Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-05-13
tn,nt;n,,,a from First Pag..1

n u
n;vcr.ally acknowledged have only to be enumerated
II is essentially different being OF Pafual not general
application Such propositions constitute class OF
cralities, applicable IN some cases no. 80 Ia
This class is the generally received opinion that major
flies should govern ask the attention OF gentlemen
nartic ;larly who contend for the suremacy-he unml
tsated application of this rulein all cases and unas
ali circumstances 1t fair, right and reasonable
that the larger should control the smaer in the Jo
action Of number of men, associated Tor the tIah''
ton OF concerns which they have III common. p"', "
view OF justice aud propriety this rule CANNOT oe
piled in all cases and under al ccuh'ss.ss
il must be presupposed that the interests OF tose con
cerned are identified, that they are hesiy equ"i.
For to insist upon application IN all cases ana unef
all circumstances would be 10 MAINTAIN the INDUSTRIOUS
and unnaural proposition that majorties have power
aver the eternal principles u justice and that numbers
are competent effect the difference between right ana
wrong Let US examine more particularly the decara-
finn That NIL men by free and equal which
IN argument is based that all entitled to equal po-
litical privileges. To-day even think heard the eS-
preston Of such an opinion SIR the proposition thus
presented sounds well. 1t is captivating in theory
involves enlarged philanthropy of sentiment What
pity is that the beautiful imagery which it conures
10 the mental vision should fade at the cold touch OF
the wand of reality Is it true that all men are BY ma
ture equally Free and therefore entitled to equal poi
cal privileges offer no idea when say admit the
PROPOSITION and the coroary is inevitable Ingenuity
may expend its store-sophsry may strive 10 obscure
our perceptions admit the proposition and the sequitur
is unavoidable that all whether white, red or OF
ethiopian hue all women and children are entitled TO an
equal share Of political privileges. Disguise 1t as you
NAV to this com peXon it will come Mt last 1t will not
dot is gratuitous-to attempt to ritter away the
broad principle that assumed by any and certain Inn
ations imposed by nature and necessity. For such Is
the cloak under which they take shelter who are CON
strained to acknowledge the iapractcabie character of
their favorite prncp when attempt is made to aP
ply it the purposes of the political compact Sir the
idea Of the gentleman from Loudoun, Mr CARTER that
necessarily excluded from tins category ny
their native clcacy which revolted at the turmoil OF
political strife he will pardon me for saving does more
honor to his gal!antry than his logic. Laughter His
plea is gratutous and excusablc only i'll one in whom
the Young blood courses through the veins. principle
which, 10 its application disturb the order aod webe
lag of society, is necessarily impotcn for good, and
be considered sentiment which cannot with pro-
piey be brought home TO the business pursuits OF man.
Mr. Chairman, among the obstacles to the advancement
Of human knowledge Lord Bacon, think enunerateS
100 great AMI kind OF alteration for the
MUD and understanding of men, We are too prone 10
receive without due examination the dcta of those who
have preceded 0: men who having stamped their
names upon the age in which they hve seem 10 leave
its Impress leally, future generations Is, cen
ccve exceedingly unfortunate rs regards the advance
ment of principles in political SCIENCE that we
are too apt give to po$tuates the force and co
sderaton OF political axiom because they have been
made venerable by time and imposing BY authority. All
will acknowledge that this is unphilosophc, yet few will
&c found to question that which has received the gcncr
III sanction OF mankind Depend upon it, sir Calico de-
served credit than awarded him a. the time.
for having strenuosy maintained that the earth moved
around the sum- while the rest of the world was of a
different opinion. The Bill Of Rights manifesto Of
republican principles is worthy Of all accep,ation 1t
contains leading truths which essentially apply in the
construction Of free governments but according to the
views which some have been pleased to take OF It. In
wolves deductions which, in my humble opinion, are
wholly inadmissble For one cannot consent TO re
ceive in the imperative character OF rss principles in
the science of government, propositions which seem 10
to have practical application. My apprehension
Of this mo,ted clause is this: 1t asserts principle an
tagonstic that which obtains in all countries where
kiugty forms of government prevail. As such in the
formation Of our organic law the benefits to be derived
from it speculative, purely inferenal Practically
it is inappreciable Would that could say that by
strained perverson and extension of the principle alu
ded to-an egitimate extension ofit-t had not been
productive of very untoward results Look to Europe
Under banner on whose ample folds were inscribed
the captivating words equality Of rights "conmu-
nifty of interests &c, DC. Reckless and designing poll
tcins, fred with the spirit of demagogueism and the
lust Of selaggl andizemeut have tramped all laws
divine and human and while few AMI far between, n
stands out in happy relief, the general result has
been the overthrow Of order and the destruction of civil
liberty As in anticipation of the remark, aud that
France might be cited illustration the gentleman
from Loud'un to whom before adrcrted, aud to whose
ability, while differ with him. cheerully testify, hum
BILE and tnmportaut is that testimony, gave Us q
glowing description of the oppression under which the
French people labored long anterior TO this sanguuarv
revolution and said that he considered the liberties Of
France lightly purchased by the consequences of that
revolution.
Liberties of France When was France free Light.
~ purchased! Sir, can conceive of no blessing that
can inure to humanity which is not dearly most dearly
purchased when the price paid for it is Of human
blood-the prostraton of the Of the Redeemer-
the overthrow of all laws divine and humau, and the
preparation of deeds deeply dark and ndeble that
eface 1t was the extension of the principle involved
in the clause Of the bill of rights to which have beeu
adverting-an illegitnate deduction from it-that
only caused France to bleed ut every PORE but which
travelling with the speed almost of the electric current
to the island of ST. Domingo there produced one of the
"bloodes pictures in the book of time 1t dis.
ten perature Of the mind-stll originating in the
source which not than nineteen since
caused the people of Southampton, quorum pars full to
weep almost tears Of blood But, again; as an illus
tration of the and abuse Of the principle which Is
the subject of remark Look to the northern portion of
this confederacy From the high priest of aboonisin
in the Senate of the United States downs one could
find lower depth-to the deuded violator Of his
trys laws in the streets Of Boston, amidst the green
hills of Vermont ALL all inscribe upon their banner
the declaration which meets you in the first clause OF
the bill Of sights. 1t is rutess for to say that
must be taken in qualified sense That it must BE-
changed or modified as nature or necessity may dictate.
They tell Us that ourselves do not receive 1t.
That half of Virginia views it in its most liberal and
extended signlncaton. They tell us that we have cho
sen the text and that they elect to make the
tary So the child flies the kite that eludcs his grasp
and wanderS into the limitable fields of space Now
have that in the formation of political compact
the principle involved in the clause have been discus
sing, is applicable nferentialy only not practical
y And to state of nature, its application is of doubt
full propriety unless SO far as it may apply to
his birth Rights founded on the ground of original
proprietorshp exist here though for the of con
ventona arrangements and principle Of civil law, eau
only be enforced by resort to physical power. Aud
to the ingenious argument Of the gentleman from Eau
quier MIR CuILroN understood him, that equality
exists only in spiritual point of view this is
questionable since is contingent on the construction
given to the inspired writings For if the construction
placed BY large number these, be founded truth
some born to honor and imuortalty-some to shame
and dishonor But for the sake Of the argument admit
that creatures of the almighty fat there is
perfect equality in the human family Cui bono1 This
State of nature from its IN ranst character if may
express it, can hardly be called stage of being Man
into the world Incidental agencies, extraneous
influences are forthwith in operation Coemporaneous
with his existence form Of government becomes
necessary for the protection of life and the
fthe fruits of labor In the formation of political
pact delegated and of rights surrendered
find desnite of THAR In tbaor, ,nd