Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-04-07

speaks. Is il the community which erists and
precedts the formation Of the social compact. or
is i, The community constituting that compact
that is formed oul Of The original elements, and
which excludes from participation in The admins
raiiun OF lis affairs certain fragments OF sociey2
We must go further in procuring the true inter-
probation of what is meant by this word coulnlu-
nty in tie Bill OF Rights. Is il alone eomnn-
n.ty OF men or, is il a community 81 m>r and m
tc,ek C0m5incG2 To solve the enquiry and ex-
tract the truth we niust here, as in all other in
s.ramenis, look no, 10 a single sentence or article,
but should examine the entire paper, zach and
every distinct article, interpreting them all loge-
Their, so as TO find the meaning OF any particular
part, and the intention CT The author is 10 Tie
whole.
The argument on the other side is, that The 81
article ofthe Bill of Rights "a majority OF the
community" is 10 BE- taken 70 mean nothing more
nor less than majority Of the Tree white popula-
ton This, Mr. S. said, he denied; and when IFS
advocates came 10 follow he principle out 10 lis
full and Legitimate extent, they would find that they
Too would deny il; and would start back from the
consequences 10 which il must inevitable carry
them. Ii the community referred 10 in The 81 aTti-
Gle be the free white population, or 10 qualify IT, II
il be the zee while male population, 10 whom The
power is reserved al will ard pleasure, 10 reform,
follows that the majority who is 10 exercise this
great political preicgaliye is not formed out oflhe
qualified volers or electors who, so long as the
government exist, as il is framed govern and con-
troll it, but is 10 be sought in The majority OF The
population, Of the free white males il you please,
oievery character and description This mus, ne
cessariy be SO the moment you indulge the alb
straciion, Ina, the community, politically speaking
is The entire tree white population. Each and
every individual OF such community is equal
each counts according 10 the Argument, in max
ing up The required malOrity-an1 when thus
formed according 10 the theory OF its advocates
armed with the high and tremendous power OF re-
forming, altering or abolishng The political edi-
flee who is there with authority 10 draw this line
that shall exclude any individual from mastering
as one of the mighty hos, ? The majority which
pulls down is a different majority from that which
upholds The government. For il il be majority
Of the free white population, 10 whom is reserved
the "iniubitab!e, unalienable and indeieasi-
bic right" 10 upturn the existing order OF
things, each and every man, Whatever MAJ
be his political rights under the govern
menl which is 10 come down, stands, in The WORK
Of destruction, en- the same platform OF equality
with the same and equa! privilege with all Others
10 participate in The revolution that IS common
ced. Sir, is this House prcpare.-each ana eve
~ member OF which not onic acts under delcga-
ted authority but who has sworn thai ne will sup
porl, during his continuance here, the cons!ilu-
tuition and government sthey now exist-are We
prepared 10 adopt and promulgate opinions and
PRINCIPLES so disorganizng in their tendency =
honestly and conscicnlously entertained, no doubt,
by those who have The frmness and the f-ankness
u avow hem for, sir, il will not DO tor gentlemen
10 cay they advocate no such doctrine, and would
:. inc NJ
Ne: he principle for which they contend leads in
evita5ly 10 such result.
The gentleman from Wylhe, IN further sup
port o. hi, proposition referred 10 The lfst article
Of ;hc Bill OF Rights--in which he told us he de-
caralion was 10 be found, shat all mcr. By ma
hrc. are equally free and Independent" And
docs MIR. S. asked the gentleman intend 10 assert
that The natural equality OF freedom ana indepen-
dence was carried bY meE into the social CON-
par,} Concede the principle, as an abstract
truth, that men are, By nature, equally free and
independent, docs il follow that, nnaer govern
menl, they are 10 ENJOY cGH0i Pol'titA risdi5?-
Governments are cOrren,ional--iTe The creatures
of compact among men; natural rights are the
rift Of God; social OF governmental rights are
such as he organic law rte>cribes Under The
latter natural rights are. To a certain extent sni
rendered fer he security aud protection Of others
# all men BE- equally free, with equal rights;
these rights oush; 10 attach 10 lh"m, with on
without Recommendations is il that, in all
governments, republican or Otherwise, some
are excluded from al! participation in hc
administration Of the governmental IT, By
nature, they be equally free and independ.
enl--and il, by nature, this equality Is 10 attach
in all conditions If society, is il that in
the acl OF constructing society, AMI ater its ior-
nation you propose 10 exclude from all concern
in your work minors, and females, and paupeIs,
and large class Of other male adults? WHY'S
the arbitrary age o! lwenly-one with us, hYed
upon 10 qualify man 10 BE- emancpalcd from
infancy, before he can acquire the full possession
of all the prerosaliyes OF citizenship Why,
and by what Authority, do You exclude females
from the exercise and enjoyment Of political
righlsi They are horn as free, and with HE like
natural rights and capacities as men. Tha. lhcy
are capable OF participating in political affairs,
and, what is more oi wisely conlru!lin. The des-
lny of efea, nations, We need bnl look, among
other examples, 10 Elizabeth Of England, and the
second Catherine oi Russia the first n; the head
Of her "iast anchored Isle" maxim. her throne
the pride Of her people, and a terror 10 her enc
mics !epnIsing in disnav and total overthrow
the proud Armada Of Spain, and creating, Ivy her
genius and talent, an era in her Kingdom, which.
has been the impetus 10 The astonishing power
and growth OF that mighty Nation. The second
giving tone and character, power and Influence,
10 he great Northern hive, among The European
nations. and now among the most colossal powers
on The earth. Do gentlemen lind The 5,gH TO ex
GLIDE The female from the exercise OF all pnlilica
privilege, in The code Of Natures laws? Do
ihcv see the authority there 10 lax her property
without representation Is il in that code thai
the principle is found, which Tells the individual
OF twenty years ct age, HAT he Shall possess no
political privilege? that forbds the man whose
misfortune il is 10 be poor, and who can pay no
thing into your public Golfers, 10 stand aside and
nieddle not in your political afiairs!-which goe,
still farther, and deems him unfit TO enter your
jury box, or be capable Of performing an ordinary
county police duty7 10, Sir Nature, nor Ma
lures laws have nothing 10 Go with these icsula-
liuns II The attempt be made 10 trace 'helf
foundation there, instead Of finding the authority
for il, il would be found that Nature and her laws
would not only reputia'c such code, but would
declare il arbitrary and unjust.
If, however Tie gentleman wonld examine
this entire first article of the Bill Of Rights, ne
would, Mr. 6. thought, be able 10 sec It's true
Interpretation, and is entire consistency with The
basis and form of government which IT'S trainers
were about constructing; that Is regards Tie 20
cia compact, as con;rasIcd with man in state
of nature, il announces The most wholesome pc
litical truths, upon which, il part, any organised
society can alone in safely resi-; whilst ]. asserts
the natural equality and independence Of all
men, having certain inherent ri ghis Of which
in entering into a state Of society, they can
not be deprived, il asserts another fundamcn-
tai principle, Of inherent right, OF which they
cannot be deprived, 10 vii, The means OF ac.
quiring and possessing property Mr.. s. said
he would, before he sat down, show, no'
only that he aud these who thought with
him were acting, in the hill hey sustained,
in entire consistency with this and lie other arti-
c!es OF the Bill Of Rights, bur be wenlj, he hoped,
succeed 10 satisfying III" uupieudiced tia, those
who sustained the substitute and who relied for
success upon thai instrument, and expressed for
it such vchemen, reverence. were, III fact, war
ring against its PLANES: principles.
Natural rights, then, are one hing, equal with
all; embracing The human family Of all ages,
sexes and denominations. Social rights are an
ahcr thing, dcpendan. upon the compact which
the member, OF society prescribe. Natural
rights are antagonist 10 social rights. AS the
first, man has no Law but his conscience; no Sc
curly hnt The will or the weakness Of others
And a. he soon finds that tie claims Of Natures
nj i. ssa~N