Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-03-14

and power Of reform must al al time, " in the hand
Of some portion ii tle organized e"''inuniy ANA III
bill Of rights rt.crs nowhere III any ease, 10 ai
otLer TINA that Of The majority.
But gentlemen stil not satisfied. fci bong con
rinced Of this the- ask fer rcasor 30 the polc
IT. They say they don't belierc II tho cotter policy
Il. did not suppose that ii would he necessary to as
sign reason did not think that thing vel
understood and universally admitted and endorsed by
the customs of the country would require an explana
ton even for one who like my mixed basis friend from
Spottsylvania calls H. in dersion, this panacea He
wishes know the ingredients of this wonderful com
pound would be Very glad, the other had if tho
gentleman for whose intelligence and moral worth have
more than usual regard will show me an authority OF
reason for minority Of mere equals III community tt
rule the rest at their will and pleasure and by posi-
bity, where you give property. Is in the mixed basis
the asccnt!cncy forever
If understand the doctrine Of tie Ina ori,v, grows
oi the necessity OF unity ot viii and action in the
governmcnt-o there bcl. sensible and good rale
b: which the public can BE- tested and asccrtainc-
keeping eye nj the time upon the importance
OF the fact that the very nearest representation 9" The
will oi the ntrc people Is the one sounest IN theory anu
safest practice for those who interested. The major
ity, however grea; small approaches more nearly the
whole number than the minority in the case, how
ever large The expression derived from comparison
of these is wlai call the public will and whatever
ccns,ts that public will must promote lis peace and
happiness, that al the clements I'll which Is con-
posed
if imposs;be hence take the majority or that
portion Of the public will which nearest To the
whole. W. know that in departing from this rule, we
violate sound theory; md whilo there can be no b-
crty without law; yet, if government is to bu lnoscd
upon with some jealousy, aud something rot alto
gcther coneenal to the rights Of mankind, rc must no
nit the danger Of a!lowin. the power Of Tie Ic"c 'oe
| once upon the track" OF concentration ct St.t!e
Iii be much alarmed nj the idea I" MAJORITY
governing They couIc here with icir fnlnr hlleu WIN
all the horror and apparitions which have Infested their
imaginaoii- the subject OF fedora! P"ilues ana Tie
unsteady balances of power IN the edera' Ssrrhi'n
And moi looking the difference between ac"'eder,cy
and community, they become involved III 'hea!f''y
from vLi,!, !; seem, impossible To cxtrlcaie them
think ia, h, who carries under al circumstances
and u,n all occasions camor against the rule o the
maiority in community ami under pretence Vi safety
and projections goes for the rule minority nny cnra'-
lao himcli having passed the grade "t fu,f'-"i'e
and nhcl the trausccnd.nta stage of the nbiMiion
Of the good republican doctrines hclieycl Of 'is?
Now am ior protecting minores too, but hG "a the
WAY proposed On The other side by cndanserns, ne
think the happiness the liberty and safety Of II. The
r,lu. ri this rule i incsimabc, an, more particularly
observable in the federal government, than other.
There YOU rise into higher scac of this rra'ioR-
there is 10 minglius Of the elements. and connection
In. v simple aud we'll d-fiacl articles Of conirccrcn
And the fate and dignity Of Il sovereign community
the rule When rcmrmber that power is always
s;,nii,ls from the man. Tie few and that roper'y ia
another, III III" crlr! II nat:itc al :ov
c.ce ia likewise stealing, ato the hands Of the few
aud that money Is power, and power begcts Money how
is that the advocates this floor OF tho minority power
cannot i'll that theory of government ior community
danger to the rights and the liberties Of the MAST, in
the trials u! the unknown and conditional destiny, il
may 80 call II, that may beset IL the future. Gctic
men have -" ou; t" secure the minority, and they lav
given us even reliable protection To the ma oriiy
except upon the lea that tie personal and social Ilsh,s
and feelings al all Tn. same and SAT-. in In.
hands Of nam, cts, ri men. as another. II is
were true IN the sense put 1t. representation had
wrllor il could b" more easily and simply donchc
put npoG money taxes altogether. :,ln Tor dtiv
=":l a;d distribution oi power ~ community a,i
that never be we'll accomplished u by -i!ng 1t in
he :i"rl'. i"r that majority ncal. those -enrr.,ily
who .or. l. pendent ,ron tie o--:iii.. I'll l
government. aad whu-r duty we'll a whose al
walton II becomes 10 attend 10 proper administration
Butt here arc other relations ii govcrnmc! - thr-r
which obtain as between an mam il, hi. eoni-
munltv |; l. Possible that minort, peculiarly sll'
ted, affected might iyoiy" the !a orS u VOL -
themselves. tie destruction Of Their pc,. and dear
interests in national calamity without their c:-,a;.
II tbs brought about by unu, .cn-ihlity,
The subject of property how great would Dc The
trast htWcc'i The destruction ii The time the labor the
lives and the affections I'll the ni.s.cnd The intrinsic
va!u", Tia! Mere property Involved Yet, how tuch az
Ter would he both thu property ,n, TIE nIa>s,i wi'!
they by having III" control felt themselves Responsible
for lis pr"tcc Now, lei apply tl- 10 Virginia
strack with thu remark made tn. "ihr Jay i. the
gentleman from lauqu"r) Mr. SeoIT when he snii IL
should look Ia the when the EVIL day shoul
draw nigh 81 come upon uS, and with the fact that in
attaching much Importance 10 oCr relation t. ,e fell
crs Union, he did not express desire il The misl ii
his approximations Ia place ri and before the dan
ger came the power Of the government; III ia" hands Of
those upon whom alone he expected ~ rely and 10 call
for aid L. nm alarrnst, and have food.
ish fears upon tn. subject of the dissolution Of this i-
era Union. BIZ: can and WILL truly say that sucI n
thing might happen in certain contingency and that
II" III" best that could hcall people III our ritii-
| ton ] can -av -, the same time tlia! shall always
look with jealousy rret and sorrow upon the advances
| suc! event May max" upon IL.
| Bu; whom it is TO occur / shall b. ready f,r il aud
not wanting in my duty Ii the gentleman from Eau
qlicr is fearful that this sensitive ainor, oi tie co-
Die Of Virginia east Of In. Blue Ridge mi too liz
run into an extreme upon this subject; call uiion kim
10 place til" power where he has the condencc;. viii
not he abused, On the other band, in anticipation of the
time when Virginia may bc forced to stand up in the
midst nj these States n one li:in and assume y
position amongst the nations OF the rh-ior ID not
| look to ii southern conicdcracy-wlich will ,ieyoIve
upon her national responsibilities and call III all aids
Necessary ~ sustain her m Independent. nation !
ask my friend from SPOTS ivania and other kindred
statcanen Ia place this power where j. c
crcscd Till dissolution secession receive the sanction
of Tie people in that portion Of the State whose cou,-
tcnance and support would be- Necessary to ..,:ain her
in the conflict that would follow What would W. d.
in couroversy-nay. will not say CONTROVERSIAL 4
war with the federal government without the sympathy
and support Of our western brethren. And such their
character, such in their standing in this co,imee,
| and may say wherever known. as declared by the
gentleman from Spottsyvania Or. CONWAY who il is
known is accurate judge of character in this parlc
lar that had supposed they might well be consulted
without any hazard Of the honor and dignity oi our
| nouncd old commonwealth, to the tmr mode and
measure oyelrcss. do not consider il mere talk to
DO speaking about the relations sustain to the cde
| raj government II is ole to which. il We hay, not
| conveyed oar sovereignty. Lave bound our honor
and faith in such that r.n never ilsre
gard the tie till il il broken by manifest .b,se. sie
raj authority against the reserved rights u thu state.
| | claim therefore. in Justification of the position which,
occupy that whether yon look to the supplies of men,
courage and sympathy, which YOU will necessarily have
10 draw from western brethren in case ri isso!-
lion ri tie Unioa. whether yo;. book L. H., posili
NV TIL the Union he unncc"srv Dissolved: that
the power i'll this commonwealth s!o,ld be placed in the
hands Of majority Of til" people Of the common cath
who lave take that position, and, taking it, maintain H.
But there another reason, it appears why this
| committee should not commit the right and power
OF the majority to the hands oithc minority. The
| Bill Of Rights SAYS that when any nation com
muntv--not - my friend Mr.. RARnorR) said-sia!l