Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1844-04-12

does il not equally belong to the people of any
particular county Suppose majority of the
people residing N the western part of Ohio and
the eastern part Of Indiana. occupying contgu-
territory. should meet together IN popular as
acnblics and establish u new government. en-
bracina parts Of Ohio and Indiana. Would my
colleague suppose that they were merely eNcrcIs-
inc a right which the God of nature " gave
them Can governments be thus made and I'M
made BIZ maiortics within any gwen limits =
Have majority of the people of the United
States a ..natural right " 10 determine by reso-
lutons at public meetings. that the State govern
ments shall all be abolished. and one consoda-
ted government framed IN their stead The &C.
ORA hical lines which divide States and coun-
ties can not be intcrposed 10 prevent the people
from the exercise of those . natural rights :
which tho God Of nature has given them
Suppose the people within these ten miles square.
which compose the District of Columbia. should
meet together and resolve that thcv would no lon
ger be governed By Congress bat that, III the
exercise Of their natural rights they would
BE- but carving out the Dorrisn of Rhode Island
They arc now deprived of that right which my
colleague calls a natural right" They have
no voice in the selection of those who govern
them. We may exercise our powers OF lcglsa
ton over them in the most oppressive manner.
and vet We are not responsible to them. But
corclinn to these new notions of :. Democracy"
thev have easy remedy. A majority OF them
have only to agree to q new iofl of governments
and the constitutional power OF congress 10 con-
troll them Is at an end.
The people of the District of Columbia GER
tainlv enjoy the same natural rights as the people
of Rhode Island. Those natural rights :
which belong to Us indlvldu and which 1t IS
the duty of every government 10 protect. can be
confined to no territorial limits. can bo cir
c,lnscrlbed by no geographical boundaries
If q majority of the people OF any State
may change the government III the manner
attempted by the Dorrtos. majority of the
people of the District of Columbia maycertain
IL do the same thing. If il Is n = natural
right = belonging to the people of State. II be-
longs equally to the people of a county, OF a
township, of village.
The artificial lines which separate States and
counties can not interfere With the OF
exercise by the people. Establish the principles
of Dorr and his infatuated followers as correct,
and the ligamcnts which bind US together become
as feeble as ropes of sand. Every State III the
Union may be sublividcd into hundred inde-
pendent governments. The changes of govern
mant will be as frequent those of the moon
1t is III short but substitution of anarchy for 60
vernmcnt-of lawlcss violence and faction. for
law and order.
Who are the people Have few factious
and discontinued dcma gogues right to meet to-
gether and resolve that they the people. and
that the rest of the community shall yield obe-
dience to their commands Have they right
to determine (as was done by the Dorrltcs of
Rhode Island) not only tho form of govern
man which shall be adopted. bat also the question
whether they constitute majority OF the people !
Have majority a natural right to gov
crn the minority of tho people without their con
sent There Is no dcspotsm CALLING and OPP
pressive SO utterly destructive of all rights both
natural and political, as the lawless dcspotlsm OF
faction.
Mr.. Madison. who | believe has always been
admitted to be genuine Democrat. entertained
the opinion that even majority of the people
might constitute a faction. In the 10Th No. of
tho Fcdcralst he says
By a f1ction l understand number of citizens
whether amounting to majority or minority OF the whole
Who are united and actuated by impulse
passion or interest," the rights of other c
permanent aud aggregate interest OF the com
munity''
! ask you, Mr. Speaker. if principles so Wild
so Jacobinica. utterly destructive OF all gov
ernnlent as those which advocated by the
Rhode Island Insurrcctlonlsts, are encouraged
where viii YOU find limits for their operations =
The history of the French revolution furnishes
us instructive example OF their fruits Whef
practically acted upon. The same principles
were advocated by Robesperre. and Danton and
by Narat. while their savage butcherIes were
deluging the country in blood. They claimed tc
be the guardians of the peoples rights. and to ac
BY tho authority of the people, while the people
were themselves. by thousands. falling victims tC
their ferocity. The expressions Of public assem-
blies of lawlcss dosperadoes. were declared to be
the voice of the people. Every rufiian who hae
courage to porpetrate an outrage, TO crafty 9th
er a spirit OF vengeance, or an appetite to plum
der committed his atrocities IN the name OF thf
neoplc. The sewers Of the city Of Paris and al
her dens of infamy and pollution poured on
their crowds. who went in masses TO the Legsla
tive assembly. and in the name Of the people
demanded the enactment Of such laws as they dc
sired The reign OF terror" continued unit
the land rocked with carnage and slaughter an.
the people hailed with iov the iron ruIo Of mil
: itary despotsrl. under which they found a rcfug
from the enormitcs which had been practiced Il
their own name.
Sir. deny emphaticaly that any portion OF IN
people have .. natural right to govern an
other portion against their consent eofs'i1u.on
~ md IerraI governments can only derive . thei
inc. r.,yrer- fran, the consent Of the governed. .
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