone in The majority Of the peonie'.-an.
That they only have the tight 10 NEE, IN councii.
winch are caiiedto deliberate upon their 70 ia OF
government, TO reform. alter, or abolish IT,
DeePiy impressed, sir with these views Ecor.
less could not bu, remble for the STABILITY nc S,
popular institutions. when at this dav even 10
me infancy oil the Republic, I hear learned. am.
able men, exertng their best power 10 get yon,,i
ms principle: The gentleman from Powhatan
baran ~ M ms oen.ai that political power is IL.
neten' IN the majority OF the people, would Seem
20 ihier an argument Of control over them. ixhen
they would assemble to reform their oovern,na,..
nave every respect, sir, Cor the intel,ieence az
Ids eiiieihan anc cannot but hope in the review
h%e presented OF our sister States he wilL{ud
100 many dtssentjeDts TO confide farther in HE be
mel OF contrary doctrine. EIs colleague faf,
h!i'er IN strain rather too rhetorical and fc,i-
- W convey an accurate meaning, has r,.s.,e-
eeh'ea me as hanging garlan,s of abstractions''
ABOUT the constitution-ana in the inst enconfn,o.
nave passed on the wisdom Of those who frames =.
nat instrument can only the lie corations h;ch
u'suhguish the victim that is destined TO immola.
IN
intended slaughter. MIR. Chairman does the vow
,'emar bear In mind, that those 20 whom we Sect
10 commit Tins victim, those who have demanaed y
az our hands, are the sovereign people of Virginia
-Does ne imply distrust in them!-Does he bear
In mind, sir, that seek 10 commit il IN ,h,-nso.
P'e atone az The only safe and legitimate depo.i,o-
ry!-W hen he would rather see them first undee
the sanitary controui of that same three fifth, be
'ore e 'ney are charged with The trust. Sir if our
eyii Pollty is to be the victim Of reckless immo
laton, II the constitution is to he indeed slaupbfcr
Ell as depicted in the heated Imagination Of tha.
gentleman, let him bring home the charge holjlv
wv. d. once 10 the people, and denounce them as
unworthy OF the trust they ask do not believe
the gentleman is disposed TO fellow ont his simi,
10 It's legitimate consequence. The frost of YEAR
SIR mas not cooled the ardour of his fancy fea,
! : ,he discretion OF years has not sobereA his
judgment While following this gentleman
through the mazes OF his luxuriant rhetoric. Ter
me recall another smile which think he viii own
TO be equally iDapposite.
To bring home upon me the threat ant, f,,ek,c, 81.
i had DISC 'aimed, the gentleman puts this case
suppose, said he =" were TO meet a robber on he
highway who demanded nv watcb-I ref,se "a.
give 1t up-becnuse Ihnd heired it-He replies
II You do not surrender it I'll cut your throat and
take it-but DO not understand me as rnahipaanv
menace. Mono menace" Does the gentle
man mean this sinile 70 all tours he mods dis
sent Ii The gentleman abaDdons his smile and
his argument with it, why will handle i, no
farther If he does not, l must be permitted 20
Apply me touch, which shall disclose its only
true IneaDing.-The watch then which the GENTLE
man mas hsired, is the power in the hands Of Inc
govcrnment-the Robber who demands us rest;
tuition, IS the people, by whom i, was confided,:.
us not the hTs time, sir in history, that beopl
when they tell their magistrates they have done
with them,haye found their magistrates replv-aya
but we have not done with you'll was 70 serxea
tor This age, however, to 6enounce them a. III.
oers:-Mr. Chairman,I lest IN gentleman provv,;,-
ed oil his Inquire, will press il no far,her-I r.o-
an intimate ana agreeable association with him Cor
many years, have learned to respect him. AZ I do
ior MS patriotism q his virtues. His present view,
are modelled, will believe, on too close adbersr's
70 What ne understands to be the wish and in,.,
- Oh ms coDsiiuents.-As Vireinans, doub, no,
we should agree In the great principle am GeebIy
advocating Let me assure him, however, in iat,
niS 'ca.s BOT me present, thathis demands are a,
as his SMILES are unfortunate
ut,sir,it IL asked by the gentleman from Woe.
IDoreland, If this principle be trne in ts sy,snt
upon VIVA, ground are the free blacks to be excl.
1ed from participation in our councils / ansye-
slr, ny the policy which the presence Of this IN
fortunate population amongst US requires. TIE
yrants plea, u you will necessity: that rejc.-
winch looks n SELF. protection the exclusion Sof
part for The safety OF the who!s 1T is not Ds,y
mere; 1t runs through our whole civil and mimi.
cIpai polhy, and cannot be di5re garded--nelhsr
does ITS existence impugn tho truth Of the fioc-
trine or prove u an abstFsciioD.-lt Is the via OF
the majority that has doneit
Next. sir, TO the leading argume ntint Opposition -
the representation of free whites alone which I.
drawn from the popular doctrines that those t1ho
pay the taxes should lay The taxes fIeretofore.
sir. this sound position has been talter, nv u,osc
who sought TO give increased weigh, 20 The neonl,
in The management Of their affairs; we find itno-v
used TO lessen their weight The nronosi,;c,,
true, cannot certainly answer both ends. IL vs.
used in the first sense by Chatham. and ou, orn
Henry, 70 whom the gentleman from potybafsu