The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1847-05-15
MIR. Calhoun.

| A letter from Mr.. Calhoun to Mr.. Robert L
Dorr, of New York, has been going the rounds o
the papers. Its certainly curiosity, and deserves
an extended circulation. Mr.. Calhoun says he il
"in favor OF the government of the WHOLE" ane
"not the mere government Of the majority Of th'
whole" This is certainly one of Mr., Calhoun ab
stractios, aud exists where except in his brain
How is it possible ia have government oi the
whole" where men are left free to express their
sentiments and opinions upon all subjects' Do we
not, and will we not always have various opinions
upon different subjects' "Suppose. says the Ohio
Press, "that in community of thirty men, sixteen
should wish to abolish certain law which they
thought was injurious to the whole thirty; and
suppose that fourteen, believing the law to be q
good one, were to oppose the change One Of the
two must prevail. Mr.. Calhoun cries out against
any change, because the measure ia not favored by
all. The practical effect of his theory would be
that the fourteen in this case would control the
sixteen" Would that be government Of the
whole" in conformity to Mr.. Cshoun's notions!
"Unless some way can be discovered" further re-
marks the Press, "by which all men can be made
to harmonize in their opinions, the supreme power
must be entrusted to part Of the people, either
the greater part or the less. We prefer the ma.
jority, the greater part. The abstract notion Of
government by the whele people is an impractica.
bty. II we cannot trust 10 the intelligence and
sense of justice of the popular majority how much
less we expect these qualities in the minority.
One of the two must rule"
We wish the admirers of Mr. Calhoun to care.
fully read This letter and see what they can make
oft:
Fort Hill, 2lst March, 1847.
Dear Sir: see by your letter, tina,
you have formed your opinion on a
very imperfect report Of what | said;
and in order that you may see what |
did say, enclose the within, which con.
,ains a corrected copy of my reply to
Mr.. Turney, and my speech on my
resolutions. You will see that if am
opposed to government based on the
princip of mere numerical majority
having right to govern, am equally
opposed to the government of Il MINOR
ity. They are both the government
OF part over q part. am in lavor
of the government of the whole, the
only really and truly popular republi-
can governmental government based
on the current majority II the joint as
sent OF all the parties through their re-
spective majorties, and not the mere
government Of the majority of the
whole.
Such is the constitution and govern
ment of the United States, and such are
all really and truly constitutional gov
,hegovernment OF mere mn
jority o. minority is not popular enough
for me they are both in their nature des.
potic and not constitutional govern.
men,s. | do not object to extended
suffrage. have never advocated il.
By Dorrism, mean the right claimed
for the numerical majority, that it has
the inherent and absolute righ, to gov
ern, a sort Of right divine, like that
claimed by Sir Robert Filmer for Kings.
Such right has no foundation, and is
with the very idea of a
government.
With respect, am, &c.,
j. G. CALHOUN.
Robert T.. T)orr. Esq.