Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-11-17


man. by adding to the political lights shed this |
State and the whole world by vcneratcd fore IA
theirs. lie considered the science OF politics in a
state Of infancy. While he observed the mach of
the human elect in bringing perfection all the
other arts and scieDcies, viewing with wonder
the vast improvements which have been made
in the last century, and perhaps still more in the
last halt century, he could not but observe
that the science of politics had not kept pace in i'm
provements with any of the other arts and scenccs
The only effort a. improvement was the one origi-
nally adopted by the trainers of our Constitution
This only ftty-four years ago. spec inthe
progress of time-und had int reduced great
principle he science of politics, in direct hos
tiliy to the preexsting basis which all other go
vernments founded. 1t oponeda new era in the
science of polics-aud he hoped sincerely hoped that
our American statesmen would abandon that system
which had so long prevailed, and had proved des
tructive 10 the rights and liberties ofthc human
and found science upon he great discoveries Of
o<lr tnre-tuthcrs. We have not done so-Ne have
Their retrograded to these principles which our fore
fathers had abandoned. We have gone back, to imi-
tate he British system as far regards practical po
ltca economy, after having established the hap
/ Ply and beautiful fundamental system Of
aud this is cause why we have not added q new
science TO the existing political economy, suited
great Developments in fundamental principles.
| There IS another All other governments
were, he conceived, founded on fraud and backed
! by force The few who had by combinations. usurp
ed the rights ofhe many and possessed themselves Of
all the proceeds Of their productive labor have
ploycd all their to prevent further improve
nlents in the science of politics, to avoid the decc
tio, and exposure of the fraud which was the ouuda
ton u! them systems. We know It was their great
object 10 prevent examination of these subjects,
and 70 such did they carry their rigorous
vigilance, that the first patriots Hampden and Sgd
ncy fell Hiciis TO their patriotic enquiries into tho
science Of politics. These causes contributed! throw
the science of politics back, and to proven from
nJaklng It's way under the influence Of that arch OF
intellect Which pressed forward all the other scicn
| cos.
| lie should suppose it the duly of this Convon-
ton to extend their researches into political science.
4 great discovery had been made in opposition to for
ner systems; that all the rights of government
founded on the consent of man; and that is
ascertainod through the social compact, or in other
words, the written Constitution Phere is differ
ence OF opinion however in rerard to the true cha
rcterIscs OF the social compact, and particularly in
! relation to the parties to 1t.
| In the origin and progress OF the social compact,
every member Is party TO it, each representing his
own individual in ercss us his own sovereign 1nIn
tluenced by the majority.
| At is completion the parties become changed by
the consent OF all its members. The compact is then
made to consist Of only parties: the governors
and the gov erned. And riether the majority shall
exercise the government ,or what extent must
depend solely on the written compact. Gentlemen
had imputed to he Hon. Gentleman from Orange, to
whom he listened with great pleasure, the assertion
that minority ought to govern well as majority.
This iHpu alton had been extended too far if he had
rightly understood the gentleman from Ornnmc He
did not understand that gentleman as dccarno that
minority ought III any to exercise active a.ir-
NATIVE legislation, but that minority sometimes
invested With authority to legslate il negative ca
pacity.
! minority cannot rghtfily govern in any case but
II is often used as fit instrument prevent MAORI
| ty IRON dong what 1t ought not to do The rights
OF the majority depend solely upon the compact. We
must look there, to how far majority NAV 90
| vern and where II may be checked.
Here we have local interest, which is admitted BY
all to be applicable {" peculiar sections of the State.
but not to the whole fit. This local interest must
be secured Fundamental &,
not, upon general principles, the majority would CO.
vern It. Ii 1t be improper that the majority should 90
vern where there is particular local interest the
minority should have power of controlling the ma
Jorty as to afford protection such particular To-
cal interest. Such was the case in the federal go
v"rnment, was illustrated by the gentleman from
Orange, from whose lucid remarks he derived both
pleasure and instruction He took it for granted that
the majority had rights but those that were vest cd
in them by the compact.
Under our written Constitution or social comDact.
the science of politics divided into two paris
One great branch of the science is that which relates
to the organization of The fundamental la VS. and the
other branch is that which relates to the policy to be
observed by the practical government, established
by those laws. No effort has been yet made to en-
qire into these subjects distinct branches of pol
teal sciehce. The American minds have been dra wu
from the contemplation of these subjects by imitation
Imitation is Of the strongest passions of the I'M
man mind; and instead of celebrating new system.
suited to discoveries I've have been led into
the limitations of British systems # practical political
; economy Here then Is new field opened before
us for the extension of political science
An example ofthis spirit of imitation may be seen
III the organization of the Executive of he United
States. There we have exhibited an anomaly Of IN
Executive, attached to a Republican Legislature
having more nonarchica than republican tendencies
We have thrown much power and patronage into
the hands of the Federal Executive that we must
see the danger which, threatens from it's orcauza
ton; yettbat Executive is held M to U.s. for imi-
tation. How this happened he could not perceive
IT gentlemen had the same views of-the organization
of the Executive OF the Federal Government that he
had, and the views of the peculiar fitness of the
Executive government Of Virginia as it is now cstab-
lisled to a republican form Of Government. So far
gulf imitation, an error which is among the stronn
est of the natural propensties of man. We should
call on those who may hereafter aid in amending
The Iederal Constitution to follow The nEarunIn of