Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-01-01

great while since learned from the philosopher OF
Mamesbury, that state OF nature is state OF war;
but II sanction this principles we shall prove that
state not of nature, bit of society and of constitu
tional government, is state of nterminable war.
And 1t will not stop here. Instructed by this most
baneful, yes most baneful example, we shall next
have one part of county conspiring to throw their
share of the burden Of the levy upon the other part
Sir if there isa destructive principle in politics, it is
that which is maintained by the gentleman from
Augusta.
But we arc told that are to have stay of eX-
ecut1on. "Ne will give you time,'' say the gentle-
mens "only give MS bond binding all your estate,
secured by deed of trust on all your slaves" Why,
sir, there is not hardharted Shylock in the
wepltli, who will not, on such conditions give you
iae. Are weak. that like the spendtliritt who
runs to the usurer, willing to encounter this
calamity, because it not to conie upon US till the
year 1852 period not SO luIrg of have
been in public lics Sir, would not consent toit.
/ If it were not to till the year 2056 ana at
war with the principles Let not be told, that
then am atw with the bill of rights Isubscribe
to every word in the bill Of rights. need not show
how this can be. Il has been better done already by
the gentleman from Spottsylvana, (NIr. Stanard9 to
whom feel personally indebted tobacco planter
and Shareholder, for the speech nc has made. The
Bill OF Rights contains unmodified principles The
declarations 1t contans Our lights and guides; but
when to apply these great principles, we
must modify them for use, we must set limitations to
their operation, and the inquiry then is Quosgue2
How far?
~.
The very moment this immaculate principle of theirs
is touched it becomes what all principles re- mate
rias in the hands ofmen of sense, to be applied to the
we fare of the Commonwealth. 1t is not an incanta-
ton. tits Talisman. 1t witchcraf Tt is not
torpedo to benlnb II the naked principle of num-
bers only to be followed the requisites the states
man fall far below what the gentleman from potsyl-
vania rated them at He needs not the four rucs of
arithmetic. No, Sir, negro boy with a knife and a
tallystick, is statesman complete in this school,
Sir do not SCOT, ieer. flout, Il usc think the
very words of the gentleman from Augusta: two of
them certainly were employed by him., at the prci-
pics of the Bill of Rights, and, so help me heaven
have hot hessrd of any who did. But I hold with
one OF the greatest masters Of political pkilosoply
that 'no rational man ever did govern himself by
distractions and unvcrsals' 1 do not put abstract
ideas wholly out OF. any question, because L know
well that under that name should dismiss principles:
and that without the guide and light of sound well
understood principles all reasoning in politics, as ev-
cry thing else, would be only confused tumble of
particular facts and details, without the means of
drawing out any sort of theological or practical cor
Hclusion.
"a statesman differs from Professor in an Uniyer-
slty The latter has only the general view of society;
the tormer--the Statesman has number of circ,,to
stancesto combine with these gcneralideas 81 to take
into his consideration. are infinite
are INFINITELY combined, variable and transient.
lie who does not take them into consideration is nor
erroneous, but STARK inadat ooera ut cum, ,.aoue
insanat-hc is netaphvsically mad A Statesman.
ssver losing s,ght of principles, is to ne guided by
SiiSuistehCes, diu JuuSS the oror1-a
cies of the moment, he may ruin his countrv forever
les, Sir--and after that ruin has been effected
what poor consolation is derived from beinu told
81 had not thought it. Sfuhi est di1isse non plta
rum. "Who would have thought it? Lord bless ME!
never thought of such thing or never would
have voted for Convention.
Ii there is any country earth where circuurtau-
ces nave more important bearing than in another
IL is mere, IN Virginia. Nearly half the population
are III bonda.eyes, Sir more than hafin the coun-
try below the. Ridge. And is this no circumstances
Yet, let me say with the gentleman from Accemac
Mr: 1ovhes whose irresistible array of figures set
all hgutes OF speech at defiance, that ftIere were
not negro IN Virginia, would still contend for the
principle IN the amendrnent And whyo Because
wIiiPut 1T IN the power of man or set of men
who ever lived or who ever shall live, to tax me
without my consent 1t Is wholly i-lmaterial wie !
ther this Is done without my having any representa-
ton at oil, or, it done in the case of the Ia
rlff Jaw, by phaanx stern and inexorabe, who be-
ing the majority, and having the power prescrbe IL
me the law that shall obey. Sir, what was it to
all the Southern interest that we came within two
votes of defeating that Ubiquitous measure? Do not
our adverssrles for adyersares they are) know that
they have the power, and that we must subm;t,-
Yes, sir This whole slavohoIdinp country. the
Whole OF IT., from the Potomac to Mexico was pla-
ccd under the ban and aDathenla Of majority of
TWO. And VIII you introduce such a principle into
your own State Government, Sir at some zinc
during this debate, doubted if were in INV righf
u'na. FROM the beginning of time till now there is
no case to be found Of rational and moral neonle
suogeIehg constitution uBder which they had lived
Tor hall century, aye, for two centuries nv n ma
l!ofty OF one When revolutions have happened
IN other countries, it the effect of a political
stofm-a Lcvanter, tornado--to which all OPPOSE
tloh was iruitless But did any body ever hear of
revolution affecting the entire condition of half
OF great State, being effected by amaiority of one,
Dd 1t ever enter the head of the widest visionary
rom the days OF Peter the hermit to--a day j viii
NOT name-to accomplish revolution by majority
OF one-Sir, to? change your constitution by such
majority Is nothing more than sound the tocsin
for civil war. -. wv N >'i''
A.. may DC at hrst war of words, weaponless
war; but 1t is one of those cases in which. as fIel
Lawyers tell u.s. fury supplies arIns Sir this thing
cannot be: 1t must not be. was about to saw +
snac not De; tell gentlemen now, with the most
perfect deliberation and camness that ,ce canno.
submit to thIsioutrage our rights. It surpasses
1hat measure of submission and forbearance which is
que rom every member of an organized government
To- that government. And why do ] so tell themf-.
DR. we are not company Of naked savaees on the
coast Of New Holland, or Van Diemans Laud-we