Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1831-08-22

its recognition depends the stability aud safety
{ Of our political institutions.
| am not ignorant. that thnse opposed 10
the dociTine haYr always now aud formerly
rsgsrted II Ia very different light, as anarchl-
cal and revolutionary. Could bellase such
tn fact 10 he ITS tendency, 10 me II wo'Id be no
recommendation. yield TO none | rust, ~ -
deep and sincere attachment 10 our political ~
situations. and tn union OF these States. | npv.
er biea'hed an opposite sentiment but on he
contrary, have ever considered them the great
Instruments Of preserving our Liberty. and pro.
mutiHg the happiness OF ourselves and our
pustetfy and next To these have ev"T held
them most dear. Nearly half my life has
passed IN The service Of the UnIOn, aud what
ever pub.it reputation have acquired, is Ia
GissolubIy identified with il. To be too ma
t'onal ha,, indeed, been considered by many
even Of nv friends, 10 be my greatest political
. fault. With these strong ceilings of attachme nj
! have examined with the utmost care, the
bearing Vi the docti Ine 10 question and So lar
from anarchisat, or revolutionary. sol-mniy
| believe II 10 be- ths only solid foundation u
/ our system. aud Of III uaIon itself, aud that
| tue opposite doctrine, which dentes TO the
| : stes the right OF protecting their reserved
! powers, am which would vrst Ia the GENERA
! Govfrhmrnt, ct matters not through what
! Department. the right oil determining eKeu-
| sntls and haally, the powers delegated to H.
Is Incompatible with the sovereignty OF the
Stttes aud OF the Constitution itself, considered
as the oasts ot a federal Union. As strong as
hi, language IS it'll not stronger than that
| used toy the iiiuslrious Jefferson, who said To
give 10 the General Government the final aad
eAciaslse light to judge OF us powers. l., To
make "a 10 distrttiUn aud not The C0Hst itHt0u,
the measure u rs Pouers;' aud d'at . III az ca
SIS Of compact betwesR parfies hung no s0tRtop
Judge each parry has an 'Yaat Tigat to Idge for
stti, as VeH oJ attractions. Us Of me nude
aud measure or redre3s' Language caanot
he NOR Epleiri nor cau hisher au hofity be
adduced.
Inal different opnons are entertained gu
this subject, | consider. but an -ddrlonal
evidence oil the great dlgtrslty oi the hu,nh Il
Iattlect.. Had mol able, experienced aud pat
rIotlc Individual, for whom hayt tue highest
respect, taken different views, | would have
thought tue rlghI TO clear u admit VI dOuot
Outl am taught by int, we'll As by ntny
similar instances. 10 at With Difference opIn.
IONS dtitIlag from my own. The errur may
possibly be with me but, II so, eau ouiy say
mat allef The most mature aud conscientious
examination, | have not becD able To detect Il.
; But with all proper Difference must thInk.
thai theirs IS the error, VINO deny, nhh seems
10 tie essential attribute OF Tue conceded
sovereignty oi the States, aud Who attribute 10
h.. GaneIJl Government a tight utterly IN
compatible with what all soknO" Wedge 10 be
H. limited aud restricted character an etror
org iueu ng principally, as | must tniuk, in NOT
duty rejoicing on the ia ure ol our institutions
ana on what constitutes the Only RATIONAL o.
ject of all political constitutions.
II has been well said by one Of the most sa-
> gdc'ous men OF antiquity, that the object oil a
con,u'utlou is 10 restrain The gouernasns, a.
hat Of idl0s Is to res rain tHdiutd4I!s. Inc Ie.
mark Is correct nor Is It less True. whrrc tne
Government i, vested IN IN JDtIy, than
where IL is IN single or lew individuals IN
republic, than monarchy OF aTistocrdCy.
No one can Ldse higher respect Tor the max
IN, nat the majority ousat 10 govern. than |
nave, taken IN ITS proper sense, snt jet 10 lhp
restrictions imposed by thu Constitution. anu
confined 10 subjects Ia which every portion
at tue co'nmunny have similar III eresis Uut
II Is great error 10 suppose, many do.
that the light u d ma 'Tity 10 govern Is ust-
nrAl aud not a conventional rIght ant, lhrr1-
, lufe. absolute and unlimited. BY nature ey-
cry udIs dual has the right to govern himself ,
aud Governments, whether founded OF M ioi.
tues or mlnurfies, mast delNe the rienl from
the assent, expressed d bupAed, 81 the governed,
q be subject to sue Iinlta Iaus ~ the, HIay il-
pose. Where the iuieress are tue same, that
a., where tue laws that may bentht ous, vii
ueurht all, Or the reverse. 1t Is ust anu proper
10 pace them uuder the cOBtsol OF lhe lna
| iaTuy but whore they are dissunfl4r, that
rhr Jaw, that may JeneGt Que portion may be
ruinOus TO anOtu.T, II would be GA tie contra
~ unjust aud absurd TO subject lHein 10 lis
Sld aud such, conceive to De the theory oH
ulcD or Consul, ul'on resls.
That such disslmiIariiy of Interests may et.
Isl, II Is impossible 10 duubt. lhey are 10 be
found IN every community. IA greater OF
1 less degree however small or Homogeneous ,
/ aud tHr5 Constitute every where. tue great dat
6culty oil forming, and preserving ire in,ulu.
, u1nS. 10 guard az ainsl tue unequal act,oa Of
the laws, When sppt,ed 10 JIssi.niiar and on.
posing interests, Is. IA fact, what maibly rem
deis eun,flrutoa ,odlspeu,a6ei 70 oyefl1uk
~ulch. III reasoning on Our Constitution, woald
p br IL cunt The pIiuCipal element, b., winch 10
d-termlue rs character. We're here no con.
2 rarely 81 ntuTes ;, uothrug would be more
n snuple aud easy than 10 fJrm aud preserve free
t institutions. The right OF suffrage alone
u would be suiti ient guaramy. les the con.
;, h,ct at opposing interests snlGh reuGefs il the
u mOst diff uit work of man.
, Where me diversity u interests exists in Sc.
O psrdie aud distinct classes oil tue communit,
Is the case IA Ing aud. snd was formerly
). the case IN Sparta, tome AID most OF the free
States Ul Antiquity, the raiioIai constitutional
:, pTOyIslou IS, tuat each should be represented
;, ia The Government, a a separate estate, win
a distinct voice, aud d negative on the acts OF
its Co-estates, IN order 10 check thsir enCroacn-
. ments. la England tue Constitution has a.
n sulued expressly tins iOrn whne IA the gov
II eInnenls ut Sparta aud Rome the same lhlns
a was effected uuder diitsrent but not much les.
| ethcACIOus lorms 1ne perfection If their or
Y ganILttIon, la tuls parIIcular,wss thai, muich
o gave a. the cOnsltuuO0s vi these renowned
saes all 0! tueir celebrity, which secured theIr
Liberty tOI SO many centuries, aud raised tnem
e 10 great heIs ht oil po"ef aud prospziity.
) Indeed constitutional provision gviag 10 the
J. gicat aud separate Interests OF the community
!. the Iight oI sell protection, must appear to
II those VINO will duly reflect on tue subject, moi
Al less essential 10 tue preservation oil liberty, than
/ Tue rIguI oil suffrage i;seI They Ia fact have
h coiumon object, TO eject which, The Is
= as necessary as tue other 10 secure respoHSr
6llHy, that Is, that those wh1 max. tud execute