Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-06-20

only themselves to the .erity to- the degraded post
to destruction ana lhe' pnd DRIVERS Of water 10 tne
ton OF he"ers "a AID that all might cohnaS az
HIGH purpose and firm r0rs for the rectitude Of
Supreme Arntei ,ledced to each other their ives
their motives uiu tbeir sacred honor to MAINTAIN. thein
their fortunes anu are that all men by nature are
s-ss and Independent ' T a.
in and derived from the Peope benefit, pro
or ought TO .. of the people,; and that when any
lection ana sI be found inadequate OF contrary 70
government a it is the right OF the people
Sere understand means the n5sra,and tbat the
abolish n; naorty are the Judges. constitute the SOW
people, Tue "a who alone has the right to Ju'ige ana
efe'gn w. ,vhere it is sxpedent and to wnat eAlenS y.
deteriIte or abolish the existing government: nu.
alter. with which the government has not VI
hive any thing do, except 80 far as mold
NV by which the existing soca! system
my n Il should afford all needfui faalht'esto ny
S Is. a;u What is the will Of the sovereign
nn,s here as it has been commended Tor oy se
eoit sn, the east, and think admitted oJ genus
from the west that upon these principles the SOW
ars;n people have the right to erect whatever lor ~
s-nI,ent they think is capable Of producing Inc
eat degree Of happiness and safety and IS mos e
tfrally secured against the danger OF mai adnh'sA
; whether monarchy or aristocracy, or deinocra
-. ~ mixed or representative government and that
whatever kind it may be- it Is but the creature o. th'
sovereign people who have the same right to alter OF
abolish that they had to create Our toretathers wle
proclaimed the foregoing principles AND naeu 't .L
foundations so strong and deep thet we nope ~
powers of earth viii be able to eradicate Them
advised for their preservation frequent recurrence !.
these fundamental principles and trim adherence
Justice, moderation, temperance rugahty anu virtue
It does not belong the agents or servants VI th'
people, but to the people themselves, to determine "nei
thew sal recur to these fundamental prncip!es anc
when it is expe and when their welfare requires II
We have been convened here for the purpose OF Equ!r
ing whether the machinery OF the government OF II
na requires reform or alteration or change ana VT
think So to present conclusions to the sovereign PEG
pie for their final action.
Tia admitted nv all that this constitution ought to bt
amended but who shall select the agents to conduct
manage this machinery, IS the important eohs,uetau
now Before this committee 1t Ii admitted ior the TACT
known to ALL that minority OF ninety QUO thousa ~
the white nhabit ants of this Commonwealth RESIDE On
the western side Of the Blne Ridge while nearly TWO
thirds of the taxes of the State are collected from Inc
population residing east Of this same dividing Ina
large majority Of the white population reside west o.
the mountains, and y large malol1! "a uo ~
present wealth Of the State located IN the eastern a
vision Of tho Commonwealth by her Citizens who
Contend that property is m element IN all governmental
arrangement and that it should not only De protected
BY the fundamental laws but that 1t should DC repre-
scented in the governmental powers that 1t may be aols
to protect ITSELF not simply that it may under peculiar
circumstances, be expedient to give 1t this power ou
that it is an inherent right which attaches to property
We from the west and representing western people c
western interests believe these doctrines to be repudi
alton of the principles of the revolution as declared ~
the bill of rights and the declaration of independence
departure from the true spirit and genius of our nsti
tutions and Justification of the doctrines OF our fathers
That this position leads to arbitrary power-tha
the people will to he the actual and acknowledged
,sovereigns and that the sovere power will DC seized
held and controlled by governmental majority Tor the
own purposes and selfish ends although that govern
mental majority may be minority OF the people nation
or community
The position taken by the gentleman from Fauquier
r. Scorr) substantially this we of the east have
the power, and will part with it; we have the
governmental our HANDS, and you shalt not Wrest II
from grasp except olution The east holds the
power and she intends to cratinue to hold 1t.
During my rambcs about th city, for curiosity or fol-
exercise, beautiful piece of ordnance decorated
with the lilies of France. Sention the ornament te
show that it 10 not Indigenous a,,,t ovntic Upon il
written, in bold characters, Ultima ratio Rey"'"
Whenever gentlemen take the position that they are The
governmental naiorty-that they have the power anc
mean to keep itshey are adopting the sentiment
they IRE using the same knocA;down argument which
the Kings of France and the gov ernmenta oppressors
man have ever uacd
When allude to this argume Mt this ultima ratio Re
gm do not it for amy other purpose than to show
what is the necessary consequence of the position gen
uenen assume who say they are III position of power
COVER smental power and find ie pedent to hold to it
In tn revolution now attempting to effect IN the
fundamental law. Of Virginia, far as my wishes my
feelings and my astons concerned, it is to be
peaeeable revolution, one to be effected by the
ict of mind with mind i'll which each party calls to his
aid Ehose high prnc pes Of eternal right aud justice
hoee considerations Of expedieney which pecqnr cir
[cumstances may render it tho part of wisdom to be IN
dueuced by and rejoice that In all this warfare
likely to resort to the use OF any other weapons
than those of reason and ouad argument.
Sir we must recollecs hat this nation presents the
most extraordinary spectacle the world bshelda
great nation second to or earthwhen We take in
consideration popu aton our resources, aud the
Of territory; HI peace at home aud respected
dread; without single bayonet fixed single sword
drawn n single cannon pointed to enforce the exc
cuton of the laws and constitutions by which her people
are regulated public sentiment founded conviction
Of equal laws and equal justice and equal rights gives
force and respect to those laws hch all the military
array Of the powerful nations could not produce
is true that have few regiments of troops and
lew ships at not for the object however. Of en-
forcing obedience to laws but to repel foreign ag
sression legal mandate signed by the lowest officer
known to our land finds ready obedience than is
rendered to decree emanatin from the most absolute
sovereign backed by his trained legols This state Of
things every phanthropst every patriot desires to per
oetuate and that all of revolutions may be effected
peaceaby. use the word rev outon. if may be per-
nitted 80 to use it. in what would call American
sense of the word-such revolution is effected al
most every year in some one or more OF the States of
this Union-a revolution III which the sovereign people
assemble Dy their delegates IN convention, anu tere D
The exercise Of the faculty of reason which God hath
bestowed in his animal creation alone lnau fight
ud against mind each supported BY such principles Of
right and Justice, and such circumstances Of time and
position as he may deem it advisable expedent to
al his ad in the discussion and change OF the fun
lnental laws of his State contest in which parties
have met to destroy e-to test the physical power
Of man-how much human nature sustain and en-.
lure-but to examine into the true science of govern
meut to reach the truth, and to j., what is just and
fright between and man, section and section. Call
sol iers, delegates, representatives, you pre-
fer then ume of the sovereign people, from every part Of
the State here assembled fight their battle and per
ait here to say that far, in my humble opinion
the battle has been manfully wagsd
Now, Mr.. Chairman, permit me to call the attention
If the committee to Of the positions taken by the
n the discussion OF the proposition of the gentle
man from Fauquer, (Sir ScorT,) who not only intro
luced the proposition, but has argued it with an ap.
parent confidence i'll its soundness which shows that he
IS as bold soldier pulled trigger OF drew
sword and is well worthy Of the lead assigned to him
| by his eastern peers.
One position taken by that leader in suostasce md
meaning this: that it would be unwise for those in pos
of, tha