Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-05-13

ninety odd thousand OF the neemsl OF lne "esI are us
ranchsed What is the true position of gentlemen wt
urged this objections They the open advocates fo
placing department of the government in the hands
OF minority of the people, we propose to place al
the departments, in the hands OF majority of tht
voters they object to our plan, not because it doc
not go further than theirs but because it does not
rs far in their opinion it might The objection woult
seem to advocate the White Basis. | ask gentlemen
which approaches nearest to it, the Suffrage the Mix
Oh Barsf
evident proposition and therefore ctnnot be elucidet
bs argument The gentleman from Pttsylvania (Mr
WaIrrLE) has however sumbitted concise and force
able argument to prove its correctness The gentomar
from Halifax, Mr EpMuSps has also proven it by his
argument lie admitted he is under obligations to obey
instructions. Suppose instructions sent here from
his district 49j in favor and 400 against Which would
he otey Having admttedthe right he would be bound Il
carry out the 495, and thereby would distinct
y admit the correctness of the majority rule But rs
lin crsan the arguments Of gentlemen the correctness
of this rule admitted The only question now ia what
constitutes the maority-is it majority of numbers or
majority Of interests
Let us now apply tho first three sections of the bill oil
rights to the question under considerations Will be seen
that the two first sections contemplate people outside
Of social compact while the thrdprc supposes the eN,
iistrncc of government Gentlemen on the other side
have argued that rs constitution has heretofore been
tt ned and is in force i'll this state, the TWO ns"e
sections have no application. lhare already SHOWN mat
W
been formed that while the existing constitution anu laws
are in force for other purposes they cannot coho our
action here 1t is therefore clear that the two fSt rs
well as the third section appcao!c TO tllS Question,
The first section declares great fundamental 'tu,h'
.lhnt all men arc by nature equally Tree ana mae
n.nInt The second declares ''tlat all power is
vested in and consequently derived from the people
How does the Mixed Basis proposition square Up with
the great principle here laid down Instead OF deriving
the pnwers of the government from the people the only
u, To ,l.ri,b bnlf
from The people, and the other half from property. This
palpat!c violation of the principle and if the Mixed
Basis should be sustained this second section ought to
be amended, to declare that hafof the power is
vested in, and consequently derived from the peo-
pie and that the otherhaf is vested i'll and derived from
property The grave and important question sprescnt
ed for decision whether the people shall govern
property property govern the pcoplel Whether SOW
eregutv resides i'll the people or in money! The third
section provides that majority of the community
hath right reform, alter, &c. Gentlemen the
other side insist that "a majority of the community,
mus. b. construed to mean 81 majority of interests;
thus giving to the word community" the meaning
that would be given to the word interest or IN other
WORKS. that community should be stricken out aud iii
tcreSs inserted lieu in thereof Webster gives the follow
ing definition of the word community. "a society peo-
pie having COMMON society at large" the pub
lie the people in general, "a state "a commonwealth
1t il clear from this definition that Community, in this
secuu was not used synonymous with interests, but
to convey the idea of the people in state of society
In these sections the people are spoken Of as out OF
social compact. aud in a social compact benin Tie
condition first named they called the people SIM
ply, when in the second they are called the community
Both the people, and the only shade Of difference
is that the latter expressive the difference IN the
relative position people in society OF society
II is therefore total pervcrsion of the meaning OF TINS
section To construe It, rs IS insisted upon by gentle
men on the other side, and it seems to me that the fair
construction must be- that ma ority OF the people
in the government have right to alter that govern
ment.
II seems now to be conceded on all hands. that the
purposes of government to secure 'c liberty aud
nro;erv Life first because of the first importance, lib
erty second because important; and property as
because not important life and liberty certain
portion Of the state has more ot peculiar property
than the other portion and it is insisted that IN order
that property 1t should DC represented III inc
legislative department. If representation be necessary
to secure property it is equally necessary to secure life
and liberty And if the eastern people are entitled to
representation for property TIE western people are en-
titled to representation for life and liberty 1t has been
said that the personal rights OF the western people VIII
Le secure in the hands of the minority. reply
that the property Of the will be secure In the hands
of 4 western majority And when am told that the
east will impair the security for the enjoyment OF life
and liberty in the west answer that the west will not
invade the property of the east Every argument there
fore that can be urged in support Of minority retain
ing the powers of government, applies with Increased
force to establish the right of majority to rule ana
that right is independent of any ts-eatened danger TO
the majority or any unprecedented abuse of power on
the part of the minority But if the picture drawn of
mankind by The gentleman from Albemare DIR. SOUTH
ALLY be corrcct-f they selfish aud not 10 be trust
ed-t we have no confidence in our ministers of the
Gospel may not this power be abused may not this mi
uortv impose heavy capitation tax upon the western
people and r.collectng that they have the uncontrolled
power Of appropriation, will they be restrained from
doing So because bound to levy like tax upon them
selves. May they not By undue taxation, orcr-burdcr
aud Cypress the salt and iron Interests, which are pcc
liar to the west; And what miSchefs may not arise
from an improper interference with federal relations SO
fully reviewed, aud furcbly commented upon by the
gentleman from hanawha, Mr.. SUMMERs) Ii then
there is security for property but by representation
there can be security for life and liberty but by rep
rcsentatOn and demand TINT security upon the prln
ciples avowcd by gentlemen Oh the other side-l de-
,nard upon the great aud imnutabe principles OF re-
publican liberty achieved by the blood OF our ancestors
aud following the example set Will accept no paper
guarantees for the security of these the most exalted
and important of ali human rights. There is but one
mode of escape from this argument, and that Is to pr
sue the minated h some gentleman on the
other sdc By balancing the free of the west with
the slaves of the east II this be desired contempla
ted, beg that eastern brethren will frankly and
honestly it. We shall then know that they do in
tend to degrade us; and entertaining such feelings to-
wards their western brethren they certainly have
no very great desire to remain under the same social
But this question has been discussed by gentlemen or
the other side if il contemplated TO establish
pure democracy; aud in their zeal to secure the rights
of the minority, they have wholly overlooked he rights
of the majority. We propose to establish republican
government the peculiar excellence Of which is, tina
by proper constitutional limitations and restrictions the
rights of all arc sccurcd-:he minority as well as h
majority. Gentlemen, however, take occasion to dc
nonce the constitutional limitations and restriction,
as mere paper guarantees and such will not be OBJ
served by the people Of the west. We came here te
form socia compact-to enter into the most solemn
all contracts-and we are met BY minority who pro-
claim in advance that the minority viii prove aithes
to their undertakings and they assign tn as
why they should not so into the contract with them
and why they should retain the power, which in justice
and equity they should surrender to that majority.
this he CORE vew and gentlemen on the other side
insist upon carrying it OUT there is an end TO our labor
here for there never has been free government form
ed where the contracting parties have not had mutua
confidence in each other
But is it true that these paper guarantees, as gentle
men choose 10 call them, Of no force! lfee myself
called upon to repe this wholesale Islander upon the
peope OF this cd commonwealth. When was it, thai
tbey repudated their social compact: When did they
violate any provision Of their constitution When die
the western people fail to comply with their obligation:
10 tbc government or refuse TO carry out in good faith