Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-07-15

eign rs much any other one and State Cannot be
republican where particular classes, under any crcn-
stances OF qualification whatever, invested hy the
organic law with peculiar privileges. cvlbed with
superior power The most that can DC suid of r",u-
munlty IN which such determinations and inequalities
are indispensable to the perfect protection Of all inter
ests is, that it is community to which republican, form
OF government is not adapted Are the people OF Nr
gnia such community Because Mt the moment We form
constitution, certain description of property is une
qualy dispersed throughout the State are to aban
don the most vital essentials of the republican theory
1t Is to these propositions OF political truth
that heretofore the power has been held eastern Vr
gnia, beyond the rights OF her population II Oh.
proves TINT the west has long abered under the bur-
den of unjust and anti rapl lcan preston and it
makes the more imperativey the lily Of her repre-
sentatVes here to insist, to toe ry ast extremity,
upon the surrender the part of e east of power to
which it is not entitleda power which whether it has
been so far abused not, is incompatible with the
rights, honor and dignity of that great and
section maintain that the free people who inhabt
this commonwealth Of Virginia, are at this day and
moment sufficiently enlightened and moral and honest
TO exercise the whole sovereignty of the State wisely
and justly, on the great fundamental principles of
publican equality. 1t is sir an unworthy distr,st of
the west to suppose they will abuse power, to which
their numbers enttle them, for the purpose of
acting undue contributions to the public expenditure
from the east. If they WILL then repeat the State
OF Virginia is in condition. from other.
similar to that Of the French republic, "a many sup
poseher people incapable OF enjoying the blessings
and performing the duties of free equal and republ.
can government. No man here will announce such an
opinion yet to this complexion does all this objection
to the popular basis at last come.
The people are the source of all power and in On
assembly protesting to act for and to represent the
ple is absurdity to that it is not safe to
trust majority of our own constituents.
Gentlemen ask why exclude women and minors from
equal participation in political rights and duties Such
suggestion is not made in spirit of candor and does
not deserve to be treated with respect Their exclu-
sion il made necessary by causes which, operating IN
equal proportions upon all classes and sections and d
visions OF the commonw ealth do injustice any
section or Glass; 1t can neither increase nor diminish
the relative proportions Of political power This is one
out of many that might be given but it suf-
icent. Think and is far grave response than
the difficulty deserves.
am not disposed to speak. know full well, and hold
its true value the power which by the terms of the
federal compact is conceded to the holders of this spe
ces of property and am ready and ut all times.
to stake life, liberty and fortune upon the maintenance
of this of every other provision Of the Constitution
of the United States. But who believes there is the
slightest analogy between the cases of the thirteen
States. when making terms of federal Union and the
single simple community of our State, constructing
form Of government tor tsefl This concession was
not without consideration TO the free States and wheth
it not the power which it admitted rests and
must ever rest, the single ground that so It IS noa'-
mated in the bond The power which the South enjoys,
in virtue of this principle has other security than
The Constitution 1t will live and die with that nstru-
mcnt and those the best friends OF our glorious
Union who resolved, that being of the same with,
and the extent the thing, they shall flourish in
common life, or perish in common grave. But here,
in state of society such we represent 1t IL atogeth
different question. They property, and moth
ing but propertyheld in greater or less numbers IN
every section and it would be just about absurd to
regulate the division of power by estimate OF the
relative value Of lands giving the valley Of the Shen
andoah FIVE times ten times as much as TO the less
fertile regions rs to make permanent apporonment
OF political power 10 particular localities IN consdera
ton of the fact that by The last census that particular
property prevails in such localities 1t ia founding
our temple not upon a rock Of political truth and
principle but it is building the sand, and when the
rains descend and the tempest rages that house must
perish
There those who say, the west has motives to
abuse the power which justice and prncp accord her.
in right Of her numbers that because she has vast
sources, which the iberaltv and justice OF paterna
government might develop it is not safe she should be
allowed that voice in the public councils which, in diff
rent state Of things she is acknowledged to be enti
tied to- There is nothing in the history of the State
which ustlhes this proposition. There Is IN the arSl-
ment itself nothing of force plaushiity which may
be found in full great extent in pretension
il such We're Sc. up to give in the fundamental law
power and influence to individual citizens in precise
proportion to their actual wealth for it may DE that
those who have the smaller amount of property may
have the larger amount of numbers and may according
your theory, combns Cypress the holders Of prop
Sy with equal taxation. This is nothing less
than the old defence and apology Of antirepublican
systems 1t is story coeral with the existence OF hu
man sociey-the same in substance at all times and On
all occasions and whether applied in regard TO
another of all the gradatons of gov from simple
aristocracv to simple democracy Is just the same thing
in spirit and purpose 1t denies the great truth which
il has been the mission of noble country to demon
strate that the highest amount of human felicity and
prosperity best secured By system In which the ma
orty of the people have the rule Of the State We Of
the west might with reason object that you should
have equal power because you have for half century
shown reluctant spirit in that progress of enterprise
and development which would unlock the barriers OF
prosperity aud enable to claim, in virtue of
wealth. what our numbers would entitle US to de-
mand louretard the general prosperity lest you lose
local domination You cling to power at the price
of the general welfare According to the theory OF
government all power resides in, and, howsoever or
whatsoever delegated comes from the people; ma
joritv of whom have right whenever it may seem to
them fit TO reform, alter abolish any system of gov
crnment under which they may live, and to adopt one
in any form most agreeable to them 1t is precisely ut
this point that acknowledge the great truth that all
men are equally Tree and IN respect to this highest OF
all civil privileges and duties. and in that ony. In no
other condition of social ein no other in the
great drama OF human government-cau it occur
fortunes OF men are no unequal than their fa
cutes their morals their passions or their weakness
es their physical debility power. But in the orna
ton Of government for Themselves and in rlecting those
who to administer it. they are and of right ought
to be, precisely equal 1t is the rrevcrsble decree of
Almighty wisdom, that the condition of men should be
different in other respects-else the illusion of mans
pcrfect:bty is itself truth the illustration of which
approximaes by noangures in the present condition or
past history of human society But this exception
they rest. Here is common ground, on which al
the high and the low, the rich and the poor my stand
perfect equals and this is the law and prophets of
political TRUTH maintained By those who contend that
man is capable Of selfgovernment; and BY act or
of mine shall this great key stone of the republi
theory be stricken from its position. Proper
ty is not element of government it is incidental to
and dependent upon 1.-THE proper object of its regard
and protection We are told there is majority OF in
,erests and trumphanty asked if they ought not be