Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-04-04

ton of lvyernmeut ulie. the constitution which has Ia
ken place Such as THAI oil meu are by nature
equally free sndn3e26ent Gc Another class, and ~
for the most numerous cea'loer relates 20 tie prae
cal administration Of govenaleut under the constl-
triton whirh ar. rights inside ut the constitution
as has been we'll expressed hy eastern nei sc!I as
no mail shall be ri without being confronted WIN
M acc,.ser hat genera warrants SHAH not he i:>ii
ant va.uus ether provisions. Vow no ia"Eef u s''S
Commonwealth would pretend II the defence or PROSE
cltion Of criminal to dely t-at tle. were Oh ,aory
u;,ou tn, currrs and ;st an legislative att dsprlFinS
citizya Of the bc:iei. ii them '"i!d T." null ANA v"'tl
NJ her. would prctc'd - ':cA' ''.' lct t!ec
E.cyi ion coming :'cr dliIe!ci' c!ss u" VIOLA;
lion NJ which has taken pa:. il my oi'io IN the c
oi ihi, Coyc ion and lhY obligation OF which, III l"c
ticc Al lcas, u rt,cr.y deny. and Which relates exc!u
sye - hltr.in. Amending a!ol!ii:n; the c;:itG
ton ar wLic ct,:sdcr outside Of Tie constitution
and has no rctr.cnc" The practice under H. II Is u
| follows
Tina: government i. m ought 10 be instituted Tor the
common benefit! projections aud "ecuritT OF the people
nation or community: o. a.! tie various ,.,.s an;
mries of government that il best which !. capable Of
producing III, greatest degree OF happiness and :,iet;
;.! is most cicctlar SECURED ag.Iia- the danger 10
Elal-;.lnin:7 traton; AMI that where ans -iTernul2n
shall ,e iDa.i Inadequate or con:fdi to ''" purpose
!; majority .. IA. community hath IN iniui.aDc. El
licatc a..l i:l.leaSi!!a Ri ht u lc.l. i.cI-n 3o
is it, in ,ct! ,.:i,,- sa!! b! jul ;c !ot conducive
! 90 tae rII,c wc.:.
a. ul!crstnu! this article la: rctr!ci:c - tho
ractc! administration Of the la"s under tr cUla.itg-
% 1t has exclusive rc:crenec The cal! "a Convention
TT seh efforts as lie people m!s gin make for the purp1se
OF ;ihoiisHliug or .nerii, the existing constitution Ii
would be strange il tie Legislature were invested by
husc who first framed the bill Of rights with the sole
power upon this subject, when they themselves were III
the act of changing the government under which tlcy
were living and in opposition to il. Ga the contrary
have m doubt that the design OF those who inserted this
claim preTet those who to hc invest with
the governmental powcrofth" commonwealth throw
lns obstacles III the wa of majority "i the people,
whenever they thought proper IN call Convention for
the purpose ~ reforming their constitution Il would
i'll become men who arr just throwing oil yoke OF II
d.spot tn interpusA n-ea-abir obstacles in the of
future generations recia tirir lost RI gifts, Whenever
those who invested with the governmental powers
of the Commonwealth should have been disposed 10
a1se that power Aud certain! Y il w"ul,! 10; lie very
s:, 10 compel hc pco pie in order to get ril of u-arpc,!
AMI abused power rely solely and exclusively upon
those who had been guilty 81 the aha." aud urp-tion
t" say whci aud how they ho;lh rl themselves Of ii.
III" gentlemen that those who haze the govern
mental power III heir hands, will not abuse it, New.
this assumption is just the o what tii- third
clause assumes. adj is designed guard against
/ contend th, clause hh- Reference eXciliai, ely To
changing this COZ .rnmcnt but il does ucce.sar. fol-
low hA the people bound to dispense with the acti"
Of those who invested with the governmental power
! IN cfcc:ins suci alterations
Look At the provisions OF this c'au-e. In the FIR place
l.; declares whni is the ohec o! government The hap
prss u" the people. In the second place il declares what
l. the trst o good government 10 Wit it. tendency 10
cicc: ..c cct Of is creation! in the third picc il de-
ctarcs whea Tic people have right change it and in
the fourth place IL declares wn have the right 10 change
t4c majority Of the Corl..i.tE ill that this right
Is in!nhta5le unilleimbc and udc!cabls Nov here
i, iiporan, point. WHO constitute the majority of
that community. We are told that it l:rans major
itv I" interests OF property Wei. are We 10 resort
4 -
Up under arist1craiic nlonarcca! n-uion whose
notions to the meaning OF word, va, derived from
the institutions with which the: were i:.:ur Tor HE
purpose vi ascerta!nng the me.i,ing =! such words
which IN free colilry, hav: peculiar ,i;nitcato'i
Bat sall .r nothing iurttc- up, t;,t pplt because
II Is unnecessary. The word 'conmnitv is ,.c doubt
'essl; III the a> branch ot the article IN The sense
III which II Is used III the previous i:dach. There il
say that til" people the nation thu r"rmrl;v"
u.:r; ii" w"-'! ''oioIuntc' clearly .rous
;;cn "ni il vii! be hnI fr any gsniria t" prov. to
the satisfaction Of any body that people meant
! property or that uation meant property Who
ar" that maortyl Is il to BE- asccrtaiI.cd b. count
! Ing those only who exercise the right o. suffrage
in regard to the administration of the government
uncr the constitution is the count 10 be extend
Ct! all the free white male citizens over the are
81 twenty-onc, vino allegiance to the government
sag /, Means the me- Ior!tv Of the grown male white
population Now gentlemen ask us why not embrace
"oiucH ana cldrnn anu cTtn slaves hey are Portions
Of the Dation Of the people, and The Community. an
sSr!. There never #as contract set made hat did not
III Tho nature oi :h.nSs imply limitations some
qualifications - be put upon its general terms If it
Ia contract under tho laws Of This Commonwealth
The law anneXe as necessary qualifications and as pre-
suned 10 be understood between the parties. conditions
to il, to limit il according 10 existing w. an, even
according Ia tle cmEicn understanding of the comma.
MI: II which il is made. aud they become a part and
p&:esl Of the c"nt:,e Veil, this is governmental.
crapHci, mad iii ~ be understood in reference t. tie
common understanding al mankind will. regard t. ,i.ni-
sto IN reference 10 governmental as with re-
gard 10 private contract under the laws OF the COM
mcnwcalth. Now what il the general understanding
w'h regard TO the meaning Of the term 0rity OF the
people Does II embrace and children. i not
tdc universal understanding OF mankind in every gov.
eminent whether it has any regard Ia the freedom OF it,
Citizens or III thai IN such cumputa :ionr that women
anl children eSc!lue that their is such tho Der
fec: identify =: interest between women and men be-
tween chireu and parents thar it is perfectly safe
-trus! Their rights tn the infringement of govern
neata affairs 10 the addlt male part OF the community
! There Ecvet was Il government under the sun 10
matter what it- form, whether nona.Chca aristucra;
cal republican, 'ht attempted Ia invest the Ia
dies aud children with the same portion of ,,ntica
power with which men were invested II VA, nrv,,
deemed necessary md the ladies ne ser askc it. because
they knew they We're perfectly safe without it, But will,
regard to the nonrotcrs-i nay nse the ev,.rc ,s;on
we're the; NOT parties 10 the original cuEcf ali the
constitution Ii not parties the compact in the forma
on OF the Government, have they not become parties
by co:lrnon consent when they become of ag 1t would
be bard for gentleman to hazard the opnious that
tn : moi parties To that compact The declaration
OF rights directly recognize, them a, citizens aud de-
clres that shall he governed except by his con-
sent Every constitution almost in the United States
federal and state recognizes he principle that every
man, whether property hodcr or not is party to
the compact although he may be stripped of the right
of suffrage, and of all influence and control in the ac
tual administration Of the government he il still
party and is entitled to the protection OF tie govern
ment with every other citizen 1t is perfectly c,mpe-
tent when people are assembled to form compact that
they should limit the right Of suffrage under the govern
ment they please They have the right to establish
monarchy nristocracs democracy such as thew
please 1t is nero question of experience and dis
cretion in the exercise of which they ought 10 have ref
crcnce to the capacity Of the particular people for
whom it is to be founded for self-governmen OVERT
they have unlimited control and any fern is better
than none. must be governed and if thew think
monarchy would be better calculated to promote the
objects Of government then they in duty bound to
others a. well themselves to establish it, I admit
tina, if citizen Of many of the nation, Of tn.
earth comprising vast majority of the people that exist
upon the face Of the earth and the proposition was