Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-03-09

cmbogue themselves in the eastern country. Tho
ZANE seeds which are decided by the middle country.
for the toavsyanco Of their produce 20 market arc
needed 1he Valley, for the transportation of theirs
Slaves, The great bone Of contention, though NOT
owned IN such numbers By individuals arc becoming
as generally dlfused as in the middle or lowland
country. The largo iron manufactures which are
establishing throughout the Valley district must
create considerable influx ofthis species of property
80 that, in whatever aspect view this Eatter, it
appears to me every consideration impcls us to the
cultivation Of a strict union while cannot ina zine
single reason to justify the chickering's and heart
burnipgs which exist between us. More g: this
anon At present, wish 10 devote few sentences
10 your structures upon some extracts from letter
which addressed you time SINCE and which
you inserted in your paper Of the i2th ut To the
publicity Of the sentiments which seem to have struck
you with so much horror, have not the slightest
Objection am perfectly aware of their unpopular
CHARACTER but avow them proudly, as the genuine
offspring OF my heart, and containing opinions the
dissemination Of which consider oil important 10 the
Preservation Of free institutions. soeninly be-
ievc that the extensive medication OF these what
you IRE pleased to term arstocratic sentiments is
the only mode in which the downward tendency of
o.: government cen be arrested. And if every citi-
zen however well convinced the correctness oftis
OPINION dastardly enough to skuk from their pro-
mnigation from an apprehension of popular indigna
tion' all hope has left u.s. We had well fold our
arms IN apathy aud float with the tide of popular cpl
MONS, until we are all engulphed in one undistin-
Gulshed vortex of narchy and confusion
Your attempted refutation Of my doctrines, was as
'usIve and sophistica as il plausible and inge.
NOUS. You seize upon a CARRIED extract from nv
definition of liberty, without yiewir il in conncxion
with the sentences that precede follow it. aud then
uneqnivocaily assert that my definition 10 correct
the Doors OF Russia are as free as any people on
Garth The only authority shall offer in support of
my definition, is Montcsqueu with this ttifiin9 differ.
ence between us, that his dcfintion is somewhat
broader and less qualified than mine He asserts that
true liberty Consists In the power OF the people TO do
whatever the laws permit and that it consists in tho
power oil the people TO do whatever the laws permit
without hindrance the Intervention Of any superor
controlling authority. Ii this BIZ not correct def
milton, pray what is the true definition? Is IT, rs 7
Tear 1t IS esteemed by too many, unlicensed obc-
dence OF every man to his own will? Is il the I'M
qualified enjoyment Of suffrage by male adults 20 the
exclusion of minors and fenales3 Or does it consist
as the Russians once supposed in the right to wear
long boards: Surely none of these will pass the or
deal OF criticism al this enlightened period however
prone the great mass OF The nation may be 10 wreck
itself upon the first. In rejecting upon Monies
quieus definition, it appears to me. to imply most
strongly, that liberty can only be enjoyed where the
sovereign power resides in the people and the laws
emanate from them. For if the sovereignty be con-
cenrated in any other depository in the Sultan of
Uurkey, the Autocrat Of Russia the people do not
possess the potcer of doing whatever the laws permit
without hindrance. There is superior controlling
and uncomfortable authority in the depository of tho
sovereign authority The sovereign will is the law
In other words, there is law And what this will
as understood, makes lawful to-day, may by an co;
post acto law, be rendered very henous offence to-
morrow. Wherever tho sovereignty resides, the
Potcer OF making post dcto laws exists 1t is so
from the nature of things, and Of wherever it
Is possessed by any person persons other than the
people themselves, the government is not free:-the
people have not the power of doing whatever the laws
permit without hindrance. In England the peopc
form one of the three great repositories power and
they have clause epgrafted on their constitution
prohibiting the passage of er post Jrcto laws, besides
numerous other barriers against the entertainments
of arbitrary power; and could the people Of England
act, in accordance with the letter and spirit of their
constitution, they would be free people, and possess
the power OF doing Whatever the laws permit with
out hindrance. But unfortunately for them the other
two departments have by their wealth and intelli-
gcncc urged on by lust of power proved too strong
for the cC.titution En- post jacio laws have been
passed. and the rights and privileges of tie people
dsrcgarded in nurpberlcss instances. Nevertheless
this distribution of the sovereign authority in Eug-
land between the king. mobiles and people, has made
it the fTeest government in the world save our own
where the sovereignty resides i'll the people alone.
These, sir, my notions of rational liberty, and
only regret that you IN common With others who en-
ercse an extensive influence upon tho community
should differ with in opinion In conclusion,
will repeat what seemed to gall your Democratic ma
jeSty in my heretcal letter. that when reflect that
every change that has taken place in the constitu-
tons ofthe several republics of this confederacy has
prive those who have the principal stake in the com.
munity from all control over the operations of the 90
vernment, and place it IN the hands of those who
have mere shadow, can but tremble for the per
pctuaton of our free Institutions. behold dark
portentous cloud gathering before u.s. which prcsagcs
the most disastrous consequences to this noble monu.
ment of wisdom and patriotism, which has been raised
by our progcnitors At s-ch juncturc "to hold up
mirror to the people and let them see themselves as
the authors of their own misfortuncs cannot be a
Iociy
sidcratIon in comparisons with the object in vcw--the
correction of popular and the support of free
and rational government. Had abilities worthy of
tho theme would never suffer the ink to dry in my
pen, until bad presented the subject in every aspect
and sustained the opinions have advanced by every
argument, which ingenuity could suggest. I hope
what have said will give both you aud the public a
better idea ofmy notions Of rational liberty and that
you will not be ready to fly Oft upon the back OF
Russian dcspot or Egyptian Pocha
CONGRESS.
In the Senate on Wednesday last, nctlous for and