The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1838-09-28

iaIniy enough 10 make IT an teresting spec
uiaiion, 70 enquire, chow 1t got there. =
la IFS original form there certainly was no.
thing Of II. OF all the wars that have
stained that land with blood, not one was
fought on behalf of Liberty. They we're all
the strIies of Ambition conlending with AN.
biuon. The triumphs Of Freedom have all
been pacific. Her charters have never been
sealed with blood. Her Title deeds are all
IN the language Of concession free and IN.
constrained. What was there in the at.
mosphere Of that Island, that power should
there assume character SO placable, so
easy TO be enireaied, SO gentle and com.
plying Such was not the temper Of her
stern Edwards and fercer Ilenrys. Their
concessions were indeed enforced, but they
we're not unpurchased. La every instance
they may be traced 10 the want o. money,
and appear to have been rendered necrssa
~ BY The acknowledged right Of the people
to withhold supplies. The existence Of this
ono right, 10 the absence Of every other, is
a curious, but unquestloned fact. II is the
more interesting, because, on inquiry, we
trace lis origin to that very fiction Of law,
which made the hing the sole absolute pro.
prietor Of all The Lands OF the k,ngdom.-
Tins, then, became the fund from which the
stipend Of toe ieudal soldier was paid; the
price at once, and the CONDITION OF his
suryice. 10 this way the clam OF the sub.
Iect 10 the unre,tralned enjoyment Of his
land, became entslned with the very idea
Of his allegiance; and as the hes; trained
merclnurles will mullny for want or pay, 50
be sternest teudal chlelialn dared no, dis
puie The title Of his leuda,ovy 10 his land, or
disturb ban 10 the enjoyment of lis fruits.
Those, IN TINT early day, consulted the
whole wealth OF the realm; and thus II was
that property, Which elsewhere has El
len an unresIs'ing prey 10 power, was
rendered sacred by The very maNtns on
which power itself was based. The cere.
noniai which acknowledged the authority
81 the chief, ratified the title OF his ieudato.
~. kncelng at the feet Of his Lord, no
was spfInhed with tho very amounting
which consvcra,ed his superior.
l. n not cdIlying, sir, 70 observe in this,
how variant are theory and practice, and
how causes, deep seated in the nature Of
'htaEs, ~'lI work their appropriate results
IN spite Of human constitutions, however
stern aud unbenJing This single night,
apparently SO helpless, So inviting to rapa.
CITY, and 50 ctterly at its mercy, acquired
a sanclhy by time which 1t impaired to all
property and, when commerce and manu-
lectures brought increase oil wealth, wealth
paid the ransom Of al other rights, and
purchased complete eutranchsement from
all laNless power. Reverse the case, SIR,
and the history Of the bloody but rnpnlen,
struggles for freedom, IN all other countries
gives the result,
There is 30 principle Of the Constitution
Of England, which has been more studied
by American Statesmen than that Of Which
have spoken. None has been bettor uu.
dcrs,ood. To none were we more indebted
for the just apprehension Of our colonial
rights, and for the sympathy Of the abest
Of the English Wings. 1t was on these
principles that the Fathers of our Liberties,
aud founders Of our institutions took their
stand against arbitrary power. They found
them registered IN ancient records, and pre-.
served 10 modern forms. They saw that
ehie the statutes OF the British Parliament
purport to be enacted by the King Lords
aud Commons Of the Realm, the tax bills,
as they are called, declare that the LORDS
and Commons do gre and grant TO the hlng
a cer;aiR revenue. They at once inferred
from this, that, It the klng had no right to
take what did no, belong TO him, the Par.
lament had no more right to give what did
no, belong to them. IN hoe signo ricere.
This principle was their sword aud their
shield, and their strong tower.
Lord Chatham once said that the rude
language Of Magma Charta "Nuiius itber
homo" was worth oil the classics. wish
II may not prove, sir, that this simple
phrase, "do give and grant," ls Of more
value te liberty than all the INTRICATE ma.
chlnery and elaborate provisions of our
Conslltlons.
But can we believe, that the wise and
practical men who laid the foundation OF
our government, meant la lose slght OF
principle winch they had just asserted so
streuuously and successfully They Ger.
taInly did not. A remarkable proof of the
Importance which they attached to it is
found 10 the Virginia act of l779, abolish,
ing ieudal teHures. BY that act oil quit
rents accru,Hg upon grants Of the Crswn or
State were freely reInqur>hed, and that eS'
pressly on the ground, as reclted IN tn" &C.
itself, "ot the danger to free Government,
from fixed revenue" The tax laws of
the same State, never permanent, but re-