Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-03-18


case the palpable abalrdity maintained that the les
scr should rule the greater. Do the minority contend
that The majority have no right to control their happ
less, BE il So Then upon what principle can the,
dare claim the right 10 co;;ol the happiness of Tho
maiosils Il il absolutely necessary Tor part,
TO Weld, the happiness Of all cannot he accomplished
in their o.:n way. All tina, is desired is rot within
reach. What. them is the dictate Of equity and com
mon sense: How would decide, and how act upor
like premises. ard with like reasons, in all other mat
tiers Is il not manifest that we should approximate
our desires as near possible If cannot please
all and serve all, please and serve the most we can
If We cannot give happiness and conteEtment 10 all
al least give them TO The greatest number who are
entitled 10 them. The reasoning which would be adj
verse TO this result might be used with force agans
the formation of any government, or in favor Of fail
separation but never with any true force III favor
the rights Of the minority over the majority
II was asserted in the last convention hy the crca
iipshur, endorsing Green, that all so far eqaa
that upon entering into society man could claim
natural right to rule over another and that for the
same ten men could claim the right 10 rllc
over nine men. Upon the same process of reasoning
precisely, he might have commended that one thousand
meisiad no right to rlic enc man. Now, this rea
Sonng must apply 10 mon who arc engaged in The for
nation oi government, or i is wholly inapplicablc
We mus; presume the former in courtesy aud justice
10 tie speaker: and if SO, what view of the subject
will it present. The will and wishes Of ono mar
against thousand. any indefinite jorty If this
one man minority have The right contcndcd for b:
the able Judge; then would il not necessarily follow
that every other fraction minority in the entire body
would have lie right, Reduce II 10 extremes
and every Individual (hcing minority would have
the like privilege o! dissent and no government could
be formed bu, By universal appreciation, which Is
wholly imuracicabc and absurd. Is il not the las
extremity of error To contend that ten men cannot Of
should not. r,le nine men, and sc advocate principle
which will ao" five men 10 rule twenty NO such
Inconsistencies and conflicts exist upon suppose
lion Of the rights Of INA joriiy. and the only rational
,,ir>c pursu. wien there exists such conflicts, is
10 give power 10 the many over Tie lev" This Is the
only coarse which there i, or ca II be- union, safety
or peace: the only one in which there heart
burning and humiliation. which requires cgotism in
the ma io:y 10 demand ard no degradation in the mi
nority 10 submit.
An,! contend that this reasoning is alone sufficient
10 establish the proposition advanced But there are
other ,irms al iic subject worthy of our consldcra
ton II is coner,cd that majoritics should RUE i.
preference 10 minortes for this further reason, that
the greatest amonl Of and insight are to found
with the majority. The wcrd sense, as here used, is
not, however. 10 br considered implying genius
talents or cducan.i although thcy may well and mos
approFri1tey be eo;,idered .a to ee the greater
h'nh'r nl 10 '''', lard, sound practical commo:
>eise Mlich is scanning and revolving the inter
est. AMI acting for The happiness Of It's owner. IL |;
con,estl,d "a a general rule. that the aggregate mind
j. the safest when dealing with the rights or happiness
o: man, that the deliberave voice OF whole people
< q
(airosi and trcsi index of the interest IS well d the
w>ht, end want. of that people. Every aduitic!ia
mind that after carncs; dshcraon, give, ITS Sanction
10 propoi tior. is that much additional evidence OF IL
truth. What THEN, must be the force Of thai evidence
v hen il has received the sanction c IN enlightened
public opion forming ~ il "erc. Tic dagucrrcotype
miniature ot the nailons mind. Governments are io
The good of all and should DC Tic reflex or Image
( all.
Again. The majority OF numbers unique sonahl.
,,, hmm IA, md
but 81 these shall have occasion TO speak hereafter
to which now refer, being DESTROYS 10 make no re
petitions.
Eu agan i, lnl the doctrine Of najorl!ics the nat
ulal aud necessary conclusion vi tho unbiased nina
Does not our dali, habits prove it: Do not our Ge.i6
crati,c bodies aud judicial tribunals decide ny major
tiles DO not all of our original primitive assemblies
Of the people, that are governed by 10 laws ahd art
boua! - lao rules but tie dictates OF common scnst
and Justice 90 the same thing: Suppose, for exam
lc, the citizens of election district III eastern III
ginia assemble in elementary meeting, To select
candidate TO represent them in matter touching then
most vital pccu:ary interest. Would hot mat meeting
without orc discerning voice and even without question
or inquiry adopt tie rule Of maorcs TO govern
their discussions, although the individuals might Ollie
ever 80 widely in wealth Ii is useless and tedious t'
multiply examples. appeal 10 gentlemen II they have
ever known an instance where the people oil Oh II
,inia having met in their primary assemblies for an.
purposc whatever, have ever adopted 4 different rule
or eve fuf momcnt questioned the right oi ma
orly 10 control: although know the experience Oh
>ara"iiy Of gentlemen viii at once suggest 10 them am
muMicr q! Instances IN which every reason "Wci
could apply in the present controversy would there al
ply witt, iuIl force Would il not be amusing in thr
age, IN primary assembly of the people in any coun
~ it this State. nominate candidate for seat II
The legislature, if sa1e cour-oiisc, or other wealth.
precinct. were 10 propose 10 abolish The Principe
naluri:,r>. and demand the ght ard power 10 wici
il would hc entitled by balancing every dollar al IT.
superior Ia Nation against voter, and thereby perhaps
give /" tla vo!c:> of Tie rich precinct III effect e'
or four voices cach Would not srI"h proposition
excite Il howl ui liignalion that would wake the bat
at midday every c!ii the banks OF the Ohio, ana
close ever; oystcr-shcll III the creeks Of Accomac
| appeal IT, every candid man II tins constant
and. n it were. unconscious. Submission TO TIM
great principle, under ell circumstances and Oh a
occasions Of deliberations i'll almost every political
sacia! act Of lives, is not most striking aud stun
ming proof t!:a il is natural AID ll.i.
This principle of III; orc> comments Itself To on
feelings well rs our judgments. II >CStans. u
principle aad practice. the glorious doctrines o man
equality. oil dignity and rights. II comes recommended
iJy the sanction of the times in which 1--we |: i
the uobcs offspring Of the Development of our IA C
II is iai.oacd hy the hottest democratic rccoeccns
and most cndcarng associations. II Is sustained by Tia
solemn declaration Of tie rights Of man put forth b.
orr IA hers and corroboracd by the like declaration
Of our Sister States 1t is vindcatcd by the action o
thirty sovereign republics II has been established
confirmed by tic experience Of happy and ,hrivin
millions Tor three quarter, Of a century.
Il NAV seem time that ] had commenced answer
ing the objections which have hccn made 10 thi
principle Of majori.es. for ingenuity and ability ma
Start objection the simplest truths and the hottest q
eau cs The cause Of Heaven itself has more thai
once seemed 10 waver beGcah the soph.strcs Of
Hume, the irony of Gibhou or Tie fierce mockery c
Yoliare but simple earuc truth has triumphc
in tie end and win again
l. Ii Las been cca:cndcd, r2on the supposition o
man equality, that each maa upon attempt t
form social compact, would bring with him all tn
right, derived from nature. and that among these won't
he Tie rixh; say whether majority should rule o
not Ard is asked. if one part. should dissent from
the compact would the act al the remainder he oh!iga
tory on him: Ard i, asserted by way Of proof. tha
,.i the colnpac. is formed. there is majority ii
existence and after it is formed he (thc dissen;in
onc) is no party 10 it. and therefore moi hound by il
majority Now. all this is Of easy explanation. Me-
are cn,al and each. upon attempt 10 enter into
SOFIA! compact, has a perfect right 10 say whether
naarly shall govern. and rot bound to submit Ia
government formed by them. Buhc certainly ON CLAIM
no show of right To make all others yield 10 his views
for III, If rights of dissent equal 10 his own. VIVA
Them of necessity and right should be the result; Tn
minority must either yield their Judgment or their p'ir
noses cf association and those who do gree or sub
hit viii form government for themselves. while th
a,scicnt or selt-wcd gentlemen may 20 their way
NAV maintain their egotisc. selfish. and isolated pcsI
ton or form compacls with other and more consena
spirits Or if they should consist OF the whole ma,
oi distinct portion of the territory of the propose