Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-10-05

prevented, ne who prescribe
disease, dSOn, the side, coercion OF state
in the assertion of its rights the other tood desere
and tciH receive the ereoGtions of this, and all future
generations.
have now finished what had say the subject OF
this communication, in its immediate connection with the
Constitution. In the discussion have advanced nothing
but the authority of the Constitution itself, or that oil
recorded and questionable facts connected with the histo-
ny OF it, origin and ormaion; and have made no deduction
but such rested principles which believe 10 be I'M
que ,tOnabe; but would be Idle expect in the present
of the public mind, favorable reception Of the con-
illusions 10 which have been carried. There too
many misconceptions TO encounter, too many PreJudrces
combat and above ALL too weight OF interest 10
resist. do propose toiuveStigate these great mped
the reception of the truth, though it would be an
interesting subject Of enquiry 10 trace them TO their
and TO The force OF their impending power; but
there IL one among them OF marked character and
which operates So extensively that cannot conclude
without making it the subject oil few remarks. parcu
larry they will be calculated TO throw much light,
what has already been said.
OF all the impedimcnts opposed TO just conception of
the nature of political system, the impression that
General Government inconsistent with the great and
fundamental principle OF all free States, that majority
has the right to govern, is the greatest Thus regarded,
nuhhcaon is without farther reflection, denounced
the most dangerous and of all political here
sizes, MS in truth it would be, tho objection, well
founded, in fact, is destitute of all foundation,
! shall now proceed To shcw.
These, who make the objection, suppose, that
the right of majority govern is a principle too simple
TO admit of any distinctions; and yet il do mistakc
It is susceptible Of the most important dsncion-encr
ing deeply into the of our system and may
add into that of all tree States proportion to the perc
lion OF Their institutions and is essential TO the very exist
ence Of liberty.
When, then, is said that majority has the right TO
govern, there two modes OF estimating majority
either oil which, the expression is applicable. The one
IN which the whole community is regarded in the aggre
gate, and the majority is estimated, reference the en-
tire mass THIS may be called the majority of the whole
or the absolute majority The other, in which is regard
ed in reference TO its different political interests whether
composed of different classes different communities
formed into one general conederaed community, and in
winch Inc majority il estimated, not in reference TO the
whole butt each class community Of which il is
posed the assent OF EACH taken separately and the
currence of all constituting the maj GRITTY
majority.
When objected to qualifications that il is opposed to
the principle, that majority ought 10 govern he who
makes the objection, must ean the absolute istin
gushed from the coneurng. 1t is only in the
the iOrmer the objection can be applied In that Of the
concurring, would be absurd the concurrng
all the parts with all the Staes Of the very
OF such majority. Again. il is manifest in the sense
would be good against notification, it would be equally
so, against the Constitution ITSELF for in whatever
That instrument may be regarded, it is clearly, not the
work oil the absolute but OF the concurrng majority
was formed and rattedby the concurring all
States and not by the majority of the whole the
aggregate as has already been stated Thus the cknow-
lodged right of each State references The (OnStit
t0n is unquestionably the right, which Modification
attributes each in reference TO the ,iuco.sfoun
acts Of the Government; and il the Latter be opposed
the right OF anajorty 10 govern the former is equally
90 farther The objection might with equal truth be
applied 10 all !iee States that have existed mean
States deserving the name and excudng course those
which, after Fictitious and anarchca existence of few
hoh OF some foreign power There is not, with this
exception single free State whose lions were not
based on me principle OF the concurring majory-no
one, IN which the community regarded in
ence TO its different political interests, and which did
in some form or other take the Of each tho opc
ration of the Governments
In support of this assertion, might begin with our OWL
Government and go back that of Sparta and shew con
cusively thut there not one ON the list whose insi
tons were not organized the principle oil the concun
majority, and in the operation of which, of eac
great interest was not separately consulted The variou
10
me peculiar operation of each, would be a curious
highly important subject of investigation | only al
Jude to some OF the most prominent.
The principle of the concurng majority has sometime
een Incorporated in the regular and ordinary operation
me Government, each interest having distinct organiza
uoh and combination Of the whole forming the Govern
hrh'; out sI requiring the consent Of each
ehts are by FAR the most memorable and perfect exam
pies In others, the right of actinr-of MAKING and
eu"g me laws-was vested in interest and the rich
OF ares'hg or multiplying in another OF This descripor
1lc h"han government is much the striking instance
IN Others The right of originating or introductn nroicc,
aws' was IN &c, and OF enacng them in another az al
wnsre he Areopagus proposed and the general As
Semn'y OF the people enacted laws.
These devices all resorcd TO- with tho ,tcn,ioo -
consuming me separate interests of which the severa
oGnules were compoed and against all of which, The
o'y.coh 10 huihIcaton that is opposed the will of
majority could be raised with equal force-as strongI
may say much more So against the unlimited un-
ten at Rome all laws the execution of laws a.
against The same right of sovereign State Zone of the
twenty-iour tribunes of this UnonJ limited as Tho bt
IS, to the unconstitutional acts of the General
and liable, as in effect is, TO be controlled bv he
iourthS OF The co-sates and yet the Roman RenbIi
le otier states TO which have referred are the renoYn
eu among Tee states whose examples have ,iflsed the
P' o Dtry over the world, and which, if struck from
the Iist would leave behind but little TO he adu;red or
initiated. There, indeed would remain one class dcserv
ing from ne particular notice, ours BELONGS TO H. mean
coWeHeFacIcS nut, as class, heretofore far ess du,
gnSh"d iorpowcr and prosperity than those already aId
ia ,"' "io Fust win the improvements we have made
e'"led 10 he placed at the very head of the iusrous
' OF states winch have blessed the world with xampIos
OF wcIl-regulacd liberty; and which stand as co man,
GASES IN me MIDST OF the desert oppression and
which occupy space in the chart of Covernino,
nat such viii be the great and glorious destiny of omr
system ieel assured, provided we do not permit orr
vehment TO degenerate into the worst of ALI possbIo
I1S consolidated government swayed by the will of an
absolute majority. But to proceed
Viewing confederaed communfv az co,nnosed n 90
many dlsnct political interests there are States and az
requiring the consent of each to its measures mn
el'e can De conceived, IN which the of the whole
community, can he more perfectly taken and all ia ine
rests more fully represented and protected But with This
great advantage, united with the means of to ,,os, @
ana pereci local administration through the agency
no,eS ana combined with the capacity of embracing with
III us nS INC greatest extent Of territory and variety of
interests Iabic TO one almost fatal objection the tarli
ness ana iecheness Of its movements defect a.
re cecueo' ana when not, so great to render form
Oh government IN other respects so admirable almos,
W0U'sS 10 overcome this difficulty was the great dc
sueTaun ~ political science, and the most difficult nro
neh WIhn It's circle To belongs the glory NJ lie ca
nuon indeed our experiment. (or such Il must vet he
CdeD snail prove, that have overcome it, as sim
cy peleve and hope will, account of our own as
we" Is he liberty and happiness Of our race
our hrst experiment in Government was ON tbc ol1
0rh OF simple cOniederacy, uninodifed and exendin
llp stt.-. -.