Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-06-24

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most perfectly to which We would all answer tie re-
publican, where in country, the people ie
suited TO 1t but am simply arguing the question !"
natural right IN the physical majority to govern.
but II his claim cauuot be sustained on the ground 81
Superior steal force does it rest seclrey Oh tis
argument ii ms friend from Monroe, (Mr CAreRroS,
'hat the sovereignty is in the people. and must ha'
VOICE therefore, OF necessity the voice OF the nuher
! majority is the VOICE OF the sovereignty Or are '"
10 adopt the proposition Of the gentleman from knaw'
a, mr. SUMMERS TINT all men have natural RI ht I"
equal power, and that the of equal rights i'll the mn
ory constitutes rig ht TO the greater shat of Political
Fowcrt Vow. respectfully conceive that such idea
proceed from al abuse Of terms entire uiaconccp
"i 81 The true nature Of popular sovereignty AMI T."
ca power Tehtlenlcrl seem TO think that these ryit-
oil Witch they talk m. ~ many units Of the same
lure, an! cap!.. ii heHg suhjcctcd 10 MI the rules ri
arithmetic IN .cr hands government Ceases Ia b.
the complex sci:c. and arr which all the wise,
OF the past hnvr i;.i,led high and iiiicuI;: i
becomes simple affair of numbers, clpabl. Of la:l.
reduced to the Rule oil Three. aud well worked
By any school boy rs by all the wisdom of the Stat,
Give the Whole population, the population Of each
IS The number OF representatives, and the whole work j.
done All t.c manifold Interests and necessities "i Il.
country provided for. What beautiful SIM .:::t.
Why, sir knew that in this age 81 progress our mort;
crn brethren had simpliiied knowledge won !criu
degree and that short caerhism would make ycr
master OF chemistry, astronomy any Of the og"S
nothing Of learning tho ui writing good haad
in easy Icason'. But that craftsmanship should h..
made easier and cheaper than this that The -crncr
81 government should hccon" mere lasnr for Srh'"''
boys-r,Iy SIR. this is Vet greater achievement. for
which irc indebted to white basis arhm,iiri
s|hooi
return. however, to the argument What i, p"pu.
sr sovereignty And what ID mean when We >pea.
Of the sovercg n pr"plc! think thu; we III I'D
habit Of using these terms il very different
We may an Independent people, free community.
sovereign rs To all other nations or States in this
tn irn1 mai, .lly
Is nappsicable. For here sovereign peopc is nnl
other term for sovcrc gn State. and is yoic" i,
pressed through the forms Of its constitution, by whic
alone the inhabitants are associated into an craiizc
people community and that ""ica il said Ia ~.
sovereign u the citizens it 10 all thu rest Of
The world Bat the other hand, the idea of sn""re snt
be tacued not ~ this organized community, bur -
the n!i:i.uals who compose Il. each Of whoa Is IL
deed .ovcral his natural rights for al natural
rights arc Individual rights. Political rights u
y1ini derived from compact. since the body p".ii!t
exists ONLY b. virtue n COMPACT ii convention. "!h"'
actual implied But aTcrr man has in his individual
capacity as BIZ of Rights declares, certain natural
and nalienable rights The arc na"rd. because The"
are essential to the Very purposes Of hi existence kc'"
81 shown ~ his n:u:r and they 'natien.h!c, tc
cause natural Such as the instrument Wei d;
fines. are "thc e,iorncnt If lite AL liberty with t..
means of acquiring IN po,:s,ing property and pur-'
in, and obtaining h:,,il:ess, AMI safety Every ms
is sovereign for example % his lie. s!ncr no or. can
riehtf fully deprive lin oif except IN edcence no;
c:n the whole community ju,;y take it. for am sap
iose good however great, Or for any cai!se st; at
the preservation q! ir existence or the existence 81
it, rr.bers Equally li il tSe title to lihcrtT, :"
acquire and hold property, - pursue happiness. 81
whatever You besve u h: happiness by nl the mca''
which God and nature have rrov ed YOU ludepcnien'
Of al control and free from any condition, except th
yuu shall moi interfere with others These nre mans III.
tura insenablerights, in regard to which he s soy
creil not only against every other Individual not oni
aya, the majority bnt agains the whole community
and all mankind We're the whole world III arm"
against him ne would still b. rgtttul sovereign Wlth''i
these limits In this sense, tho tera snrc:esn people
assume, truly grand and sublime Significance. Ii
m,ans nsoptr Of xo:crcirna OF individuals, every onr
of whom more truly sovereign in these. his rr-erv"
and individual rights than the Qleen Of the British I'm
pire upon her throne in reference Ia her royal pre-
. negatives
Now SIR the true object f,- which political society j.
ms utcd is To preserve AMI E,inaiI this natur: soy
ereirrtv and tbs belicy" myself 10 be he sole. JUS
legitimate purpose of political 1nlon. /: matters ro'
how YOU suppose such unions I" have :sui f"r ny
own bart entertain snrh tauta(El be!ic :'ai ilh't
ever vas period or state o nature. a II - called
,jor "a noIifical society 40 sir nature scet:, go.
rr,nru are alike OF divine orign. IN" trr%lnr !:;s
implanted in mans rras; instincts which lnsi nm ~
to political society. He is hy natEre moi "!F .'r'
hut ~ Aristotle SAYS, po'i!:nH ""'"6'. bui me "'-
iert f all these INSTINCT ri tis- whole maHn"r ot h'7
existence is 10 increase his freedom in the development
q; his own nature and the true aim and ca OF polite |!
union is 10 preserve nvina,c niaJs natural or lh'i'
nal Sovereignty Without government he would nc we
prey 20 all kinds Of iaw!rss vloonco. The weak "o'S
b. Subject 10 the strcnr. and that very aw OF !o:cs vi
superinr ,umbcrs which gentlemen 10" propose I" con
sacratr and make tho basis OF nnr constitution ""a''
ho sprem. On the contrary, hv mean: % government
man is freed from this ve t@a!don OF loTce be Is s.,
c;rc, from all violence, whther from individuals ct
from ,nujttu.es and he il lett in his natural ghtz VIII
no sovereign but his Cod free TO improve ny ills ""'
mi Inr 1lp
his care.
Political al .rtv therefore. is designed To rI'ar! ~
,iiyidal Tree lu w securing each man against ~ ~
tcrret. b9 ~" l,,a ercrr oh t'i pn"tTh' f""
rlovins HE iesi! ripoii:ical socict: >h"uii lie 81
,. rcstroiriuy ;r,yi; puwer which secures To cTs
man ;,o, the right - govern others bit tio ls'' :"
.roy.ru n.tlf Government and constitutions are o.
mems ~ thi end ana that government Is hes' "hi'
ucs completely conforms 10 th- principle, an! secures
man in this-lis ri;viduat sovereignty. 'ieni! "n''
have debate whether this question Ct prncp'o Oh
,rne,lrucv ANSWER thas the end and object OF -"
liticnl society question OF principle; the means
attaining that end, or government 10 SIMPLY l"I,'n
of expectancy. II government does NOT att"ih me-
sl. i ia untrue is object; and lie true lest o!
rho ,,nrri.tv , il. constitution il whether 1t u ca
rn,aie: 70 afford the most ample security IL:
their nat ural rights .
Viewed in this manner. the question IA relieved .
difficulties which are lnsur"ranle 'r lhe adEocv u -.
,rical majority doctrine. il becomes perfectly con
ten a. exclude certain classes from any share .: POM
ia, r,wer or place. them u1der whatever dsahii!'in
MAY seem cxp"dent and necessary In sccre the mn
y;,ua, rrht, Of ALL tho Great object of government, "
attach certain hsah;ii;ics 10 women. others I" chnrr
and ,nars-and why. Because their legal Gsah!'i
ties are not n restraint ., any natural '"pactic n'.
on thrcotrgrv nrc the necessary MONS OF dnlih-h-
certain natural ai.ahsics and preserving, rs lar !"
ny;c.icab!e tie individual sovereign" o tErsn MN"
AMI females The n,nt is east upon the world Wi'ho'
oy pnrer Of sef-Gefcacc, o: the means 81 pr'
vn-li:c His verv existence, the possibility OF ATTAIN
IN co when he will be independent and se-s'ice'!'dc
,er,! absolutely upon th" assistance q! oihcr,' nc u
tate Of natural and necessary i.@il9g" ne 'W u
d.r,akes ONLY 10 define that purlase To unit H. ''
ton IN provide for him patrons and Sa"'lla'S "'1 mn
protect him against the rest oi the com'nini!F NM
serve to him a. far "a possible. hr :;l:ai rInt l" .'''
liberty, the enjoyment o: 7roper: ana I'VE uisI. .
i,an.;nas- Sn TOO with woman. u al" IS o''Ei az
li:ee political power i. is b"cauS" ITS exercise VIZ
NJ: nr in harmony with her nature III "'uln ~, +
: from aboa: her tia. iso NJ oSs and reverence "''
i thu hest rrot action Of her lnd"!duas CUTS !. "''
= make her the yre;l antagonist "t stronger ' i'S'e
: Of his lp-nate and 5es'rr hail. i,
maintain. therefore, that the Distribution "i pom
zeal nnweris 2 matter o expediencv and compact NJ
! determined bv anv nl,,r; right winch man possess
considered ONLY Is nm inY;!ual and not rs menu
= Of society To otherwise IL 20 c"hoao '!'E' u
= with social ri-s; ii IS 20 mi stake nlln f$nt 20 -
! rn himself for a right to govern othera AMI IL imPn
g. hat ~. oac. Of p-:rai UNION i nor 70 t:'a'''n ~
F..,, a. T.DPE