Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-03-09

e.
needed by the Valley for the transportation of theirs
Slaves, the great bone of contention, though NOT
owned IN such numbers By individuals, are becoming
as generally diffused as in the middle or lowland
country The large iron manufactures which are
establishing throughout the Valley district, must
create considerable influx ofths species ofproperty
so that, in whatever aspect view this matter, it
appears to me every consideration impels US to the
cultivation of strict union, while cannot imagin
single reason to justify the chickering's and heart
burnings which exist between u.s. More of this
anon. AT present, wish to devote few sentences
to your structures upon some extracts from letter
which addressed you some time since, and which
you inserted in your paper of the 12th ult. TIC the
publicity the sentiments which seem to have struck
you with 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 all important to the
preservation of free institutions. Iso!emnly be-
ileVe that the extensive nculcation of these, what
you are pleased to term aristocratc sentiments, is
the only mode in which the downward tendency of
our government can be arrested. And if every cti-
zen however well convinced of the correctness ofths
OPINION IL dastardly enough to skulk from their pro-
ton, all hope has left we had as well fold our
arms m apathy and float with the tide of popular Opt
mons, until we are all engulphed in one undistin-
sulshed vortex of anarchy and confusion.
Your attempted refutaton of nv doctrines was as
Elusive and sophistica as it plausible and inge-
NOUS. You seize upon garbled extract from nv
definition OF liberty, without viewing in connex m
with the sentences that precede or follow it and then
uneqnvocally assert, that if my definition be correct,
the Doors or Russia are free US any people on
earth The only authority shall offer in support of
my deinltion,is Montesquieu. with this trling differ
ence between us, that his definition ia so6ewh,,
broader and less qualified thun mine He asserts that
true liberty consists in the power OF the people to do
Whatever the laws permit and that it consists in the
power OF the people to do whatever the laws permit
without hindrance the Intervention of nv s,neror
1 his h,, :.
milton, pray what is the true definition? Is it. as
tear 1t is esteemed by too many, an unlicensed obe-
dience OF every man to his will? Is it the un-
qualified enjoyment of suffrage by male adults to the
exclusion of minors and females! Or does if consist
as the Russians once supposed in the right to wear
long boards? Surely none of these will pass the or
deal OF criticism at this enlightened period, however
prone the great mass of the nation NAV he tn wrec
itself upon the first In rejecting upon Monies
quieu's definition, it appears to me, to inpy most
strongly, that liberty only be enioyed where the
sovereign power resides in the people and the laws
emanate from them. For if the SOVEREIGNTY no con-
centrated in any other depository as in the Sultan of
Turkey or the Autocrat of Russia, the people do not
possess the po,oer of doing whatever the laws permit
without hndrance. There is superior controlling
and uncomfortable authority in the depository Of the
sovereign authority. The sovereign will is the law.
In other words there is no law. And what this will
as understood makes lawful to-day, may by an er
post acolaw, be rendered very heinous offence to-
morrow. Wherever tho sovereignty resides. the
from the nature of things, and of course 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 people
form one of the three great repositories of power and
they have clause engrafted on their constitution
prohibiting the passage of post cto laws, bcses
pumcrous other barriers against the encroachments
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 hndrance. But unfortunately for them the other
gence, urged on by lust of power proved strong
for the constitution. Er post Idcto laws have been
passed. and the rights and privileges of the people
dlsregarded in numberless instances. Nevertheless
land, between the king, mobiles and people, has ma de
the freest government In the world snve our own
where the sovereignty resides in the people alone.
These sir are my notions of rational liberty, and
only regret that you in common with others who eX-
ercse an extensive influence upon the community
should differ with me in opinion. In conclusion,
will repeat what seemed to gall your Democratic ma
jeSty in my heretical letter: that when reflect that
every change that has taken place in the consttu
lions ofthe several republics of this conederacy has
direct tendency to liceutious democracy;-to de-
prve those who have the principal stake in the COM
muny from all control the operations of the 90
vernmeut, and place it in the hands of those who
have mere shadow, can but tremble for the per-
petuatioD Of our free institutions. behold dark
portentous cloud gathering before us, which presages
the most disastrous consequences to this noble monu
ment of wisdom and patriotism, which has been raised
by progenitors. At such juncture 'sto hold up
mirror to the people aud let them themselves as
the authors of their misfortunes, cannot be a
very popular design" This however is paltry con-
sideraton, in comparison with the object in vew-the
correction of popular andthe support of free
and rational government. Hud abilities worthy of
the theme, would never suffer the ink to dry in my
pen until had presented the subject in every aspect
argument, which ingenuity could suggest hope
what have said will give both you and the public
better idea fmy notions of rational liberty, and that
you will not be so ready to fly Off upon the back OF
Russian dcspot or Egyptian Paeha.
CONGRESS.
In the Senate on Wednesday last, petitions for and
against Sunday Mails presented from Penn
sylvania Mr. Marks presented the petition of 6i7
ladies of Pittsburr prayinD protection To the South