Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-11-12

= plnesS anu safety.
The charter of Rhode Island wds granted bv KING
Charles Ill. III the fourteenth year of his reirn
The inhabitants of this State are now according
to the argument OF the gentleman from Chesterfield
IN reply to that of my friend from Brooke the |
subjects of George w. since he contended, that if
the Constitution of Virginia be void, the people of
Virginia Having. as he supposes no other
form of government than that of their Royal Charter.
From this dilemma, however, if the declaration
of Independence did not relieve them presume the
treaty Of peace did, which ended the war of the rev
olution with the admission of that independence hy
the only nation that had interest in DENYING it,
The Constitution of Connecticut also contains one
OF those silly instruments, called Declara ion of
Rights. 1t begins, too in most exceptionabe man.
ner for uses III contradiction of all the arguments
we have heard to prove that there are no PRINCIPLES
government, the following language as preamble
to its very first article.
.Tiat the great and ESSENTIAL principles of liberty
land free government may be recognized and estdb
Isfisked-we (the people of Connecticut) declare
''That all men, when they form social compact are
cqualin rights" What rigntsa Rights antecedent
| to the compact, presume. ''And that no man, or
'set of men, entitled exclusive public emou-
ls'ments, or privileges from the Community" TIE
following section of this article afirns in the Ian
g'iagc OF the Constitutions have already noticed
That all political power is inherent III the people,
and all free governments founded on their au-
''thortv, and instituted for their benefits and that
"they have at all times, an undeniabe and ineteas-
'be right to alter their form of government, in such
/ "manner, as they may think expedient"
Both branches of the Legislature of this Stote con-
slst Of members chosen annually by the electors
who may be any white male citizen of the United
States, above twenty years OF age, having gain
ed settlement lii the State resided six mont hs be-
fore the election which he offers to vote in the
town, III which, such election is held and shall ha We
! paid, if liable thereto, State tax within the past
year.
Tie Senate consists of IL members, elected bv the
greatest number of votes OF the whole people, or BY
a general ticket
! The constitution ef New York confirms no bill or
declaration of rights; but it affords a practical exem
p!ucation OF all the greater maxinls of natural ber
ty asserted by the States OF New En- aand, from which
te far greater part of hFr own population has been
derived.
ltestabllslcs and appropiacs certain taxes OH salt
and certain auction duties that then yielded the
state more hpn half her annual revenue but it allows
no represent alton for either
1t establishes the right suffrage on very broad
basis, requiring freehold qualification only in per
sons OF colour. The senate which it creates consists
80 members; for the election of whom it divides the
territory of the stale in eight districts, with refer
encc exclusively to the number of tn cir
10 oe aScertaned by an enumeration to be made once
| in every ten wears.
| The assembly consits of 1913 members to be appor-
toned amsng the several counties of the state, ac-
cordng to the numter of their respective nha ants
| 1t moreover provides, that every county hereln-
fore es ablishcd and separately organized shall al
ways be entitled member offhe assembly: but
no ncw county shall hearafter be erected unless its
population shall entitle it to a member. This is
rather an appa ent than real and at most but tran
scnt qualification OF equal representation as will be
seen, by recurring to the actual population of the
smallest county, III this state, and comparing the
extent Of its fast peoplng territory with that oftbe
Oldest and most popuolIs counties.
I The Constitution Of New Jersey was made
while she recognized her Colonial dependence
on Great Brian: and the only Subsequent alteration
OF 1t has been effected by law su, stutnr in its
language, where the word "cofony' occurs The word
! Estate"
1t is very nearly as anticnt, as that OF Viro;pa.
ipU b,Eo 4,
aration of independence by Congress- it expressly
provides that it shall be void in the event of recon-
citation with Great Britain. BY her persevering
struggle, through the calamites of the Common war
wagcd in support of the principles for which we now
contend N de5atethis gallant State, nantes cd the
! VaiEe' Whch she set on those principles by her
deeds II not by the terms of her Constitution.
The Constitution of Pennsylvana made in 1870
Is obnoxious both IN its principles and its details to
the criticism of all the gentlemen who have adyoca-
ted the basis of taxation, and numbers as the prop
er ground OF represent alton. The 81 h article has Tho
| following remarkable preamble, THAT the GENERAL
great anu essential principles of liberty and free
government, may be recognized, and uaaAerabfy
established, we declares
L. "lhat all men BORN eqIniLLy free and indie
pendent and have certain inherent ard irufensibIe
rights, among which, are those of enjoying and de
iendng lie and liberty; Of acquiring and PROTECTING
properly anu reputation and Of pursuing their own
| happiness.
H. That all power is inherent IN the people, and
all free tree governments founded on their autbo
fty' ana instituted for their peace, safety and happi-
ness; For the advancement of those ends, thew have
at all times an nnalenabe, and ndefeas6Ie right to
alter reform, or abolish. their government in such
manner as they may think proper"
In giving effect to these principles, The copsttu-
ton OF this State, provides that the number Of
representatives Of the popular branch of her
Legislature shall be apPorioned according to
! tie number Of taxable inhabitants without
respect to the sum of tax paid by each, among the
ciY OF Philadelphia, and the several counties of
the Commonwealth IN conformity with all examna-|
ton to be made once in years
Tbe Senate consists of r1cmbers to no chose, :;
GSlrcts' after periodical apportionncnt to the num-
Der et taxable inhabitants in each district
Whle the population of Philadelphia, is not denied
rs proportional weight IN the Councils of Pennsylva
Ma respect is paid TO the superior wealth of tl0
CITY, which yields full moiety of the rcve nue. of
the State, in the shnne of ln,.n. ~ W