Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-04-11


rn,,,r, -.~n NOT ,nnreciatcd as they now-whcn
the science Of government had not ieachet li'' I'M
provencnt which has now attained pn'Sca power
was then the basis of government; b;it Ii mas ceased
to he su regarded now. Why, standing upon TINS
ocr;, ,ro would be scarcely in better condition than
the subjects of adcspoc government oppressed by their
rulers who have awaited themselves Of force i'll order I"
ryrcpte tI,eir unrestrained will If We cut loose
from moral niucnccs-n We are not secure Ill GU, req
oncc no the power Of mind purified and elevated by the
Influences of religion and morality we have not mace
TINT Improvement Of which We boast i'll the establish
ment of o,r free government. No; one OF the chIc
elrs and proaes; characteristics of our governln.T
and Of our are is that in the formation %! constitutions,
whom mon associate together to form government the
majority who have the power, If thev think proper 10
assert it, 10 demand nj the hands OF the majority am
thing and evcfvthn-.o resort TO rerouon ana assert
| bv fore, and physical power every right wtth they
claimed this maicsitv have the magniAimty, when
circumstances require aud interests demand it-w!en
the welfare md happiness q! t'c people who are 10 live
under h. government require itniucnced ny nor:,!
considerations BY mind ee"a;-d purified and ntel!l-
gent to concede 10 the minority not the absolute con
lIo ut a portion ui That power which the Ma or::r
might By Is physical power. enforce their detrcnf.
They Weld - much iha minority that they shall
be- prote>tc against tie abuse OF power and ma!dln-
| stratiun By the majority.
will not follow any further this course OF observa-
| ton
la this discussion most OF the gentlemen have set
out by appealing to the bill of rights The proposition
sustained 5y those who advocate the substitute OF the
gentlcma. from Fauquer, Mr.. ScorTl and the !iaci
pie of the mixed basis that constitutes the safest
| guarantee which incorporated in const!tu-
ton respecting representation il the legislative depart
ncut Of the goverlncutis best calculated To promote
| the common "eliure the peace aud happiness OF the
people Of the Commonwealth. The assertion has been
boldly maintained, and often repeat cd, that 1;i!
| t3n p:iuciple novel and in conflict with the bill al
rights ! viii briefly advert to this subject. do not
design to dwell upon H. because other gen,enaI have
discussed this question fully before thl. coni!n,cc
must tender TO my friend from Rockbd.5e lNr. MonGEl
my thanks, that j, has rendered that service Ia TIL,
| committee which expected he would render k:iuwng
his intelligence and clear understanding al III. question:
By aking iro.a those who have made this assault upon
Is the first a. .ic!c ii the bill OF r.hts That gentle
man properly took the only position which is maintain
abe in regard 20 that article, whrn ne stated that i
piled only the rights state Of nature ana tia
they did no, app!y rights in the social compact.
Speeches have been hung upon that first article. be-
lev heretofore Ii la. been relied upon by gen
ticIc from the west as one ui The features III te rii
OF rights. which gave TO tho the right "f representa-
ton upon the white basis aud the white basis ticrr.
and they insist upon it without Compromise. But
will upon the authority o. nv friend from Rock
bridge heartily agree with him. and thank lin for
the service which he has rendered in taking that much
trouble from this committee. and burden from this de.
bate. His argument must be conclusive upon the white
basis a.!'"cites.
| There is another avt;c!o--thc second aud also tn.
th!ri-whc gentlemen: still rely upon. And first, all
power vested H. and consequently. derived from, the
people Now, when | have heard western grnti"men
contcnding tha; there anything III the linked basis
e. her practically theoretically, which cnntroycrtrd
the principle here asserted by The till Of rights mist
confess have been totally al loss TO discover in what
the discrepancy consists. In maintaining, the mixed
basis ] do will here adhesion IL this lea
turr III the bill of rights And While shall Inaiut"
it. ii: argument and in ny vote, shall also to
change lcttci feature i'll this bill nf rights
and particularly that section, the thai follow. it
There are no ohcr agents known in this GOV, nmc., in
the transmission ol power than tic people Other in
,Ccccs may be- brought ill., ane. ID of,crate hut the
a. the polls - ia" lnaI VIII - :t!y IS Inc
and III ac he rl!g agent, II ira. r!!s t" III" repre-
''.,iv"s. the po" or: d this grycr.. ill powc!
j. vested in til. -"ters. t" be execute" = their agent,
l. do not other influences Operate Lun the vu;c-
Are thc.e Others whicl. affect lie Dir co, =! i Il.
all give AS ,":": ar. there 10. confederation.
rhich often exert influence upon whoc c.-s,. 81
voters! The right OF suitra,e is r, aftr" Al, ir"c
car such boon We Estimate ii Tor ha'" h,iow
men who l!a that right rn,cr tlS .-".rr!i.; il:
tie heat Of political excitement c.e" r.:.fig more
tlre ucc the polls than mon, 10 r":i!" Gus;
Scir votes III The election. !: -. lno III the Ina
voting tie agent, AMI i: :rGe 81 power. and he
sent forth thai power whc! :, rf,:c N the gov
crnmeilt while indeed n:,.i 1T tt il IL was CONTROLLED!
b. other influences Than Is ,.i:i,c:ate Judgment
- you ;.opt consultation ir!i gives the MAJORITY o
any one section Of the 5:ic-!f take freehold SUI
trlgc. II, BACK - IT,, r.t cp's;t0ll--by Wiicn
two members 60! - each county, without rc:srt!
to its size its taXa;ii. II, porulaon-r. it might
be said truly, and with much truth of one the
ether that the people, under those circumstances.
aud i'll each Il" "n sources Of power AK.
so thought those c.-uag a:lGi who framed this bill.
more distinguished il framing governments than any in
tits Common weaI;l. before since So thought thty
When with this deca. ati0n they put into the con$u-
ton that which is pronounced b. their and
grsnd,ons anti.republican, oppressive and unjust
th.,+ 1,,nl,l
government is or ought be- instituted for the
benefit protection and security of the people, nation.
or community Of all the various modes Of government
that i. best wkics capable Of producing the sre!fes
degree OF happiness aud safety and is most ccctlalv
secured against the danger OF maadnnisiratiOn and
that when any government shall be found inadequate
or contrary to these purposes, ority Of the
nunty hath indubitabe indcfcasibc. and unalcna-
bic rgi IL reform. alter. abolish it, in sue. manner
as shall be Judged most conducive to the public veal"
assent fully and heartily to al that i here asserted
while al The same time advocate, in good faith, md in
the sincerity 81 my heart Just and correct pruci-
pie of government, the mixed has.
This bill Of rights was made be it remembered in
view Of that separate: which took place about that
time between the colonies al 4 Great Britain and was
intended 10 great fundamental prilciplcs-.he
natural r::-;ts Of n!t:,-T!ghts wch belong To Ia!i
outside OF any compac-an more to iusG.!. the step
which then taken By Virginia ana the other colo
mics when rcEourcnG the government of Great Britain
set principles which should govern us in time to come
They were intended 10 be announced as landmarks-as
principles conceded BY those about to institute :: new
form of government and only to be resortcd to upon
such occasions that which existed at the time OF their
adoption Tha: article OF o,T bill Of rights might he
we'll conended to be which intended to Justify
the people of Virginia in throwing oil their allegiance
to tho government o! Great Britain Finding that that
government the best and capable If producn.
the greatest degree of happiness and safety and that
it was not most ciecualiv secured agils the dan
gers of nal administration. they may have announced
these principles for the purpose Of u-lifyng ,en as
peculiarly appropriate and correct. also admit that
thew mar apply to persons who within tho compact
! of government. / maintain that the majority OF the
| community when the government to which they and
they alone The parties, shall be found not 10 answer
the purposes fer wh ii csahl.he-shal be found
not to be efficient i'll promoting the safety and happiness
of the people the majority Of that community have u
rirh, to alter change their constitution Just We have
been assembled to change But there is difficulty
rs to what is meant by the community, here. That
question has been ably discussed here i'll almost ever
| aspect 1t would seem that it must be understood by
this time can come 10 other conclusion than that
it means the majority OF the political community rs
constituted bv the compact under which that govern
ment cxsts-that it means the will II that majority