Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-04-23


The crimes he had committed against It's sacred guarantees
The attempted violation Of this Law, hurled another from
his throne, eXpae in exile hs Intended sins against the
Charters Such Is the foundation OF British liberty and
such the means 10y which it was and is still secured.
When North America was first coonzed by Great Bri
tain, our ioroaters settled here under the protection of
Written charters, each OF which they assured the
full enjoyment Of all he rgts of iree born British sub
eets. These rights ampled upon 10y the power of
the mother country; and then too weak to pro-
tcct them. But time rolled aud became stronger.
Former submission provoked Gas il always does) ag
gressions We FIRST peiIoned our sovereign for relief, bot
ne was deaf TO our prayers We then called upon our lei
low subjects TO assist in obtaining redress and secuIity
but they needless OF applications. They SO
lorccd appeal to the God of battles, and i'm inepon-
they have granted AT first Just applications, might
possibly have preserved much longer its richest jewel i'll
the British crown.
The chartered rights of British subjects were ours. Of
these rights had been uujuslly deprived. Like our
comnou ancestors demanded Them in battle aud like
them by battle, we obtained Them. Although the acqui
sion sealed with OF best blood yet all knew
1t would be OF little avail, ii secured by much OF
wisdom and OF vdour had evinced in the purchase
had so been earned, wsesi citizens assembled
devise form OF government Toihese asscmbages
indebted Tor all our original constitutions the peculiar cha
racer OF some OF which charters it shall be the purpose
oil my future nunbcIs 10 display. present will mere
iy say, that they were all the inventions Of most
profound wisdom designed 10 emhody all that experience
bad shewn to be useful in any of the Institutions OF other
hmes and to apply IT TO the particular condition Of this
The Democratic form had presented the beau ideal of
government TO many Of the wses of the ancient political
philosophers, because, under this form of government the
nights ot the people guarded by the power OF the
people; and II Was not TO be believed that such Trustees
could ever prove false TO such Trust But experience
had taught even these philosophers that under such go
vefhmeht small State could not defend itself with su
hceht vigor against the sudden assault OF more power
Iui helghbou aud their priOr reasoning had con
vnccd hen that the principles Of Democracy could not
be useiully applied To wide extended empire Gothic
knowledge, however had achieved what Grecian and Ro
man learning had IN vain attempted. Ia devsng Repre-
1 had c1, ,titl !.
democracy which antiquity had felt or seen. Hence
Representative Decmocrdcy was every where aloDted
oy the sagacity OF the American as that form
oil government most approved by the wisdom of the past
ana pest suited to The particular condition Of our country
at that time.
The origin of Ill former governments of this kind III
indeed any such had hcrn was hidden hv the igo
rance oil The Barbarian people with whom they had
ed impcrfecIly exhibited to modem view as to ,a
NE US oy 10 nier That origin, from the subsequent refer
'hceS TO MS supposed ancient features Most conspicuous
amongst WeNe references, was that 10 the ancient posi-
1--WE compacs between The governors and governed whore
oy e ight' OF all were supposed be expressly decar-
ed and consccrated. Whether such compscts had NJ first
any ohei IMAM presumed existence, matter which
however interesting to the antiquarian, of little con.
Germ 10 the patriot Time had stamped the presumption
W II was such) with the authenticity OF truth; and i'm all
his references TO them, the agacous statesman Of ancient
days, regarded them The solemn EXPRESSED assurances
OF The rights OF the governed, be guarded bv them
WHhall vigilance, aud sealed anew II necessary with
'heir best bood-N0iunuS iegeS Hngip Drtari G,g h-
SSque "S'tdf@ s"nt ct appreciate, the language of
BRUSH ireemen, who trusting their own vipour to main
a'h "eh, preferred 10 hold their rights under the GUS
IONS OF une beyond which the memory of man run
meth not rather than expose them to the cay and rice
o. ihsidious construction Hence, all the instruments OF
British legislation designed secure rights TO the reonI
rom ne great charter OF Ruuny mede TO the last act of
Parliament which established the House OF Brunswick on
ne hrGhe by the Tree voice oil the people Of Great Britain
az are oul Iec,ara'ory laws not protesting give what
We people had not before but merely TO assure rights
winch had been theirs in all time past
ne wisdom OF this example, although duly appreciated
mere could not be initiated exactly our counry bat it
Taught lesson which American Patriots improved The
monarchy OF Eng land, of an origin so ancient as 10
deiy any search Tor its primitive foundations The nre
IoganNes oil the Crown and the privileges of the peo-
p'o both rested upon the base immemoria usage
an the declarations of what these and ever had
oGeh' (ho matter how such declarations were obtain-
ed proceeded from existing and acknow ed SOW
eeG seeming at least TO limit its power by declaring
IT, but the American assertion OF Independence i'm dis.
mYs our connection with The government of the mother
country lett us substitute for that and so imposed uo
US 'e necessity OF establishing government for our
serves, government thus created could have no power,
deriV1ble from CUSTOM could have no auhoes bu such
as shouIu be bestowed upon it, terms by lis creators
c '"ese clcaois, IN the very fact OF establishing new
government Tor themselves, thereby asserted and mani
rested thelr pre-eXng right to do Hence il result.
'"' an" from necessity too tha while all the Powers of all
our governments are dervave and temporary the Rights
u nose VINO created these governments self Sislenl
ana eternal Therefore, in each of these United States
e cope oy bonn all governments were created and
established, are The only legitimate Sovereign Cover
nors and Magistrates of all sorts are but The agents and
servants oil these their creators appointed 10 attain the GOOD
VI 'e cope, by The exercise OF the powers auhori-
H..
responsible TO the People for manner in which all these
"~t'eS have been performed or neglected.
:" 'io relations between such sovereign and such lis
"Sen'S' the lGea oil compact OF kind, find no
P'ace. In governments whose powers rest upon force
e sIc'O sovereign may grant tots vanquished subjects
ana hnuncs, which being designed for the bene-
III OF e grantees, constitute limit upon the authority of
the grahtor IN being rrevocable Such grants may well
ue termed conPacis between the granting Sovereign and
MS accepting subjects solemn agreements which neither
parry ma oil Heht alter, without the consent of the other
90 oo, 10 governments of unknown antiquity, according
10 me ueOy oil whose uuwrtlen law the governors are
oPo'ehl, even this vast power be derived not from
'oce Dut from CONSENT this very consent constitutes
sOeh compact In this county however none of hose
GIN all Tie creation OF but yesterday, governors can fitch
no rover OF the governed lose any Right in the gloomy
oOSCWly ana uncertainty Of antiquity Here every thup
cear as was the light OF that blessed day on which was
POcancd the sacred truths that here the People are the
on sovereign OF The People; that here Magistrates OF all
are Dt The agents and of this Sovereign cal
ieu mo being byits fiat, solely for its own bene6 DERIVING
~" ef authority homits grants, which grants are revo-
caoe al TIE pleasure of the granors because intended
soeiy Ior their own good. But the idea of a conpact
lawfully reyocabe at the will one OF the parties woud
DC esa paradox, not less absurd than the moral alb.
au'u.y OF compact between a creator and his mere
creature formed Tor the creators own use.
IL results from all this, that Whatever Of truth there
may De IN the theory of the political Philosophers of
compact between the governors and the governed 10
such ihcory can be true here. None of our govern.
mems can ever be cOns1 red as such conpacts They
arc mere reV0cabIe prOcuratons, simply delegations
OF 'ml'ed ana temporary authority, executed bv the
sovereign PEOPLE 10 their AuoInies which agents are
WeIe'E authorized and required by their constituents TO
accomplish certain purposes by certain defined means The
fftnrr trnII,. tUTs.a