Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-03-18


and with them many OF thor preudices and errors.
humanity has made most distinct sdyaDce-has Ne
formed short but definite and upward cycle II
Virginia Of 1851 ia not the Virginia Of 1929 Tho di
terence in wealth Of her two grand divisions has great
changed and changed favorabr to the west The whit
population of the constitute ninety odd thousan
ut majority OF the reemcn ot TIE State--a maiort
sufficiently large Of itself form AMI half State
'ider federal constitution The prediction; Of tn
the enemies Of reform have been alsai b the eonduc
ot the west The State has gone into comparativ
decay under the iiberal government which has 20 lon
stransed her energies and driven her hardy and nob
population 10 build UP the mighty west and south Tn
examples Of the Of liberal and democratic gov
ernmens have increased in number and force until the,
nave Sirdc! lis j. We're with wall Of fire. tina,
should scar our very evcs with shame to look upon
lhe western section of the comuonw ealth increased in
numbers wealth, concentration and power cornes into
| the arena of intellectual conflict with high hope.
Buoyei up Wv the great liberal ami democratic npul.c
that has stirred the hearts OF our entire Tassea nshsd
INTO deadly eaTacstness bv their past wrongs and insults
ana stimulated y the conscious strength OF roctitudc
they plant themselves upon the equal rights Of man
with devoted nitr-wh their ali nj stake determined
10 triumph revet i'll confusion. \ minority but
minority terrible from il Justice and concentration On
the other hand. the oigarchr NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. sym
pdhr-conscous thar sinful heart makes feeble hand -
stand ut BAY and cling the sceptre with pased grasp
from conscious and the unfounded apprehension Of
coming reributon Such are the clements which are
to minge in this resnscitatei conflict between the
masses and the aristocracv of wealth-bctwecn the
rights of man and the usurpatios Of property. Under
such circumstances the have but course that
seems to be wise. VIZ will again with bfeth-
rcE-w" will again rcprovc sxioms and demonstrate
erthmatc-wc will again offer them all Of security and
guarantee consistent with honor and equaltv-we
will appeal t" their nobler naiues-endeavor To allay
Their suspicious Il they real and warn them in kind
ness and bro;hcrly love, II these higher and more
mclodous chords of the heart refuse 10 discourse
Music IL touch, il will not H. our fault We will
have done duty, and nothing will be left us but to
touch the deeper aud more dicordent base and suffer
consequences tn take Of themselves Let ia then at
once to the great issue of man capacity for selfgovern
inent AMI his rights. The following the propositions
from which | haze drawn my conclusions and upon
which you'd establish a basis of representation for
the State:
First. The sovereign power in hi. commonwealth of
right resides i'll the free male citizens thereof
whose rights rnorteie.l by The commissions Of in
famous crimes.
Second. That those in whom the sovereign power
reside, in this commonwealth Of right ought to h and
are free and equal, and entitled TO equal political
rights and equal voice either in person through their
representatives in the formation Of their government
and lis administration
Third. Tina, a majority of those in whom the sover.
cign power resides in this commonwealth have an inis
tructabc right to reform. alter abolish their form OF
government when 10 them ii shall seem wise and have
right Ia administer the same, 20 them seem
veN TIC SpIIt VI
tuition
the first proposition, am NAV not. al the Grst
glance. receive the sanction of all those with whom ex
ect Ia act and who agree with IN ultimate con-
csons but am persuaded that not ouly thov but ali
the members Of this body will upon sincere and calm
investigation of the proposition he persuaded of it's
ruthulness and will perceive that many apparent in
constituencies will be ayoidcd-nay. may actua! in
crnstcnces for II cannot be denied that there is force
sone OF the objections To the bas:a of the white
the rule ha, they destroy much of it.
force principle. 1t abors under ,h dsa;ivant &C.
gives rights End then compelled to apologize fol-
king them away and that without faux Of the part Of
those excluded 1t is claimed for examp!c) that ali the
white people of this commonwealth, are equal and en-
titled 10 equal political privileges and weight, and
this is supported with grave reasoning, as great
fundamental principle And yet in the next breath it,
advocates compelled to make-sxceptng as to wo-
men--niaiis-nom comps mens-Honyicts paupers &c,
who constitute large majority of the people and
cludc them from the right of suffrage. They
riousy contend that majority Of the white people shall
rulc and vet shrink from its application, when they
told that il possible under the operation Of this
great fundamental principle for the government Of the
country pass into the hands of women infants idiots
and madmeu. The supporters of the white population
basis Is true render most ample reasons for excluding
the persons named, yet exceptions But by admitting
these exceptions, numerous and important as they are,
gentlemen perceive that they filter away the
fulr lHat lleN ltIHlil oppoHeHlS W Will
p!ausbility-;ha there fundamental principles at
ALL at least that every must bend 10 circumstan
ccs and apparent expediencv and the opposition having
the power in their hands (aithough they might
shrink from direct attack upon great md truthful
principe) will they not find it convent and expedien
TO filter away the residue Of your principles for although
power may be overcome By correct plain and unayoid
able truths and principles, yet whenever from necessity
choice the outsiders place their appeal for power up
expedicncy alone ten to one Is safe wager upon
Al. horn
most marvellous power Of inducing to believe OF fan
cy they believe, that circumstances, either perso
nal political or local. con-plre to render it peculiarly APP
propriae that they should govern But have adopted
this proposition not alone because of any sophsries and
pausbiitcs it may avoid but because it is true. For
It seems to NE clear that the reasoning which will
cludc the persons indicated from the exercise OF
cign power, will ms certainly and far more apty provo
that they not the repositories OF sovereign power at
all In fact deny the right of human being TO de-
prvc another Of natural right to have free and equal
voice in his government But my proposition excludes
them not by Geprving them Of right, but BY demon
sraug that hc do not possess and entitled to no
such right Indeed seems to me an absurdy, to con-
tend chat the sovereign power resides i'll persons. who
from their very natures. from insurmountabe obec
ton- are unable to exercise it for he who neither
exercise a power or right himself, nor delegate it 70
another. in and with no proprety be said
to possess that power right Would IT not be ridiculous
to say that sovereign power resides in infant the
intellect had dawncd. 1t therefore perfect
" clear. that those and those only, he numbered
among the sovercns, who possess the requisite present
ability to exercise it with sound matuled mind and
free will. The proposition advanced is believed to be
perfectly defcn-be to the extent claimed aud yet ex-
tends a. far a. the most liberal could wish. and ex-
cludcs no ca-s that is really entitled 10 be included
1t is no answer to my position 10 say that individual
might have the requisite qualifications and yet be ex-
clndcd by nv proposition. This must ever happen to
the most perlcc, Of principles. 1t ia defect in the OPP
Grafton or practice, and not in the principle Laws must
for convenience be made general and applicable to
dons and classes, and not to individuals and in detail
principle may he regarded correct when if carried to
il fullest extent, it, operations would be just
| 1t is regarded as objection to the proposition
to deny TO these parties the possession OF sover-
eighty, to saythat they have many rights and priv
eges both BY and the laws of society Negroes
| and aliens who US will be admitted BY all are to
be excluded have many rights by law Even the ass in
state of nature entitled to pursue his path of hap
pincss to follow the dictates Of his nature unnoested
and while subject to man entitled to like privileges
bnt subject Only to the will of Ms master, and 10
prot ecte from his cruelty Animals are even sub
cct to the laws The dog that goes mad or the horse
thu. becomes ganercd pays with his life the forfeiture
of his mi.fortunes dsrespcct to the parties
excluded by this species Of reasoning, Is simply to
l.xls IA.