Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-07-22
can never secure to man fully the blessings of cvia-

Fran, and what have been the consequences Of that
lnar,rre When the principles Contained III th" hill u
ri !hts were procIaincd-whcn II was announced that
majority of the people had night to amend. alter nj
h,ih their rovernuent-that MI power resided in the
p,ope-and those ideas Were III Tact adopted p'r
81 government apprchend the extent tn which the
have since been developed was neither iorcsccn nor
understood by the trainers OF the bill of rights. |
hone shall not bc thought wanting in due apprrci.
Ion of the great merits OF the illStrous men no PIE
c,lel Us in the work OF founding government. when
say they did not then deem possible those things We
now SEQ realized .roiln: They We're then. ~
are now the builders OF the day. They adapted the
government the condi; ion OF things which surrounded
hen.-to The dcveoencn TO the ideas to iii" rivi!a"-
ION of their aye Nav, sir, they struck bold,-they
acted like Christian philosophers: they understood ap-
precated and proclaimed the lnvncibc truth that n!
inc: arc bv nature free and equal. 1t goro,lS
era aud we'll dill they mark it with unchangng and
everlasting monument 1t was the first time in the
history Of man, whole people had asserted aud Mt
tenptcd to maintain such principle as the foundation
of government. What did it cost The power Of wealth
prcciptae,i myrads of mcrcenaries upon shores
extnguish the idea. From Qupbec To Savannah, the
bleed Of patriots was poured ont like water and io.
what, sir! Did that bloody aud glorious war wi:
nn,hiugf DID i, win ircedoln-ddi it win equaiv-,iid
retrieve the long lost liberty OF man: NJ. If liz,
wealthy are rule the many-!,ot if tho few M. ST
To- govern the lnultitude-aot if property Is lord i;
over persons. ! capnot think the Revolution oiy
changed masters. No, no; the great and sublime
IDEA Of mans capacity 10 govern h;msclt-thc equal
rights Of men Were established forever cannot there
fgc concur with the honorable gentleman from Lou.
oun Or JANSEY, that We should arrest the consru
ton ofthat monument which the libcray aud patriotic
devotion OF the State has ordered 10 be erected ~ the
memory Of WASHINGTON Oh no. Mr. Chairman: Iii
lis foundation be laid deep in the bosom of 4. earth
let it tower towards the heavens far the wnrS
u man ; hands can be- let it be eternal Ii i feeble
n,IIr
AS Of Virginia but still it is evidence OF the c-ti-
nation in which hold the benefits their labor las
conferred upon US. We feel they secured what WA
thea regarded dclusive theory. Let the no:l!ncn.
progress then; let il stand forever sim to mari:
the progress If freedom Let u hope that a!tcrliae.
build the memory OF the work now about
similar ign mark greater advance; for believe me,
the march of civilization is onwarG-utward forever
Civilization Cannot stol-it cannot stand still Il either
advances or, partial Instances rrcct!r= Who
prescribe q limit Where shall it stor-at what
point Who shall say thus far shalt tIou .ro and
~ farther :" Onward! onward. forever and forever
shall man advance. until h. aitains the condition In
tended for hla By his Creator.
The Success Of The Revelation ard the establish
of popular governments have a.ad wha: We c the
American theory Of government; that Is the people
the free white citizens of each sovereign State ordan
thc. form OF government. III which Tie ptolc are uni.
iurmls recognized the source of all power Indeed
is no longer theory but theory Successfully reduced
practice. The cardinal rule, the invariatic principle
assumed by MI the States, is the equal rights OF all
Nowhere is il entertained for moment that one man
is politically of mere Importance than another The
wisdom Of adopting such principle is manifest whe..
reflect that it is the same everywhere aE lnnns
all men: lis application casy-its justice un,lcstiona-
die and interchangeable.
Il Is therefore the safest, the most stable: time
has so demonstrated 1t. II We depart from this great
fixed truth can We hope 10 construct u constitution
every art has fixed and known fundamental law
that calnot he safely disresarded. In vain will the
architect baiid, in vain will the artist labor If they de-
part from tie laws of proportion. How" then, can The
statesman harmonic all the departments of govern.
inent-Low can he equaze the rights OF NEIL it, ut the
outset lie desgncdly disregars the only principle
eluality-eq of righti If You Will leave this
obvious and Just rule you driven 10 the necessity
assuming some other as more Just, more cq"a!; for
surely no one would desire to fix any basis less Just less
equal II such ne tie case, ask what is thai oil:cr
more equal and inst basis The eastern delegation
answer Inc by Swing ore-haf the legislative power
should be given To taxation and oIehalf to population
that property should be represented upon tn
floor oil the legislature and such have al equal
weight with the whole white population OF the Stale
The prcvx: for this extraordinary doctrine Is 10
property against unduet aXatlon.
Tie advance fic,;s since Tie Convention o 20
would not tolerate tire prevalent doctrine Of !a day:
bu: an ingenious cuntrivance is made TO effect tic same
purpose Then ii said in plain terms, iii language
which cannot be mistaken, that mcncv Lot - he
rcprc.cntcd bat the rights growing ont Of tie posses.
sion Of property ought to hold power siicrat for lis
protection The ability with which tho proposition
has been maintained this foo, and in opGioI il
has been great has not been able 10 advance sing lie
reason bcyond those promc! gated in l5.?-3o Til.
Siul. ground then occupied, AID this spccinus
paradox impressed upon the public mind Of eastern
iruia hv the brilliant and subtle rca>oE!g, Of that
Ii
wcpt and is still i'll mourning. So skiu: Was that
argument advanced am at loss whether most t.
admire The bauc: of the genius or dep!ore the fatal
effects of ~! argument Still. sir, it Is incrc para
doy. Lest however should err in stating tie pro-
position Of Judge Upshur will beg leave read the
paragraph in which he states the argument. lie sa
Sir no supposes that property should be repre-
sented 90 onnc-it would be grossly absurd 10 place
bag of guineas your table and call it constituent
entitled TO representation We do not propose 10 rep,
resent money, bn: he rights and interests rdh spring
from, tie possession ct money
Then they did not ask that money nomin. should
be represented, but the rights which pcrtaned to the
man who possessed money should he represented, indie
pendent OF and superadded his right OF representa-
ton as a citizen: that each person claimed 4 Voice
for himself; and those who had money m additional
voice for that also. The rights and Interests which
spring from the possession of property Will any
tell ME what those rights Does the possession OF
property authorize the owner 10 speak in voice more
potential than hii who is without it If it would con-
Ter upon him the right to greater representation than
the man without il, he is, by virtue Of that right au
thorzcd to control to rule the who is without
What is this but moned aristocracy thu desps;-
BILE of all the thousand pretexts the few resort to, TO
fitch from the people their freedom. Has it come to
tbs, that the citizens influence i'll the Legislation of the
COUNTRY shall depend upon the size OF the purse Does
it en,itle him to greater protection Does the rich
man need more security than the poor Will not the
same law which protects the rich in the possession and
enjoyment of his wealth. protect the humblest in
ho possession Of his pittance Is the right of the
poor m.ii great the right of the reh u:s means
are less, certainly; but the right by which he holds
them is Just as great as his who owns millions Shall
aot the daily laborer BE- protected amply in his NAM
bic home the of fortune in his lordl, mansion
Aud whf Because the value of the right is not uca
surcd by the value of the house. Rights numbered
not weighed; they equal, and can be applied a.
well the cabin Of the hunter the mansion OF the
millionaire Has not each honc--a family with all
It's endcarments- with all It's bencts-secT-
rity, with all its blessings; are not these things rs
dear the hearts Of The poor the rich! Nay. >r
is the same man less ola patriot less OF citizen less OF
man. if by misfortune he should lose his property
All know how uncertain is the pecunarv condition vi
every man. The poor OF to-day may be the wealthy
nan Tomorrow and the rich of to-day may be IeE
less on tomorrow. Is either. rs man. less worthy.
lees honest less to be relied onl Surely not. What.
hon ore the rights and interests growing ont OF Tie