Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-10-15

Commit MS CONSCIENCE his liberty to the aneon roll
led direction of others. TO himthe prvation
of that especially, which is the only safeguard of Tce
dom, Ii practically wrong. So thought the fla, hers
Of the republic IL not the oppressive we;ub, of
the taxes imposed by England in America-It was
the assertion OF right to Impose ony burteps wharf
ever upon those who not represented to bind
by laws those who had share, personal or deieo-
ted, IN their enactment, that reused this continent to
arms. Have tho principles and feelings that then
prevailed persisted with the conflict to which thew
gave birth! 1t not, they not now grossly out
ragged The question is submitted to your can,our
ana Justice.
Never your memorialists arrcc that recunia-
~ bufthens personal violence are the sole injuries
of which may dare to complain. 1t NAV be TINT
the frccholders have shcwn no disposition greatly to
abuse the power they have assumed. They may
have borne themselves with exemplary moderation
But their unrcprescnted brethren cannot submt to n
degra' ing regulation which takes from them on the
supposition off mental nerority or moral teprayi,y
all share in the government under which thew live
ihey cannot yield to pretensions of political super-
Orgy founded on the possession of a bit of land of
whatever diner sion-They cannot acouiesce in DO
litca bondagc because those who affect to sway
them the rod of empire, treat them lenientlv
The privilege which they claim. they respectfully in
sst, is theirs of right and they are under no obi
g1tion to assign any reason whatever for caimn0 it.
but that it is their own.
Let the picture be for a moment reversed Let If
be magned that the freeholders, possessing the
physical superiority which alone cause Their no.
Itca influence to be dreaded, Should at some future
OF the HeenOlucrS, the
government into their own hands, and deal out to
the latter the same of Justice they have re-
ceved at their hands. 1t is needless TO enquire into
the equity of such a proceeding; but would they not
ind for 1t in the example set them ui least plausible
excuse, and to the treehoders' reIno1strance reort
the treeholdcrs' argument? That argument your me-
norialsts will not rccapitulae they leave it to
others tn make the application.
Your memorialists have thought it due to the mag
nude OF the question, to examine at length the
grounds which their political prescription is usu-
ally defended: If they have occasionally heen be-
trayed into warmth of expression the transccnduut
Importance of the franchise they claim and the ma
t're of the objections they have been compelled to
meet. viii plead their apology Deep would be their
humiliation IN now addressing you, delegated US YOU
have been by those who hold them IN political sub
lection, did they not but too well remember, it is
their brethren to whom they impute their wrongs and
from whom they solicit reparatiou. Never, indeed,
can they cease to protest against the measures
which have made YOU not the representatives of the
| people, but the organ Of privileged order. Still
they approach you the guardians of the public
veal however so constituted as dispensers of the
public justice; as assembage of distinguished cit
izens WELDING the power however irrcgularly con-
ierred, of modelling the fundamental institutions
OF the State. They bow with respectful Difference
20 the virtues and talents which have raised YOU to
the eminent station you now occupy. They appeal,
through you, TO the justice of their country, and
confidently trust, under your auspices, that
equal rank IN the community, to which they conceive
themselves justly entitled, and which, until they shall
indeed be unwortlyto en- JOY it, they never will
lngly renounce.
In behalf of the meeting.
WALTER ID. BLAIR, Chairman,
JOHN Il. RICHARDSON Seq.