Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-02-04

doomed ever to feel consciousness OF it, niperec on
man l. impeicd by desire, that needs restraint, to
uonand which o'ten destroys that share OF happiness
which he ish, Otherwise have j,yed. My maxim
10, IL things be well, di.tnrb them not.
"For Constitution TO provide for its Inc
is to invite upon itself the death III w-to encourage
that state Of nature FOE novelty aud change which
10 the care OF the sound politician, much posi-
BILE, TO repress in rep iblic. IL il asoo
OF the subject. that ,he tendency Of republics. rather
TO despolism than anarchy.
"The contrary OF the prop osition true What repub
lie ever degenera.ed into despotism, without first
passing through state OF anarchy broush inp.tcep
ueiy upon il, by succession of changes in s poiiiy
Look only to the state Of things around you and huk,
you will see enough, to convince you Of the truth OF
my position. Do you not see how easily the people
may be turned from the principles Of AL and rational
aud practicable liberty, into notions of RIGHTEOUSNESS
that set at de6snce those whole restraints which
10 the object Of every good government 10 impose
This is the effect Of mi-,ak Zeal Tor liberty, sci.
ence, Of which though all have the epest interest in
II, none have niui;ive knowledge But sir make an
effort to lead them in the other direction Endeavour
to persuade them that ait crazy or mona chy will
best secure their liberties and what will be the con-
sequence! IT you escape with your head. fortune
mast favor. So well is the convinced OF IN.
truth Of the position, that republic be convert
ed into monarchy other alb .olute form of Govern
nent, without first tasting the horrors of anarchy that
In every instance, will fnd his efforts by
this view Of the subject The people led on step by
STEP under the cry OF liberty, until they are forced to
seek shelter, under the sb solue reign of a monarch
from the horrors which exist in the absence of
vernment.
Such it is to be feared has been the training Of some
Of the people OF South America. 1t is not improbable
that they will seek Tor the evils arising from an
archy In the coronation OF Bolivar. May Haven ever
avert such necessity from the liberty con Grated
ground OF Vrginia-Yes, and OF her sister reu,blic.
The most Objectionable feature in the ne Constitu-
ton,'s The basi" OF repre- this made much
more obi .conable ny tn provision for future re
poitio"ment-tbis latter provision serving to explain
the ground of the former. We're it not Tor the prov-
non Tor future re-apporiionment, the present basis
representation would seem to be arbitrary-and not To
recognise any fixed principle, and would in that view
De liable to no very serious OH scion, EXCEPT the want
Of provision tor future re-apportan nent II l. then
ahrough this last provision. that the cioven oot il
sened to view, and the object of the n, Il provision
~aich was to avoid tn acknowled2 ment Of any fixed
principle, was defeated If the principle assumed in
cue present basis ot representation be sovn no good
reason can be given why its apppiic cation sh,uId H..
postponed to a future time This whole matter il but
the d5ormed issue OF forced embrace. But wha,
are 10 do?
s"To my mind the impre s intuiiyely clear tina,
majority OF community ought 10 rule upon any jus,
and lair view OF the subject. The major ity ought TO
RUE because Two men are more than ole, Ir 40
ther perhaps more effective reaor, because thew have
the physical power rule: aud thi. power the maio
rity must ever retain until they permit themseiye. TO
be cheated out OF lis exercise by the minority class
admit In every country and age. more remarkable for
cuanng than the m jority. | confess that until our
Conven ion met and gave promulga alton TO the SEMI
menis OF It's members il never ente red into INV
conceptions that the right OF the majority to rule could
be disputed by republican. thongh il was the very
hrtp'ineple of repubcanism. BIT tina: body has told
u' mat that principle rend property insecure Viii
the opposite principle render persons in cure and
wheh soi most Importance. l. not Ihi, tn very a
gument which susains monarchy, and every other
than free governnen?
-if minority may ruie what minority, TIL third
tenth, or hundredt part Of the community? l. il mn,
manifest to the human mind tina, so soon as Won aiop
me pFihcpe that minority shall rule, that muo itv
VIII grow less and les property shall become com.
pressed into fewer and few ha,d II i. TO reverse
me true order Of things 10 pace proneriy at the b,om
goVrrnnen as principle ofi,s Foundations propert,
ID the rut or consequence OF government. The now.
or 10 gam and hold u, in guarantees be ond those which
individual force AMI sra:agem could d. oecf is afforded
purely ny government Government sus.ains property
me people governments or TO give the IDEA more point
government so considers the strength Of .ocie,y and
gives 10 ii such OF action as to aft rd to each
ind' idu"i protection in the enjpy OF his property
and person.
at would carry me- far beyond my intended limits
TO enter n'o the laby' NTH OF moral cause aud effect
Inc source from which arguments drawn TO sup
port the position that the IN iory ough not to govern
Whatever cond ion Of things u-,ites tn. aupIcat n
oil his aTgum mt. justices departure from The r,pnb
mean form OF governments and IT that condition of thing
exists IN Virginia, ii becomes a serious question whe
ther II were better Ia agree 'noh>r III IN revubI
can arm OF Government, 10 divide the STATE. $, a.
TO include nader separate idclions those conflicting
In c ests which rendered Insecure under cavern
ment Of majority OF the whole State
I'll believed such tie state of things in yir,in
Ia mar aresort to one or the other alternative una
Voidbie, should not hesitate about the choice
would decide upon division of the state rather tina
sanction, permanently and in practice. principles so
Tsnkiy ais ocTaiic. For 10 vva, do tbry le n, Inn,
We concentration oil Government in the hands of the
wealthy! They constitute arisiocracy of wealth:
shd az wealth. under the influence of that favor which
an avs ocracy OF wealth will besow on H. has the
Wcngcs tendency 10 settle in a few hands-hovy long
VIII be before thirty rich tyrants WILL in consjd.ta-
lion that they have more wealth and pay more taxes
than the balance of The Stie claim the right excIu
sively, to govern H But, Sir, believe no such state
oil ihngS exists. AIN satscd tilt the alarms of our
brethren OF the East have no real found ton Tier.
rs an unity oil Interest Prevailing the state that forb
ftpdraNoh ana mat renders republic fp IN of Cow
eminent, perfectly safe an suitable. And tbs + el
fati"bed, the ciizeni OF Eastern Virginia will see iii
tncty, 40 soon as their panic subsres aud tb o., come
iorehec coolly upon the subject This is the 4.r which
guides my hope. knIw the peopl. on the T. -, lid
oil the mountains are more disposed tolerate aris
tocia'ic principles than we They know, az ell a.
we, that an aris'ocrdcy established commando g
the pure and the sword, vii rot be likely TO INV
them in the mass, dvors ihin ourselves; And
know their sagacy too wen doubt that thev in.ufv
tic adoption OF such principles upon s.y any-
Let them become convinced that this neces inv is nd
no Tea', ard, leel assured hey will with LAC ity
immediate them on the altar OF mutual int rest and Al.
IccuOn MY pat experience assures ne ds I'VE no
doubt yours does you hdta sentiment prevails in Virgin.
II; net here there but every where within her Iin
that viii produce republican action of the Govern.
men Notwithstanding the nti-Rrpmiran FEATURES OF
the Constitution. was, myself, well convinced of
the soundness OF our practical government under tn
old Constitution, tha thought the call of the Con
veDon premature. feeI nov sure that that liberal
and generous spirit which, an proud to s,y has al.
ways characterized the p ople OF Eastern Vireins in
the LeRisdiure will make in practice nse lille OF
their Constitutional adj