Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-05-15
BALTIMORE DEMocRATTIHcH 3 coNE y-ESSg1E5S

v. a
of the free citizens of the United States generally in
character of Delegates from their respective Districts
evidently excites the ccnest anguish bitter
prehenslon on the part of the Opposition.
Justly celebrated writer upon the Social Compact
among other things, says Po1 Popuii, Del :" and
If this maxim be sound il is brief and commentators
the honest inquiry naturally arises in every candid and
ingenious mind, why should any objection to the pro.
posed convention he ei or expressed 1t is universally
conceded, in this country, that the people and cy onL1
are the source and fountain of all legitimate power
that Government should be instituted for their good-
that while they have TO bear the entire burdens they
snouid ana OF right ought to enjoy the benefits and
blessings; and if il be their deliberate will and pleasure
Peacea6y to assemble together for the sole purpose of
nterchangng legitimate opinions in order TO promote
harmony IN design unity action and sinrleness of
purpose, who can morally legally intcrpose an OBJ
Jecuon! The States, in their sovereign capacities
nave frequently held Conventions through Delegates
whenever 1T was deemed cxpedicn either To form or TO
utter their Constitutions and forms of Governments and
no good reason perceived why they should in like
manner meet IN general Convention in order to decide
upon the person best qualified preside as the Chief
Magistrate of the 'rhoie Union If the prosperity and
welfare of single State such dcep and absorbing
interest to the people of Sdtc justify ana require
Convention to effect and the same, not the less
deep and abiding tc the people of ell The Sates be
the safety pcrpetuity and prosperity well the honor
and true glory of the 7rhOie mutton. The first the mi
MOI, the latter the mao consideration and he who
feels and acts up to the principles and practices of the
latter, necessarily protects and promo's the former
upon the sound maxim that the major includes tie mi
nor Why, then are these early symptoms of anxiety
and i'll feeling manifested by the anti administration
party? DO they doubt an honest patriotic and Judi
cious decision on the part the PeopIes agents. That
the JafW representative is the mirror of the repre-.
senied-rciiecting back in bold relief, their feelings
principles and wishes Surely not-unless they believe
the people themselves both corrupt and wanting i'm memo
raton and good sense Do they fear their intelligence
ana due regard to truth and jnscc If such be their
fears, well may they carwell may they dread tic ght
OF reason and the force Of truth But it, ON the contrary
the good of their country their ruling passiou a
should be, then will ey light to pay honor to whom
honor is due, and to "rendcr unto Cnsar the things
which belong TO C@sar.lf these, or either of these
rlanc roull,, a..
and icdrsten does behoove the people to con vince
them of their error by firmly pcrsevsring in the exer.
else OF one OF their clearest well most important
rights and IRON the performance of which neither threas
divert tbsrn.
Conventions, like Legislative assembIies are ,vcu
calculated to concentrate public sentiment and to
elicit public intelligence; and 80 long as thcir acts
snail be based upon vrtuous and patriotic motives so
iong VIII they operate the most salutary and bcnef.
cial effects as regards the just rights of the People
Arguing, therefore, from these Premises which believe
are as sound as they certainly intended be frank
ana pam, deduce therciron that he who opposes the
contemplated Baltimore Convention docs it from feelings
anu principles, as adverse 10 free institutions as they
assuedly contrary TO common scnse aud co,oyo,
honcsiyand more especially the decision ofths Con.
yenon like that of all others merely recommended
~ But arc these frank and open submissions to the
viii OF the people, calculated subserve the Seref nu,
poses OF the arsocracy ofhc country? To sustain the
views and pretcnsons Of the reckless asprauts for office
To aid and advance 'aonoposs aud eopiiist az the ex
pcnse OF the many These are grave questions which
cannot fall from very circumstances i'm relation
to the public to come home to The Hearts ana feel
ngs Of every true ficnd 10 lis country If ge take
a brief survey Of tic rise and El Of The ancient
Kingdoms and Republics, VIC are at once most for
ciby Impressed with tho fatal effects, produced Ly a
"oder0te love OF PO1er, aud moHeg for the qualification
OF he former scarcely ever fails 70 excite aud indigpon
SADLY require tic latter aud ncn soon discovered tbat
under such circumstances, money and y0,rer were ar
retattre terms Rome, imperial Rome once mistress of
the world with all her pride aud military glory coon fell
victim 70 this taordinate desire Had She continued in
her primitive simplicity aud moral yirtae-lad she re-.
Jrclcd the corrupting influence Of this ienoblc passion
she might have preserved her civil and political rights
ana gvcn laws TO the greater part Of Europe but yield
ing too readily to the seductive influence OF these cor
ripping desires with the loss Of her moral strength ter
minated her military rcnown. And are We as a Nation.
exempt from The ailties and iiopcrectons of other Ma
TONS Is the organization Of our physical powers DIFF
icrert' DO make our offerings on the altar Of pat
rosm with more eryor and true devotion than did the
homan& and are viriuous People than
were they IN the earlier periods Of their history, If
these lnterrogaofes cannot with truth be answered in
the Affirmative IL should be solemn warning 10 us all 10
guard with unccasing vigilance, The Temple Of isbcr.
". wherever t1ordiRafe love Of wealth and power
prevails, true liberty never dwell No longer
docs she light up The pure aainc-no longer does