Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1847-04-21

/ movers, and the means resoried 10, TO sat.i
tainthat end. When such a constitution,
was reluctantly wrung from the opposing
party 10 Rhode Island. in obedience 10 the
popular will, the question as to which
party was right, is seems to me, is neces!
sarily foreclosed. gii' ,i'sii.;'2i,ili' slfts'
cannot see. with the limited informa.
ton possess, into :he correctness foftany
other theory ofa republican government,
bul 10 the admitted right Of the majority 10
rule. Any other theory substitutes a sort
of Divine right il less number, TO rule The
residue, proposition 10 which free peo-
pie will never assent. you attempt TO
transfer sovereignty, BY drawing line Of
distinction between our fellow men, pray
tell how, and where, you would draw i'll
Would you undertake 10 say that the rich,
the bankers, the monopolists alone. shall
exercise the sovereign power, exclude the
poor, because they are poor? Would you
transfer. the sovereign power into the
hands Of professional men, and exclude
tho farmer and mechanic, because they are
farmers and mechanics Would you
transierrhe sovereign power into The hands
of good men alone, and exclude the bad !?
lf so, who would you select as the umpire
in such case, but Omnipolence itself?
1t seems to me that the very moment we
depart from the conceded right Of The
numerical majority to govern, under re-
publican system, that very moment We
debate from the system itself: lam now
speaking with reference 10 the right of our
own free white citizens, and mol to slaves,
and 10 such l suppose you referred. in your
depart with Simons Of Rhode Island.
think that if an attempt was made in
The State Of New York, or any other State
at the present time, to deprive the numer
ical majority Of line right TO govern, there
would be such an uprising Of the people,
in the shape Of Dorrism as you call it, that
it would long be remembered by the peo-
pie of the United States; and that the
movers aud abet,ors in such a reasonable
! plo, would be consigned to an oblivion
darker than that which shrouds the name
Of Arnold! AGd in such result, unless !
much mistake the dscerument Of the
people, nine-leO,hs would most heartily
concur. The notion is intoleiable, out
rageous, aud canno, be sustained mo-
ment without changing fundamentally, The
structure of the government. Who is
prepared for, and who desires this change!
am aware that there are eminent men
10 the country who are doubtless houest in
their opinions, and who steadfas,ly adhere
10 the old state of things, cling with re-
markabIy tenacity 10 the errors Of the pas,
10 the laws, usages, and customs of an:
tiqujty, however oppressive and inconve-
nienl they may be; and they look upon
human progress, and the gradual changes
which that progress demands. as unwise,
fimprudenl, aud revolutionary. There are,
however, a vast majority OF the people
who honestly differ with them in opinion
on this subject. y : s.ii {s'g'.e;:a e''i q
,lf scientific researches are authority on
this poilt, they certainly prove that since
ahe creation, man has intellectually been
a progressive animal, and that even; the
.laws ofna,ure have, changed to accommoi
date his progressive stale.S3lfa Omnlpo.
tence, then has stopped so far 10 aidin this
elevation Iii twould ildeed appear strange.
Eifsthe 4ipclinatiois Or Institutions Of man
:sflouIds possess the capacity 10 1hwart ~;
Whatever our noiions may be, Iinsist The
thing lis impossible. The interest we have
in this subject. is u; Jed an excuse for the
holiness expressed in this letter.. How:il
is, thatl the advocate ofsfree ttrade, of "a
strict construction of the constitution
hitherto, Of The sovereigntysof the people,
and the great adversary Of consolidated.
political and monied powers, should adj
vance sentiments so auti-republican in
theory, is mystery, the solution Of which
shall look for with some considerable
degree of anxiety. have already spun
out this communication much longer than
intended when sat down, and nothing
but the extraordinary position you seem 10
occupy will justify its prolixity.
Very respectfully, &c.
ROBERT L. DORR.
Hon JOHN C, CALHOUN, Of the United
States Senate.
$500. s.,-