Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-11-17

that point lie had, however, admitted that tho socia,
compact grounded feeling of property. This
Is admitted ground butt is denied that il il the
principal or the strongest ground. Whence was this
feeling OF property derived! II could only be from
right OF property and sense Of that right He insisted
that the social compact founded Ia ceiling
oil weakness aud oil want This feeling was strong
"a 10 amount 20 an absolute necessity or entering into
the social compact In his reference to the Bible his
tory, the Hon. gentleman had given some account Of
the subsection OF Eve 10 Adam and Of the condition Of
that family, at the carly period Of their creation The
Hon. gentleman should have extended his historical
researches somewhat further and he wouhl have found
that they abundantly proved, not only the right and
possession OF property in state Of nature but also the
existence Of domestic or family condition Of man
He would have found, that Cain and Abel both made
offerings to the Lord The one, the fire, fruit, OF hs
land and abour-h the other the rstlings of the flocks
he tended. Abel's offering most acceptable to the
Lord but the right of property no, denied by any
one-the right being derived from occupancy and la
bour, and sanctioned by the innate mora sense of
man. ascer,ained by common consent. Mr.. G. said,
apt TO fall into for want Of due rehec-
tons upca the longevity OF the anti deluvans copar-
cal with the little span of life permitted TO the present
race OF man. To avoid such errors, he had made en.
qures as to the age OF Cain, at the time he committed
the bloody murder upon his broer--and he had found
that Cain was at that time, lad. approaching TO
puberty, hut had nat yet once thought OF matrimony
although he had reached the age OF hundred and
twenty EIGHT years, and his brother Abel 1877. Here
then, is complete evidence OF state OF nature. The
right Of property being unqucsoncd in each OF them
and there being no one 10 punish Cain for his bloody
crime-Adam having relinquished all patental author
ity over him; God however, took Cain into hand. put
| mark upon him, and sent him into the land Of Nod
where, II is said, he married wife and built City.
Should there be any scepcs bold enough TO doubt the
account given by the sacred Historian, from suspi-
con that there other families existing at the time
OF Adam, Of which the sacred Historian was unappr..
ed, Mr. o. would reply, that presumng that 10 he the
case, the account given OF the family Of ADAM would
form the Natural History of any other family which
might be in existence, previous TO the Social Compact
For Gains age at the time Of the death Of Abel.
Rees Cyclopeda, corresponding upon this point with
Lempreos Chronological table prctxed to his CLASH
Mr.. G.. said he of opinion, that there had bee
such state, state of nature; and that man had
been driven from that state by the wants of nature.
Indeed, that all creation founded upon a principle
oil relative dependence; aud man rendered mare de.
Ipendent than any other anmal-cleatly mantle sting
thereby, Provden'ia Intention to drive him from
solitary 10 social state. The same principle of rela
tive dependence is Observable amongst nations as
a. individuals, and is the true foundation of commerce.
The mischefs arising from the mistaken bar baros no
non on the positive independence of nations introduced
into Tie practical government, by our late miserable
and incompetent politicians, have been ncaculable
Yes sir, gres'er than could be compensated for, in all
time, by the same deluded, unfortunate political ecouo-
msts, il their lives prolonged the age of Me-
thusaeh and spent in the performance of goo! instead
of evil deeds. Their miserable cabi.tcal false misno
mers or nick Names-" National Inlustry,'-sDomes.
tic Inhusry,"--'' Home Market"--' Protection Of
Manufactur"s, and above all, the "Amsrican Sys.
tem he verify believed. had each of them cost the
State Of Virginia above 900 600 OF dollars since the
year 1916; and he was confident that every gentleman
"ouii come TO the same Result, who would take the
trouble 10 make the calculation from premises
Whilst he admitted state OF nature, he denied that
majorie' had any influence in such state Whence
the derivation of the term Sovereign Psople, Surely
from man in state Of nature where he his own
sovereign lfhe were NOT sovereign there, he $50
vereign no where. IL he were sovereign there, then
we have the basis Of his subsequent sovereignty. This
seems to him to be scli-eviient proposition This en-
dury leads To another more important one-to ascer.
tain what are the duties OF Government; and what is the
object OF the social compact! He would correct III q
col act
and what the objects in the TO nation of every free le
Ultimate government: Exclusive of the public safety,
one object is the protection of persons the other the
protection OF property-Govennent instituted for
the protection of all human rights adequate powers
ought therefore, TO be given to the government, to
ensure the protection both OF persons and of proper
y question, then, arises, how much power ought 10
he given? Is it to be unlimited power over all tbs rights
Of man? IL so, all his natural rights must be taken
from him. II only portion OF his rights are to be Ia
ken, what portions? How can the government be so
organized as TO make distribution Of rights betweea
the individual in his native character and the Govern.
ment in its corporate character? Here question ari
ses; ought Goyernmentto be an active, or passive
machine! II government be an active ,nachin,, YOU
must give all the requisite powers and properties which
belong to an unlimited Government lift be passive
machine, less power is necessary, and the only diff
cutes will be found in the proper distribution OF rights
between the Governors and governed Upon this i'm.
porant point, differences OF opinion exist There are
some gentlemen who claim Tor the General Govern
ment the whole proceeds of the lAbour OF the Nation
as the great de'iieratum of its political economy. If so
in vain do sit here's in vain here il the pro-
ceeds OF all labour must be given up 10 the General
Government, not leaving modicum for ourselves
"a the basis OF our Constitution Presumiug then
that Government is TO be formed by distribution OF
the natural rights of individuals between themselves
and the Government, what portion ought TO be given
TO the Government: Surely the smallest portion which
will suffice for governmental purposes II all be given
none OF he left 10 the Management, of the
individual He had bcsto we'd much reflection upon the
inquiry as TO that portion of rights, which should be
surrendered to the Govern nent and that which should
be retained TO the individual Perhaps the most ecctu-
al mode OF ascertaning this point, would be enquire
what rights OF nature, man, in his individual capacity
can manage better than the Government, and what por-
ton Government manage better than individual
From all his reflections upon the subject he had con-
cluded that there but two descriptions of rights
which the Government can manage better than the in
dividual One is, the right of every individual 10 10
himself ustc in his natural satc the other the smallest
portion of property that will suffice for governmental
purposes 1t will he perceived, that exact distrb
lion of rights, according to the preceding rule must ne
cessariy approach nearly to the production of perfect
Commonwealth Here is opened still wider field
Tor extending the researches of all lovers of political
science lie had himself concluded, that ali rie hts
oil every description. which individual m IN could man
age at all, lac could manage and would manage bet
ter than the governments; and the degree of liberty
eoyed by him, would depend upon the gre norton
oil these rights, left 10 his manag ehent The only
reason why any rights should be given to government
arises FROM the incapacity Of man execute them bv
his own means. He has not power TO do Justice TO
himself in state Of nature, because he will necessarily
be brought IN co.. 1ic with others, and he will be com
PEELED TO abandon that power merely from his incapact
to execute It, Hence, portion Of pow sr must be gi.
ven TO government tn enable it do what the jndvid
al cannot do Hence, the necessity tor any concession
OF power, and he n, n, cot 10