Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1849-12-19

norltleS nave also the same right OF SELL
defence-lhe right to resist the majority
Don't forget tina. gentlemen. RecoIect
moreover, that revolution is game at which
mnorities can play as we'll as majorities !;
and that minoriiies sometimes conquer
Recollect, ':the battle is not always to the
strong"
The gentleman from Baltimore city (Mr.
Cox read this morning a passage from
"Wilson's Lectures on Government,'' to
show that the right of revolution was Gin
the citizens at large" Mr.. B. did not con-
trovert that. That is to say, when it does
exist, it exists Sin the citizens at larger
But if the gentleman had consulted his au-
,hority little more closely, he would have
found that this distinguished author affords
bal little aid, in support of many of the po-
s''ions he has assumed. In speaking of the
right 10 establish or form government,
Wilson says"a majority is sufficient 10 form
government. If there be nothing contrary
to the first act of assembly, then all are
bound by the majority. If the first act, or
lis intention, is infrimged, the minority are
not bound to submt''
Mr.. Cox.-Read on-read q little further
on.
Mr.. B-l know that further on, he says
that"the minority may GO off and leave the
majority" But say that ''not being bound
to SUBMIT" they may resist. Here, assert
for them, the right of self-delence-the righ,
Of revolution if you please. In such case
it may be resorted to. As soon as the ends
of government ale perverled-as soon as
the limits prescribed by the fundamental law
are overstepped, and there be no other
means of redress the revolutionary right be-
gins. And this right applies as we'll to mi
nofi.es as to maorities. Sir, whenever this
is the case in Maryland, ], for one, and |
believe the whole Wing party, will assist
in reforming the old and establishing new
constitution. But we can do it without re-
sorting 10 revolution. No such desperate
remedy is necessary. will not say, we
want no change, but will say, we want no
such change as revolution will bring U.s.
No, no, sir, we will not stir up to blood
shed, war, and ruin. We will not imbrue
our hands in the blood of our fathers, and
brothers, and mothers, and sisters. We
want peace and happiness. We want to
pursue the even tenor of our way, as here
lofore-to move on Qniell ,s~-''a Peaceiuiiy'
tha.Ltrt TOT The prosperity which attends
US, and contented with that which awaits US.
Mr.. B. said he thought the gentleman
from Baltimore city Mr.. Cox was quite
unfortunate in his reference to Wilson. If
he had read liule more of that book, he
would have found that Wilson maintains
precisely the doctrine that he (Mr. b. had
been endeavoring to impress upon the
House. Mr.. B. here read from Wilson as
follows: ''If there be a compact, the people
are bound by it. If, however, the conslitu-
ZION is silent respecting change, the people
NAV do as they think right"
The gentleman had also quoted from
Judge ItedeIl. Mr.. B. would rely on the
same author to reluie the differences the gen.
leman had drawn from quotations made
this morning. In vol. 3, p. "a, of the de-
bales in the Convention which formed the
constitution of the United States, Iredell
says elf there is compact it must bind all,
and cannot be altered, except with the con-
sent of both the contracting parties"
These, sir, are The authorizes relied on
by the gentleman to sustain the position,
that majority Of the people are omnipo-
tent, and can do any thing and all things
they may please. How far the gentleman
has succeeded, Mr.. B. would submit to the
deliberate consideration of the House.
And now, Mr. Speaker, permit me to say,
in conclusion, TO the gentlemen who advo-
cate this bill, that we hold them to the COM
pact, under which we have SO long and SO
happily lived. We cannot consent that it
shall be altered or changed, except IN the
the mode prescribed by the constitution. If
the mode prescribed by the existing consli-
tuition be not acceptable to the great body Of
the people, i, is easy to alter the constitution
and prescribe some mode, more acceptable to
them. IT., however, they attempt to change
it by force, or by means of revolution, they
must recolect that they will have blows TO
take, as we'll as blows to give. And they
will be held responsible for all the conse-
quences. Remember that minorlies some
times overcome majorities. If they should
attempt it by revolution, they must take
care to be sure Of success. II they should
CaiI, they know what the consequences will
be-. Let them remember that in such an
event, we are entitled to the assistance of
the general government. If they should at
tempt to pull down the existing government
by force, and we find ourselves unable TO
maintain it, the general government is bound
under the provisions Of the constitution OF
United States, to assist us. Ifthey fail, then
their condition will be helpless indeed. Gen
.lemen, if the government Cypress you, | will
join you, and the Wing party will join you,
in all wholesome measures of reform. But
it must certainly Cypress you first. 1t must
be destructive of life, liberty and your pur-
suit of happiness, before you can be justified
in drawing The sword. Unless it be so, and
you attempt to overthrow it by force, you
place yourselves in a state of omen rebellion