Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-02-18

tleman from Richmond (Ar. MEREDITH the other day
1t was that il You make governor reehgoie ne Woud
be counting the legislature or he intriguing with poItI
cians and would be asking rshomihatio 10 the once
nv hs noltca party and his consequent reelection
Wall now prant YOU that he may. Whilst have the
fullest confidence in the people, do not believe them
nfallible 10 err is human" Butt do believe that
whenever the people err if may be permitted to make
quotation from source tiiat Is fatlcr sure 10 us
democrats the sober second thought always correcs
them Suppose the proposition to he true that by in
triguing with politicians he will secure arenolnnation
and his CONSEQUENT election what does 1t prove Does ii
prove that the people are so corrupt as not 10 PM
their foot on such means SO blind s not to see II
| sorry to hear my able ana learned lr1enn from
Fauquer take the position which he did on the day be-
fore yestsrslay-hat he desired democracy to be ex
plunged or in other words that he desired government
combining with it arstocracy and monarchy The learn
ed gentleman referred to the history of the ast-o the
past called republics and does he not ind an exam
pie in those very republics OF that %Gh ne desires
The republic of Sparta so called under the institutions
of her great law.gver Lycrgus, had monarchy and ar
istocracy; and after period Of one hundred and eighty
years democracy united herewith Inc EpAof,' was
the only democratic feature III the government ana they
were elected But let ne tel the gentleman liat tie
people in the election of the Epho,i were restricted in
their selection the nobility Soft was with the socalled
republic of Athens-the people elected their Archos
vet they were restricted in their selection TO the
members of their aristocracy. And if in Rome the
Trmnes were elected bv the people-if | remem-
her rpbt. they were elected from the Patricians.
All three Of these republics show Us by their example
the danger of imposing such restrictions upon the sove-
reign Of NIL power Oh earth. 1t is dangerous. and the
history of the ancient world proves it TO he dangerous.
There il purity with the Masses there Is patriotism.
there is love ef country there. But when yo pass from
the masses to politicians and TO the arlsocracy can
NOT say So much With the masses there Is patriotism.
They have nothing to govern or to guide them but the
great principle of love OF country Nothing but parl-
osm governs in their bosons Not SO with the arist0-
crat and the politician They have other considerations
governing them Politicians look to themselves, aristo-
Gratis TO the grasp power and the love Of the unholy
pow,rs of wealth which proved the and the down
TALL of the Roman republic. aud whcl, WILL ere long,
sta, from the people this commonwealth that which
they cannot surrender but which may be stolen from
them to the downfall of our republic All history de
monstrates that the danger to republic Is the stealing
Of power from the masses, and taking into the hands
OF the aristocracv or the few. And above all things,
IA wise legislators it beooves TO guard the sovereign
powers and sovereign rights of the people. With them
there honesty and patriotism and SO long you keep
the love of country the patriotic feeling burning in them
the lamp of liberty will never be extinguished.
| beg pardon for having detained the committee so
much longer than designed Ny sole desire was to de
fine nv position or principle which principle is to guide
ME in nv acts in this Convention. shall vote against
any and every restriction proposed to be laid on the peo
pie shall for any and every proper restriction on
tleman from Pittsyvana, who has alluded to the fact
that there arc other restrictions i'll tc report that at u
proper time there will BIZ other PROPOSE lions OF amend
Inent. But sufficient unto the day.
Mr.. SCOTT, Of Caroline. rise not Tor th" purpose
Of entering into labored discussion but the very III
tercsng discussion which has engaged the attention Of
this body upon the pending propositions, has suggested
few reasons which will govern me III the vote thai
shall be called upon III give Much has been sad
which meets my appreciation, and much has been rald
which meets my disapprohtion Irnme here ms thought
with mind open 10 conviction And III the canvass III
which performed an humble part although had formed
opinions, and considered in my mind, governmental
questions that would be brought here Yet upon every
and all occasion- hestated to to the people that
if they elected me, they would have tn elect me up"
trust With mind thus free To conviction came here 10
listen to the various arguments that should be addnced
By the able aud distinguished gentlemen here and with
desire Of Cunning therefrom such light and information
al would conduct my mind to truthful concluslon-l
have with deep interest and undated attention CLEANED
the broad field Of forensic eoqueucc exhibited here ami
eileavored to draw from it the truth aud separare II
from error have been taught to look 10 the constu
ton Of our country moi with the feeling ui aversion
manifested by some Of the speakers npon this floor; but
had been taught il: and am willing to
preserve in il all that is good and eject from 1T nil that
bad would regard il as would venerable father
would reverence it for It's virtues, but ! would with
draw from it its intirntics would not ly the hand al
Vandalism upon it, because it is The creation of some o
the wisest minds aud the best heads that this country
has ever | would not this noble fabric from
its Foundation: but would repair it where necessary
and reform ts imperecons. Looking Ia IT, then in this
point OF view approach the subject under ronsldera-
ton with the o, arriving ut conclusion. To which
the best Judgment Of my mind conduct me- Suppose,
for moment hoist all governmental restraints, and
resolve society into its original elements and leave II
urestraned and unresricted-what would he It's inerl-
table tendencyf The inevitable tendency would be- I"
.r.1. II
mcn adduccd By my friend from Montgomery (Mr Hoes
should be carried out in application to the constitution
its results would inevitably lead t" that There might
be some force in his argument. il We We're 10 regard
man rs perfect and exempt from those frntics winch
necessarily connect themselves with human nature ''it
looking to him a. he is necessary that some restraints
should be imposed upon him. for the purpose Of check
ing the passions Of the human heart and for the purpose
of regulating and controlling his otherwise uncomfortable
actions Why, this principle lies at thu foundation FALL
government Government is but limitation upon popular
rights and whether look to republican or onarchical
governments it exercises, and will exercise upon the &C
lions of MI men, moral restraints. For the purpose OF
preventing the existence of the principle of anarchy, s
existing amon, mankind in unrc-lraincd and uncon
trolable state, government has been established. And
By government those restraints necessary to the we'll
being Of society," are necessarily imposed have not
heard an argument uduced here that did not admit the
fact that all wholesome and necessary restraints were
proper order 10 restrain the action Of men, and the only
difference between the various speakers who have address
cd you the sube:t is that restraints not ne
cessary, but how far hesc restraints should cxtendthe
party contendng that these restraints shond be few
and the other contends that they should extend fur as
restrain state Of society under which the cit
izen may better enjoy his rights mpaircd If the ar
gunent of my worthy friend be correct no restraint
would be necessary He says if our fair friends, the
ladies' could be made citizens if minors could be recog
nzed citizens of the mmonwealth that, IN the ap-
pcation of this principle he would even advocate their
exercising all political power; and TINT but the c-
climate deduction from his argument
Mr. HOGE. beg pardon for interrupting the gentle
man. Ny position was, that if the ladies were made
citizens then should claim the right to vote for one OF
them for governor. But you would have TO make them
citizens first.
Mr. SCOTT. Then, according to the view OF the gen
eman if his vote to be restricted to the lady cti
zens then perhaps he would 90 to the fullest extent and
restrict the other part of society from voting for govern
or. But this is apart from tho question | know that
the ladies the repositories of all the softer and KIND
virtues and that in their proper sphere they are very
active in asserting their supremacy, so far as the n-
ence of those virtues exist laughter But that was
the legitimate tendency Of the gentleman's argument,
and finding So he sought anticipate the argument on
the other side by qualification he himself gave to the
point. But this is diversion from the true question at