Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-03-12

concentrate and exert moral energy by which the
causes and means of intemperancc shall be removed
from society, and the more eectualy 10 accomplish
this end they agree to total abstinence auXia-
ry measure
| But a few years ago, you could hardly go into q
house in the United States without having ardent
spirits offered you as necessary expression of hos
pltality: now you may 60 into every house the
country, where the influence of Temperance Socie-
ties is felt and it will never be offered you except in
cases of sickness This is great abridgement of
the causes and means of inemperance but is It any
abridgement of the natural rights of man. No civil
iaw-no coercion is used:but it is result of moral
influence inducing voluntary action: and is no
an infringement on mans natural rights than it would
De to persuade him to eat wheat, instead of black
pepper, for his bread, the ground that wheat is
more nutritious and salutary for his system than the
pepperAnd if from the force Of depra we'd appetite
he still chooses to eat the pepper, though it is evil
IDENTITY destroying his life, and my neighbours may
agree, out of sheer benevoence to him. not to put
any pepper into his hands, nor bring any into
the neighbourhood nor even Import it, and still not
In the least degree be guilty OF abrdging any of his
natural rights. Whatever of sin crime there may
be in the act of intenperance, the Societies leave
that to the chancery of heaven, and treat inempe
rance calamity than crime;-as 4 spe-
! cies of Insanity which is more a subject of COM
misseration than of contempt: And it is their
desire, far practicable by moral means,
to the of this insanity from the sane,
and the means of self-desructon from the insane
And while readily admit, that many may have join
ed these societies. who have very enlarged views
or purposes vet, am confident beyond doubt, that
Temperance Societies were originated g. carried
on by spirit of the most pure philanthropy and pat
rotism and eminently calculated to promote the
best interests of beloved country and of man.
| Thus much have said in haste-but l will talk
with you again if you wish, when am more at lei
sure. PHILANTHROPOS.
Richmond March llth, 1880.
IA We invite attention TO ''RoLLa," from distant
and established pen. Rolla has been unavodably
deferred for some months.
a. The proceedings of Congress on Tuesday, pos
sessed no marked interest. Mr.. Livingston spoke
for two hours in the Senate, on Foot's resolution
at the Flats of Grave Creek on Saturday the 9th
ult. for the purpose of taking into consideration,
the adoption rejection Of the amended Constitu-
ton; DR. THOMAS, McCoRMIcK was called to the
chair, and JOSEPH MCLEAN appointed Secretary.
The meeting was then addressed at length
by Mr.. A. MCLEAN, showing the great injustice,
the West under the constitution if adopted,
would sustain, by the arbitrary allotment of repre-
sentaton, and the utter mpossibility of their ever
arriving at an equality with the East.
After some further discussion, the following pre-
amble and resolutions offered, by MIR. A.
MCLEAN, and adopted, with entiye unanimtY, and
much apparent cordially:
That all men are by nature equally free and in
dependent
That in entering into state of civil society, they
cannot be rlghtfuy reguiredto surrender more OF
their natural liberty, than is necessary for the sec,-
rity of the residue and the common benefit of the
! community:
That the present generation cannot, by any com.
pact among themselves lawfully deprive posterity
their inherent and unaenable right to reform, alter
or abolish their government in such manner, shall
be Judged most conducive to the public veal.
/ That all power is vested in, and consequently de.
rived from, the people, who therefore have indu-
q
and portions they think fit to be used solely ol
the benefit of the commonwealth, and the agents
entrusted with it amenable to their constituents
for the honest and faithful discharge of the trus
committed to them:
And that the only legitimate object of government
is the safety and happiness of the governed, self
evident proposltlons-truhs, the solemn recognition
of which, by the American people, is coeva with the
foundations of republlc doctrines, Consecratet
by the blood of our revolutionary patriots. There
fore,
/ Hesolued, That any form of government which i:
repugnant to these great fundamental principles, is
spurious, and ant-republican, and unworthy of free
men.
Resolved, That the amended Constitution of th:
State, submitted by the late Convention, to the con
sheraton of the People of Virginia for their raif
cation rejection" is at variance with these essen
tal principles OF representative democracy, in as
much as it denies to the people just and equal re
presentation in the Legislature, founded any xet
rule ratio of the free white inhabitants, the only
constituents of the government; but, by forming the
State into districts and divisions, and assigning tc
each arbitrary number Of representatives in boil
branches ofthe General Assembly, regarding, in the
distribution, local interests, rather than political rec
titude, it condemnsto perpetual nfcriority, sec
ton of the State let its numerical superiority be wla
it may; thus subiectng the majority 10 the dominion
: and control of the minority.
l 1t excludes from the rights Of suffrage and conse
quenty from all participation in the political power
the State large portion of the citizens, who are
nevertheless subjected to burdensome taxation, tt
Ir1I tnry nd no hiOh
ways
1t sanctions and retains ;he existing establishment
OF county courts with all its odious fcatures-an in
sttution which, in the mode of its formation and per
petuaon, the nature and extent Gifts powers and ir
responsible exercise ofhem certainly find no pa
ralell III the annals of free state 1t is soecsm
!, in The science of republican governmental libel OF
the spirit of the age.
II does not recognize the unallenabc RIGHT of the
people 10 reform, alter, and abolish their government
as circumstances shall dcate but cnnin1lsu clnsns