Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-04-25
THURSDAY, March 81, 1851.


Mr. FAULKNER. In the argument which address
sed to the committee on yesterday, endearored TO
show that in the structure Of representative r"nubIc
there wore but two modes in which you cal: g!"e .,
efscusl protection to property
1.t In oere or T~s:tire pocer Of protection ty
stre,ipg the right Of suffrage to Il vho are the own
srs OF property. If this is not deemed cypedien hcf
md 4 defcnsir. po,eer Of protection by limitations en-
bced in the constitution Withholding from the agents
created by universal suffrage, the power 10 in ure
oppres. the interest of property.
aid that an examination OF all the constitutional
systems Of which We have any account in h!.ior:
whether in ancient modern demonstrates inc
thu fact that where TIE end to be accomplishments
ssstional power-b'. bona fd the protcclsn of prop
srty they arc the rlv modes known to the wisdom AID
sxIerience of mankind, aad deied the production o.
say accredited TACT, in which it had ever otherwise
been efectua''y dene.
snde I'd show that Representations ;s but Ire
product o: suffrage, it must of necessity, corft in all
s qualities and characteristics, to the ,o'r,e from
which it emanaes. II it springs from Z suffrage re-
strisied the owners of property, il wall have IN II
all the elements con.erv.tire Of property tsprings
ron system which re]ec,s at the very s,,"o = pow
q ali regard to the influence OF properly, i'.cr>
not in what form you may subsequently mp TO infus"
il a q positive element into your government the at
tempt must be vain, Idle and delusrc Ihe,e are prom
oatons which it would strike ough 10 command the
assent of every gentleman who reflects upon the organ
ixatioa Of Government
sndeavored further % show, that by tho universal
concession of every gentleman who had yet addressed
this BODY, it its purpose and determination. to re
isct all property qualification upon the right Of suffrage
ana that property lad power being hts Ci: orccj al
the polls could again be re-un.et. active
clement in our representative system.
If them property requires any protection in the com.
monweah Of Virginia, oy your organic las, in what
form can you afford il that protection;
Manfesty you do it only BY that defensive ar
NOR which is to be found in wise and wholesome lin
itations upon tie powers OF those agents VINO may be
81.
men..
This sir, is the system, which | adyocate- is Ia"
system which met thc approval OF M intelligent
constituency in the raonti Of August last and when
feel instructed to maintain upon this cor.
The gentleman from Halifax tMr EpMrsps) the
other day, and over again repeated the remark
that the east did not want powcr-a that il desired
protection-some defensive armor oguard It's in
forests from injury and oppression.
Mr. EDMUNDS. The gentleman misundcrstands
me perhaps We do not ask for the power Of aggrcs-
sion through Representations but the power Of prolec
ton, through presentation in the constitution.
MIR. FAULKNER. perfectly understood the gen
,lsnan from Halifax. He disclaimcd that ne wanted
power for the sake Of powcrwhat he wanted pro-
lection.
Mr.. EDMUNDs By representation.
Mr.. FAULKNER. Undoubtedly the gentleman is
seeking what he calls protection through
But it power, and not protection that he is really
in pursuit Of; If protection end DC all that he
really seeksf defensive armour bc all that he real
desires against any assault upon the Interests OF his
people, propose to afford that defensive armour.
propose extend to him proe ction that will be ctc
tual and in form which cannot be impaired: dstur
bed without the OF his constituents those
in whom they repose their confidence.
Sir, whatever may be The Jews Of other gentlemen
regard the Of Limitation, as amongst the hirhes
and most valuable advances made in the sce &c Of gov
>rnmsnt 1t is in this that the superior cxcecncy OF
Institutions is exhibited the celebrated rcp,b-
hos Of ancient days 1t only in comparatively recent,
that Ito and li,nIt Of
ment seem to have been perfectly understood or if
understood that they have been made to conform right
ly to their legitimate purpose Sic, the true object of
government ia neutrality-suspicious. 10 the per
sens and property of its people lis his hest dutic-
are of a defensive character. TO guard the citizen
against violence and fraud, and TO him
the undisturbed enjoyment Of tn fruits OF his enter
prize and labor 1t is great pare,is rntrin-no fee
simple owner of the soilno proprietor of the property
of the State to collect I'D aJum liz the shape OF
and 10 distribute al its disc IN the shape OF APP
preparations, its bountics 'e "D;amonwcal;h. 1t
best performs its functions by from all inter
ference with the labor and property ndi viduais and
that government in my iudsnen. BEST which is least
seen and felt in the pursuits Of He.
Sir, if there be fact more than another which
satisfies e. the capacity of man for sclf;o-crnacnt:
of his fitness to fulfil the high destiny which awaits
him on this contlnent-of his growing and increasing
improvement in political sciencc-it is tne number and
character of those limitations upon the powers Of govern
mont which experience every day disclosing and which
are now forming fundamental features in every re-
cont state constitution in this confederacy In our
earliest state constitutions you observe limit
whatever upon the taxing, the apPrc2rarnc and debt
creating power Of the government The eXtc >icf
those powers were susceptible of abuse, -. )!
extent to which the true objects of gevernmcG, couG
Ssperrerted BY their missppcs'"n not to have
s'en fcressen Experience ha. revealed that evil
the remedy has been applicG-,hat remedy has eve
~ who're been found efectua It is in those limitation
10 which refer
There Is femark in the writings Of distinguishes,
American Statesman Hugh s Legare of South Carolina
no" DECEASED man OF rare genius ana OF ill rare,
mostsueI By the tears OF tho and of the cbol,
which beautifully expresses nv views Of rho tr,a
character OF thosi limitations that must ask tho na
,encs of he committee to read it e 'Ao-i
"Ths restrain IS which modern society b,s ;r,,so5
10 itself in tie exercise of its sovereignty are nnl
OF The falibli,J Of mn In orr a.