Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1837-02-11

the majority itself, done through lis agent. Aigernon
Sidney, and all those patriots who had ever Dec"''t ma
tbs IN The glorious Cause Of liberty, were IN lruth VIC
tins tu the tyranny OF maJ0rllies, Icting through ''u'l
agents. Oar ancestors kne" that all sovcr"nle'i: among
men originated IL the wcakirss und 'earS't inH!''aH"a-
who sought, by cnSling INTO lie conpacl VI so,,' ~
lnrnt. 10 obtain r0teclion against the oppression o.
,i,uSr who might have The power TO Cypress III.
They knew, that tie very purpose It VIM:
cruunei!s were created, was, to iuIi''*h ptu1t .",a Il.
ind :duais and 10 il!nCriies-t mat ih'JotIres
WAYS aL!c Ia project themselves, ana i!iat '"e "fH''""
sion Of l,r;ng ivuud Il, some ;iE.e o! other IN Inc ii!iI"'','
was the .nu!.vc which led every WISE iNoF'e' VIZ"
about 10 establish d government, L" impose '''Se - D"
tons UPON the power OF the majority: winch arc 'l'
pcnsa.ic 10 Tie very existence OF liberty; anu "ilicii a'e
10 be- found IN The constitution oi all Tree ccuhlNs'-
They we're Tot guilty Of the folly OF conlcndlng: t't'
l.cl are ca pabir OF sell. government, "iI!ioul es1o'''$'
ius same certain and wc!l-dt .;aHd lli"i's 10 tie P'"t':
not only ui The Ggeist5 selected 10 carry on l!e H"Hein
l!ent, but ii !he majority upon when Tue rig ~ u ''u
Try li,s uarG.s m;ist III ctssariiy devuiVe. l'cse Ioi
siutrniiGns brought our fathers lrrtslSliDiY 10 Inc uiiuuIut-
ing conclusion, that liberty will not Only MOI De d "SetS[
sary result Of Tie establishment CT any particular iof"' VI
government in 4 country, but that II CANNOT loSsio!J "e
preserved. under any form Of government ";ia'soef'i'
unless great restrictions are lmpuscd upon lnosc "toL'o
10 administer il, and on those vino are 10 c!oose Inc
prisons who are 10 administer it--and uiiiesS I'"sr
restrictions are faithfully ard strictly Observed ny ali,
These restrictions could only be imposed 10y TIC consent
o! The peppic-of lI!oae who were the parties to ihr social
Compact. III" best incde U! preserving The evidence ot
tba: consent, wus to set io!tll these restrictions IN written
instrument, ~ be adopted in The NEST solemn form ana
preserved with the uisnnst care. To these written IN
slruments. The nam. of Constitution has been given.
The provisions contained in such an Instrument: are
designvd Us 4 law TO the agents OF the people, II" !'e
Iiurri!y d! the rcop!", and to The whole psorir' "El1h
neither The agent, ncr The majority, nGr The Whole pro
pie, are at llarIly TO GlsrC gard, 50 long as lhey penny
lie Constitution to re'"lin unchanged. These oar; A.
aiiTinrdj wee lie considerations and motives Wi;ch
led - Tie adoption Of the Constitution ul Virginia: ID
The year 1875. Ihat instrument was to be regard
Cd as the act Of q great, IA wise. and Il inagnaniIlious
people, sensible Of their Dependence on their CrcIior,
md setting up no arrogant preiensi"nS to Iiiai!oii''y'
by which they consented to impose saiuiary RESTRICTIONS
OF! tie pnwer ii Il majority OF themselves, and mat Oh
lnr:r uyrul2, Tor The benefit oil individuals ard OF i'!i!o-
rites. In tins Constitution. and IN The Bal Oh i,isii'S,
which was Justly regarded as a part ot Tie C":is'itE'i'h'
was set iu:!i those great fundamental principles "f our
Government. which lrIthcr this General Assembly: nor
he majority of the people by whoa they were c't"S.h'
caa dis peiIsr with, or disregard, whilst Tie Constituted
remains unchanged, without being guilty "l an ACT "'
hiLh moral !uTritudr, any more Than The Denly con 90
an act inconsistent with TIE PERFECTION nt lis OWE nal':it'
WHEN il afterwards became necessary 10 create an"'
illrr Government, The operations ol which were Ia III
Fl! b. tic people Ut 4 whole continent, divided mi" .
number o! savcrrian and independent States, having o.:
irrent Hnd sometimes conflicting Interests, and 'Hinr 81
them owning Il peculiar species oi property. Which 1t Was
lu.rsecn, might become insecure from a SpHii ii i nail
cis!n p%eivaL!ag IN the other States, it WAS perceived !"
De- OF the n:!n,,st Importance 10 fix such liatiiS 20 the
powers Of the Government Lu be cstabi!s!iCd. AS would
a:T,rd Il cI,ii;lrIe protection to The iI.!iI3 Of l:li!ivi-
duais, Of miuu:ii;cs, and OF the several States, against
IL" entertainments OF lhc new Government and q!
those who might control lis operations. Such Vas the
extreme j"a!auSy which prevailed amonG "ur anc"s'
t2rs-si!ch was their desire - furnish liz m"sl ample
protection for tie rights OF Individuals and vi the scrr-
raj States, that they were not content 10 make a genera!
grant Of ,rIwvIs Ia the Federal Government, subject 20
C rtuin rrstri lions. as had iIerI done in The formation ct
40, Sirir l.nuprnulpnIS. nui ihpr GRANTED 20 IL D:ly GER
tain eHumr rated powers. expressly rrsr!Ying al powers
not granted. 10 the several States. and 10 the people there
o.. u hen it had been agreed what powers The Fedora!
Government was 10 be Invested with. there remained I
ve7y difficult tut exceedingly desirable object 10 hr al
iained; and that was, 20 find 4 sufficient security FIR a
strict adherence ~ lie PROVISIONS "t lie Constitution ny
the parties ~ HE compact. and against every cucrn.ci!-
mcnt Upon The rights Of the several States: aud al the
citizens OF each Of these States. What. then. was The
security asked: What was the security given are
cutstiIns worthy of our Gravest consIdrraI!"n. Our
ancestors wrre - wise, loo sensible Of I.cr own lmr"r-
i"ctl"us, t. we'll acquainted with human nature. and "!ih
tie disposition ut The most yiriuDu5 communities, wIcn
aclin4 undcr Tie influence Of Ihrir p%r"jnd!crs, their pas.
slons. or 81 interest, 10 disregard the mos: solemn engage
I:!"::ts, anG II tramp!e Oh the rights of utlcIs-l" place
their wIoi: reliance, for tie observance 81 ,i:c provisions
Vi Tie Constitution, upon HE mere inclination "i lie P"u-
pic ii the Sc ycrai STATES. 10 act in good faith towards each
uih,r. However Curi!drul they might have been Of the
intention OF cacil other. ID the time "t entering into the
compact, 10 uGIis re 10 It's provisions: however satisfied
l!tF IllEHl J" ln.l Inc I'bIis Huh!L 'i.'''IUt IL " ~
tnaird ~ such good intentions. and lhal they would: i'll
ali cases. ultimately DO right; they had too much good
Sense not IN perceive: AID too much honesty not To ac-
knowledge, that these g"nd intentions would be con-
slanlIy liable To be- warped by The influence OF passion,
or OF prejudice, or the pro;lptings oil interest. They,
therefore. mutually asked and consented 10 give audi
tinnal security against any encronchi1cnt up"n tire
Fights Of each either; and lJr a strict and rnatIa! cnmpi!-
ance. with thu provisions of the Federal Cnrstitu'i,n--
Ore 81 these SECURITIES IS to be found in that pr0visinu
Ut lie Constitution ni tir United States, which fixes The
period fr WHICH Senators Of the United States shall bc
r, r.cd, and p!"sc1i5cS ;hr qualifications they shall pas
ss$s-TiIrn, :Nr. Vi. read the first and second para
graphs OF The third section OF The Constitution OF the L.
States.
NJ ,nan capable Of Turning an opinion on such sub.
j.cts. can doubt but that one, II nat The principal, object
OF elrciiIg tie Senators Tor so long Il period, vas 10
place llI-:n ia some ot zee beyond The influence Of those
;".pu!a: tAcltcinrnts, pre- udires, and decisions: Ia which
All nations aud all people are more or Kiss suiJrct: and
WHICH: would bc sure 10 prevent those who were subject
To- liIciI operation, from paying that sacred regard 10 the
principles and Provisions nt tie Constitution, which Il X
essential Ia lis preservation, and to the continuance Of the
Government itself, should BIZ paid by those who are 10 dis
c!.ara" the important: duties Of a Senator OF The l.. S. II
any d"uD. cal! rziSi upnn 81: subject, in The Eiimd Of any
lnrIrbrI Of lilis Assembly, 1t must be At c,cr removed. b.;
adyrri'mr "a the argU:ncnls advance i'll favor of adapting
the Federal Constitution, Ivy lis GGrSt advocates. CIr
ii. then read ir"in the fcdrraiist the following cxt.act)
:. 10 a people as little blinded by p!rjud3c: or corrupted
by lL;tc:y. az these u iom address, s!ail not s::I.
Pie to add, that such in institution (tIc Sruatr) may
lie sometimes necessary, as L defence 10 tie pru.
pie against lhtic own Temporary rrrors and decisions
. AS the COL and Deliberate sense o. tn" community
8 ought, in all Governments. aud act;aliy viii, il all!
: ire Governments, ultimately prevail over The views
Of is !w!rTS: So ,j:vIc ere particular moments in pub
lie affairs, when the people, stimulated b. some IRE.
{ guiar paSslnn, or snrar Illicit advantage, or m!slcd by
{ lie ariiul ia!a!r pres. nliiions Of interested mcu, uay
call for measures wElci! they themselves will afterwards
be tic innst ready 10 lament and Condemn. In these
{ c1iiica! moments: now salutary will be the interference
Of some temperate aul respectable body Of citizens, in
order 10 CHECK Ike misguided career, and 10 suspend
: tie tiHw mr d!a.cd b. The people against themselves,
: uniiI reason. justice. and truth, can regain their aulho.
srity over the public mind. What bitter anguish would
. No; the people Of Athens have often ayoiItd, if their
I Cove InIMcnt had contained 81 ~providcnl i safeguard
: against Tie tyranny Of tiieir own passions: Popular
8 liberty might thea have escaped The iEdel!bie rcproach