Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-02-12

Ter require q WO[Q or observation.
1t has been standing reproach to Democrat '
that it was unable to sustain itself for any length
time-that its tendency was to anarchy and disor
gan'zatlon-and the exa mples of Greece and Rome
have been quoted perpeually in proof of the assump
ton. Yet no assumption was ever more unfouuded
Nothing is more certain than that none of the Re-
Publcs of Greece, that of Rome, fell from anv in
herent vice in their Constitution, or from the peo
pies having greater or less share in the rovern.
ment-but from another cause totally distinct, and
the same in both cases. This was the removal Of
all apprehension offoreign hostility sony as the an
Client Republics continued be surrounded by FOREIGN
enemies, their democratic institutions fourshed in
the greatest purity and vigor. when that cause
ceased, and the Persians submitted to the arms If
Greece, a relaxation in all the manly virtues which
sense Of danger had inv igo ated, ensued Greece.
pnnerved by security, and corrupted by the gold of
Asia, fell prey to Macedonia FIRST and Rome af-
terwards-and Rome in her turn, the admiration f
NIL future Tina, for the stern simplicity of her
manners and unconquerable love of liberty, while
exposed to the arms of Pyrrhus and Hannibal those
aud all other foreign enemies being subdued. fell
self-subdued, by the Importation of oriental uxurv
vices and efemnacy. Such were the true capses
of the decline and fall of those celebrated States
and not a. the euemes of Democracy have thou
sand times iusidously and untruly asserted f ON the
Peoples possessing too much power. Storms there
were, of frequent occurrence at Rome, between the
Plebeans and Patncians, but unfortunately for the
theory OF our correspondent, they were most fire.
quent and violent, exactly at the period when the
Roman Republic was purest, freeest and most yipo
rots within. and formidable without that is from the
retreat to the Mons Sacer, TO tile death of the
faechi. Storms there must and ought to be- in every
Republic, once in two or three years, at least AZ
fer ALL the Grecian and Roman States in Republican
form, were the longest lived States of
Is the ncessant to their DURATION for ar
guments against too strong cfFuson of the demo-
cratic principle in representative Republics at all
accurate or philosophical Except in the name of
Republic, there is no analogy between them and the
Governments of North America.
We beg le8ve too, to dissent from our friends
definition of Rational liberty. 1t is part no doubt
OF rattonut liberty it is of its privileges, "to do
whatever the law permits, without hindrunce" But
IS the privilege Of doing whatever the law permits
without hindrance, oil that is legtimately embraced
by the term Liberty If it is the citizen of Russia
or of Turkey-for even he has right to do what
his master, whose word is the law, permits-s Just
as free as the citizen of the q. States This de6ni-
tfon annus the dearest and nobest of all the privi-
leges Of free government-the right of resisting
legnlized tyranny and oppression-for if rational
liberty is no more than doing without hindrance
what the law permits, cannot embrace the right of
resisting what the law enforces. We cannot weld
To definition, which strips liberty of all active ageu-
Ey, and represents its essence passive obedience
not to Princes, but to Laws.
nj lie hat ~
every State, has terminated in charging the num-
bers of those admitted to a participation in the
Government Far from viewing this with alarm
although principles stop much short of universal
snffragc-we look upon it with pride, as the most
decisive proof of the existence Of practical liberty
aud that, let the relations of the States towards
each other, change they may, the people every
where, thoroughly Republican trampling arstocracy
more and more uadcr foot and must continue Re-
publican for ages come We rejoice in it too, as
refutng the ISLANDERS of orstocracy-which ever
maintained that good order was mpractcable.
where whole people was the Government--for
looking at those States where suffrage is universal
we do not find that, property, lie the pursuit of
happiness in ones way, is less protected than
in freehold Virginia. Our theories on the fact are
exactly opposite, and time must decide between our
friends and ours.
"Fou express wish that should support the
ton This may and probably will do, from political cond
Citations hut surely from love To frank
With you, (as hope to God shall always mness
enough TO be to all men admire many Of those features
the old constitution which have been deprecated
never hear them assaed by of standing and influence
without the most serious approximations for the preparation
our free institutions When search the annals of antiquity,
and trace the which led the destruction of Roman
and Grecan liberty find it to have resulted in beth
from false and mistaken opinion nature ra
tiona liberty from idea that consisted in loosenng all
nonns Oh society, and suiein every individual to make his
own will his law instead Of viewing privilege merely
OF DOING without hindranc chnterer the iato permits There
are certain inherent and unalicnabe rights OF which
cannot be Invested under circumstances pres
ervaon of life the protection Of property and the pursuit of
Happiness Let the laws be accordance inherent
gn ana secure to the people the power of dong whatever
prned by those laws and have the only perfect and
fauoai government that the of admit Of II
pam conviction OF the truth OF thase opinions that maxi
me snudde when reflect that every change taken
place IN the constitutions Of the American REPUBLICS
a oiect endency TO eenous democracy The cen,Eoul
OF lne OpeIanOns OF the