Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-07-03


look little deeper into tho springs OF human
action, il will bo found that man is naturally
robbng animal. All the struggles which history
records. are hut tho efforts Of ono portion of
mankind to appropriate 10 their own use tho
labor and he properly of tho other poriiou.-
Pluader, sir, plunder IN the object; war is only
the instrument by which it has heen attained.
The same struggle which has been carried on
i'y arms between different nations, has been moi
less necessarily carried an, within tho respective
nations oft earth between the different classes
of society. Accordingly, We find that il was
the great aud primary Object Of the lawgivers
of antiquity in organizing free Governments, to
secure tho rights Of property, by providing va.
rious checks aud guarantees to prevent one par,
of society from plundering another. In ,he
present condition Of the civilized world when
no Government would dare invade mere por-
sOnal liberty, the great, and almost tho exclusive
object Of tho fundamental laws which organize
free Governments, should DO the protection of
property against this universal propensity for
plumber, where men act i'm masses. aud, espscj-
ally, to protect the property Of tho minority a.
sainst this propensity in tho minority. Ia this
respect more danger is to be apprehende from
a representative majority, than from any o,hor
form of Government. Ii would be obviously
less dangerous and less oppressive to en-
trust ono mau with the power Of puntieriog
ten, than to entrust ten with the power Of plum
dering one.
Nature imposes limits upon the powor Of tho
most absolute despotism whom vested in a sin
gle Individual. Tho physical power of society
Is on tho side Of the governed, and this, of it,
self, creates a practical responsibility, however
despotc may tie the form Of tho Government
nature also imposes very narrow limits, compa-
ratively speaking, OH the plunderug capacity of
single iyrant. lie may he clothed in purple
covered with diamonds, aud surrounded with all
tho appen,iages. "the pomp, aud circumstance, ~
n m q
Insignificant. But what treasures are sufficient
~ abundant, what industry sufficiently produce
tive, To satiate the millions Of tyramis Of which
this representative majority are but tho minis.
tiers where tho sole and exclusive object Of
their domination is pee ,nary gain? Ii was in
TINS aspect OF an unlimited and unchecked de-
mocracy, that the dramatic poets and philoso
piers oil antiquity represented King Demos, in
such fearful cOlOrs, as the most horrible of all
tyran's. Aud truly. sir, there can he nothing in
the shape OF Government more foul aud horri-
oe IMAM TINS gigantic monster cut loose from the
""'ations OF The constitution, as no is, in the
very nature Of things from all all the restraints
of conscience.
1 mean not TO cast any special reproach upon
the manufacturing coDfcderacy which consti
tutes tho existing majority in this country: l
speak nothing but the plain truths Of phioso uhy,
wheu say that, on such question as that
wh'cn we are now considering, they cannot in
sense
moral responsibility, than an infuriated mob.
Ii Is melancholy fact, sir, that nations have
no sense OF Justice in their conflicts with each
o.heI anu The same ia true Of the subor ordinate
divisions OF human society, acting in masses,
ana under the impulses Of common interest. 1t
q, mas oeen sail that "one murder makes a vii
Ian. millions makes hero" Nav I NOT ,,,d
with equal Truth, that zone robbery makes a f..
lon. millions make patriot" The same de-
lusion, sir, which the military murderer
into a hero, converts The legislative pluuderer
into patriot. And, it i. worthy of special re-
mark here, that The despotism of an iIresponsi-
bile majority never existed i'm a country in r.
form so dangerous, am! difficult TO 10 resisted.
as it does at this moment i'm this cnnfeder.cy.
Ii levies its exaciions, not like its Roman pro
tOtype, imperial. rescrpts, to be enforced nv vi
sible agents, openly penetrating the work of i'm
perial plunder-for to such an undse used ONE
| ration no portion Of tho Anglo American race
would have submitted for a single year-but IL
| @""a'~ ci'sbes the Same cad much moro effec-
tuaIiy, by the insi,iious operation 0f n sou,,,i.
Gated system, which has operated unseen and
| Tor time, unknown to the great mass of the
| community. Nor has this delUsion been conf
| ned to the minority. great portion Of the
majority, themselves, | consrientiously believe.
while undoubtedly engaged in the work of plum
der have felt that they were performing the
work of patriotism.
| / cannot but bring to the view Of tho commit.
tee, as proof OF the spirit which animntes the
manufacturing confederacy, the bold and omen
avowal OF one OF their prominent leaders, y
gentleman from Now Jersey. In a speech re-
Gently delivered in the other House, after com
planning MOST vehemently that the southern
| States should bs permitted to sell their stape
productions in Europe, and supply the marke,
| of the United States with the manufactures tbev
receive in exchange for them he oxciaim,
| "How long are we to remain i'm this state of vas
salage! How long will our patience endure
| How long will our means last d? TIL ne under
| stand our true interests, count our numbers and
rally our uotes!!" Now, sir, | doubt not ,ha,
this gentleman supposed that lie was utte,iog a
very lofty sentiment of patriotism; yet, where.
ia does it diilsr in it's principle or its burmese
from the bugle blast of Roderick Dhu, rallyine
his clanSmen for border expedition Of rapine
End plumber? 10 what moral characteristics
does this legislative crusade against the lawful
commerce of the southern States differ from n
military invasion Of England, by the Highland.
ers of Scotland. for similar purposes There il
tho difference, air: In the former case there in
no animating principle but cold calculation of
interest; in tine latter, national antipatby aun-
posed injuries, and tho thirst for military re.
nOwD, cover over tho injustice and aynrice of
the proceeding with the glare. at lenst, of false
glory. This further difference exists. In n
military struggle, the battle is not ALWAYS tn the
strong-courage and heroism in a Just cause
may overcome superior numbers in "a bad one
"Thrice is he armed who hath his quarrel iust
and he but naked, though locked up in steel.
whose conscience with injustice is corrupted. {"
Moreover. there is true glory 10 resisting this
species of Invasion, and tine conflict produces
high national virtues in the resis ing party Tn
compensate Tor their sacrifices. Bur here air
IN this legislative warfare the contest il decided