The Arkansas banner., 1843-12-16

will not weary you by laying before you the record of the transaction to which have adverted. Enough has been said to show that Virginia, on that occasion, standing in her own strength, performed for heaself the highest and most unequivocal act of absolute and independent sovereignty. She then af- firmed in herself the right of fself-govenment; she then took upon herself the taSk of self government. In that day she commenced the work of framing for herself a constitu- ton, under which all the powers of govern ment were to be exercised by the ministers of her sole and sovereign will. In that day, she severed her people from all connection with any other power, from all subjection or responsibility to any authority on earth but her own. Her right to do this was in- deed contested by the only country having an interest in dsputing it; but the contest was finally relinquished. By the treaty of peace the sovereignty thus claimed was dis tinctly recognized by England, and, through her, by all the world. Thus, by the com mon consent of all mankind was Virginia es- tabllshed i'll the character of a free, sovereign and independent State-in the indefinite rig ht to govern her people, to control and direct their conduct in all things, to hold them re- sponsible for all their acts, and irresponsible to all the world besides.
 In the contemplation of this remarkable event, questions present themselves to the mind, which will deserve our most serious thoughts. Virginia then affirmed her sove- reignty, and 1t has since been recognized by all the world. But what is that which was thus affirmed and thus recognized What is sove- reignty and what is the seat of that sove- seignty among us9
 shall not trouble you, gentlemen, with a formal definition of the word. am afraid could offer none which should assign 1t a papable and efficient meaning at which some who affect to sickle for the sovereignty of Virginia would not impatiently cavil. Yet even at the hands of such will accept what shall serve me as a definition.
 Define 1t as we may, none will deny, that where all power rightlully is, there must De sovereignty. And where is that? Igye the answer from an authority that none can ques- ton. ] give 1t ill the language of that bill of rights which was intended to guard from mis- construction and abuse the powers which Virginia was about to confer on her own public functionaries. Its promulgation was immediately consequent on the declaration of her independence, and immediately prece- ded the adoption of the Constitution. The three may be considered as simultaneous, and each may be taken as illustrating and explain ing the other two. In that instrument 1t is declared, 'sthat all power is vested in, and consequently derived from the people; that magistrates are their trustees and servants, and at all times amenable to them.o Whose words are these answer that the bill of rights, in which they are found, was adopted nemime contradicente in the same Conven- ton which ordained and established the Con stitution. They are then the unanimous voice of the people of Virginia, proclaimed by the lips of those, who, clothed with all the authority then recognized within her borders, thus declared that they held 1t as trustees and servants of the people. They are the con- current declaration of all concerned, both rulers and people, that to the latter all power rightlully belongs, and that the former are but their servants.
 Of what people were these words spoken Of the people of the ancient colony of Vir- gnia, then in the act of establishing itself a free, sovereign and independent State. There was none other of whom they could be spo- ken. To that hour the yoke of colonial vas- salage still rested on the necks of all the other North American colonies. As yet there was no political union between Virginia and the rest, nor was there any thing to draw or compel them to each other, but a common danger, and common enemy They were indeed invited and expected to follow tbe lead of Virginia. So too was Ga nada, and there was not one of them, which, like Canada, might not have identified her self with the common enemy, by shrinking from that decisive step of which Virginia had just set the example.
 What then do we learn by these words ? Do they not teach us that governments are but creatures, and the people the creator } that they, whom we familiarly call rulers, are but servants, and that the people are their master? that sovereignty cannot be rightfully predicated of government, the crea- ture, or of magistrates the servants, but that it inheres, and must forever rightully inhere in the people, the creator and master.
 If this admits of any doubt, that doubt must vanish when we read in the same in- strument the farther declaration, that when ever any government shall be found inade- quate or contrary to the happiness and safety of the people, majority of the community hath an indubitable, unalienable and indefea- sible right to reform, alter, or abolish 1t, in such manner as shall be judged most condu- cive to the common veal"
 Gentlemen.-in other countries men may speculate on the theory off the social compact Here is the thing itself, in written and palpa- ble form. In these words Mus promulgated, we find an authority for affirming their truth As far as we are concerned they are true, be- cause thus declared to be so. Elsewhere, the authority of ofgovemment may not be the result of Universal consent, and men may elsewhere be governed by laws enacted by those whose behests they have never agreed to obey. Not so here. Here is the unanimous consent of all to live in obedience and lealty to Virginia, under any form of government that major- ifu of ber neOnle may Drescribe to the rest.