Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-07-02
yssLgHEE XxAyH.---No. 10.

VINO ale rot more inclined IN listen 10 the cOunses of the
wise and good, than to the hatery Of knayes" When
'hefe"rr the question arises bat does wisdom teach
nd what are the proper and sautary be i'm
Dns'e: am not ashamed Ia be bafled by difficulty
when Tor SIX thousand years has taxed The
Almighty fower and All seeing Wisdom. The discip
line OF liie-,he hopes Of HEAVIER The ferrors OF
all have been employed 10 This end and its accomplish
ment is yet remote.
'Hsis freeman whom the truth makes ffec;n
and the truth, that thus emancipa,es him, that which
teaches that there is freedom tor him. in whom there
not an abiding disposition 10 bring appetite and pas
sion Under the dominion Of fixed laws whose authority
freedom must not dare 10 question. To him who is not
a"nteht 10 be free these TERMS chsins under dark.
ness is the appointed nl in this world as in the next
10 this the Word OF God and The experience of all man
KIND alike bear witness This is all that can be known
with Certainty This is the u nth from hich the gisest
OF ancient Sages learned that he knew nnrbing Be.
yond this all Is darkness On the unsearchaLe sery
which lies buried in the depths of that impe netrsbs
abyss OF night but m and marvel al the pre-
sumption winch PretendS TO have fllhOned it, But
While the pride OF human wisdom stands thus rebuked
we lind consolation in Tie thought, that the truth whch
thus battles our researches is of the number Of he hid
den things that belong TO God" To him we lpayeit
But II is not alone Of the great fundamental princines
COMMON TO al free institutions, that have ventured TO
speak with confidence In the application of these
principles to our 0cn institutions have the aid Of
lights sufficiently clear 10 guide 10 certain corcu.
sons
Thus when We affirm, that has right to live
exemp, from all humnn authority, 10 which he has not
consented to submit either by express compact, by
legitimate and lair implication perceive the neccs.
sy {" showing the evidences Of that consent in virtue
OF which we ourselves are governed Here we speak
from The record, and We speak boldly We find the
charter which, more than two hundred years ago. con-
siitnted Virginia body polite. We find the Unanimous
declaration Of all the members Of that body, soemnly
proclaimed sixtyh years ago, 6 that all power s
vested in, ard consequently derived from, the People
that magistrates are their trustees and serranS md al all
times "nenahe 10 them and that, when government
shall lie found inadequate 10 their happiness and SAFETY
| majority ot tile community hath an ndubllabIe una
ennbie aud indrttasite right 10 reform alter abolish
| IT, in such manner shall be Judged most conducive 10
! the common veal.
These propositions, thus affirmed by all whom il con-
ccrned true, because they have affirmed them If Tor
no other reason They form the basis Of the CONTACT
winch they prrparrh and aiud cirw its in,prprea-
Ion Guided by this, We arrive al The conclusion that
'overe'gny whether sleeping awake whether active
in rsposr is in ,he people: tina, sovereignty cannot
hertore be rshtiuiy p!edicutcd OF any Government;
ID that where there op.e, there sovereignty.
Pfoc' eding these principles 10 unayse The s,ruc.
tnre OF that great federal compact, which the ,as.
man "i security, power, prosperity, and happiness 10
the people OF Iltse States have shown you the re-
corded evidence oi lis bInGng authority over YOU 1
have lad before you the solemn of Virginia IL clar-
my "h,r assent and ratification OF that instrument and
her mandate announcing TO all whom it might concern
that II is binding upnn her people. have thus endra-
yorrd 10 impress on your minds lie conviction, that in
living your respect 10 the unconarcs and your 0be-
renee to The laws OF he Central Government thereby
tab! shed you d. but obey her that you do this be-
she has commanded it, and by no other auhoriiy;
! ID that, should size ever think proper revoke this
iandaie, her will. In that too, must be law To YOU.
ave not presented those propositions RS nndsputed
II lave affirmed. that. long > look The
rd which ai0nc EHneSStS oil the obligation OF the re-
raj CnnsIitu ou; so long abide by the la % and
testimony They be righ,iuIliy or truly de.
ed
! have urged these thoughts the more strenuously,
The clear and distinct recognition Of these
The preservation Of our chprlshTd IjnioD Sn
ny as the Federal Government is procsseGly a Go.
rnment OF opinion, opinion will uphold it, But, let
claim To rule by force, and the question will presen tly
Use, whether free people can be governed by force
he answer 10 that question will be written IN characters
blood and that answer whatever il my be. mast DO
tai 10 union. The decision, thus made must he fol.
wed by violent disruption of the bond and sepaIa.
ri The inhabitants Of this Continent INTO microcosm
petty States, weak factions and coutempttlp or by The
pervadng sway of one sas rghttu! consolidated tes.
/ ,,isnl.
or the truth then, or The value Of the fundamental
ncipes Common 10 all free governments, and Of those
hich peculiar 10 eur onn, would not have you
uh Bntior The means OF giving security aud efficacy
these must be content 10 leave you The leuchings
that schUul OF observation and ttberieRce, into which
! Will pass fran this There II u.s. gentlemen, that
are TO be conferred, which generous ambition
Ell may corrt Ot these, the parchment and The wax
Which you receive a our hands, but the types; and,
rust me- that y"Ur success winning these higher no.
depends much less on what you may have learned
Than your disposition tn improve the Lessons
> taught hereafter Fence, | have rather studied 10
',ablish this disposition in your minds Than 10 implant
here even those most cherished opinions, which can
yer he eradcaed from my own By different course
NIGH; but have led you 10 conclusions in which you
might satisfied, f1rgetlu Of The arguments by which
they had been deduced You would thus only add your
selves Tie NUMBER of those whose mouths full Of
d"rnias unsupported By reason, Who knowing nothing,
ciam know every thing and render their gnoranc.
more conspicuous disgusting and offensive by installed
presumption Where certanty is ntrainable may be
criminal doubt In matters Of hi eh moral or political
duty ii always so. But on questions in which
expediency is important condition. experience the
only teacher II have at any time orcstaled the les.
of that faithful and candid INSTRUCTOR have done
you wrong; and bcseec yOu in Justice TO yourselves
and 10 me, 10 endeavor 10 dIvest your minds Of oil i'm
prpssuns, which YOU do not feel yourselves prepared 10
vindcale by reason. should promise myself more
honor rom pupil who, dissenting from should be
always found ready In give for his faith than
from hundred who mi ght answer, by The book every
question in pnhtIcal calechism Of my framing,
giving aud authority but mine for his
swers. My business has 10 teach you TO observe
/ To compnIe-to think; and he who, applying my les
sons arrives at rcsnhs different from my own, will do
credit with the wise and candid even in exposing
my
| Bu, have proposed to myself higher honor When,
instead Of announcing opinion, and enforcing il by
Argument lay before you the considerations that be.
long TO both sides Of any dspned question, or furnish
your minds with thoughts and re Elections susceptible OF
being yariousy applied by yourselves in the nvPsga-
ton of more than truth, establish for myself
claim 10 some part Of tie credit Of al you may discover
or achieve. Not having been encouraged To SIT down
contened in conclusion hastily adopted, you ncst
remember The arguments Tor and agains, IT, or you re-
member nothing. Not having made up your minds how
N decide question you cannot cheat yourselves into
t. belief that you understand il So long as il remains
subject OF doubt with you, so long will you continue
10 mediate and reject and memory will lenaciousy
Irg n every consideration, which, when first present.
oil Seemed 10 throw light upon the subrct Your OPT
nnn. thus formed, y i'll be your own; yet, while you
inv The pleasure Of having arrived ruth by your own
sseurclIes you will perhaps be ready to attribute your
uscpss in part TO But though may deceive myself
N this, d! thing sure; that whenever 1perience
may any time, convince YOU of the Of opinions
hastily adopted, you will al least exempt me from
my part Of The blame Of that error.
You then gentlemen, how large interest have
: in dealing candldy, fairly and mpurHsly with you
! So lar from wishing TO charge your minds with my
opinons, il has not been without painful fosglVings
that have sometimes discharged the duty OF leading