Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-03-18

had been very in"u' CO. ~, Convention: and be.
necessary 70 him. that the ahor RS been
leave - say III ,roh,cso,nc X would hive been
very m carrier day b.; l's w 81
COM ~, .n,or has 10 e'ntr"'. ~, ,,c,;,r,.
winch Tie one, cxhh,n. inc ,'te"h';'ry STATE
NOS, comp e-es'e "' oi The State from the com
O; the la;eru m ,hn 6r, .. Marcia, exclusive OF the
mcnclmen aoW. :" -, ,bc ,;cae;ai Assembly have
reseai because lave de"ned them to be
i.., a. = matter of Justice TO ~, ALTON
NE n.As .,sn resumed the consideration in
,",;,t,, .: the Whole M' hs In ia an,. aoror,on
.v,', ~s.,,rt al the Committee %
n,nt vi hepres'h'"'' ,.tiou 70 H. on the PROPOSE
The CHAIR stated me ',n raaauicr Mr.. Scoer)
zion .; the gentleman F" m rNias. of my sincere
Mr. Ez!->oS' .,,,n:,ee f,r ha' ~ on yesterday
gra.itude " ,';,I 10 me- the eA're'Ae ''"''s, "
a:tefny''' y, pomlv entitled YIN, ,'.'' ,;aJy paa
t:cip4e in this i,e shall hest"w III favor OF the
s,.o.s that the SUI will I've inadequate to the great
ease nave 81 ;.,,, have the r-h;tGl dctefhinii
in'eFf -. c.,,ion and conscious h'' .ns
t!oa Of '' ,.;,aiiicance before NE IAaS'''u'e VI
sA' n,w under consideration III" >o' ~ ..'e
sion Of tbs question IN ,..e ... at cnnyic
i'vr;,,;o, that he is right, and i'h w. YUM
fees 500 humble he may know his aoi'l,y 10 DC
i''a "o. ls.s.. nnd experiences no despair nave
ie'ss u" y, N. stage Of our proccc !insS wheh VIC
." li3 anon solemnv TO settle The i'''>' ''fo' va
are ~ Government the legislative department 'ia'
.'s reall however You may organic - ms
W. the prepond'ran'e over the o.hef
'aa'* 49, W. are cali led upon noyc.9 give To i q
. Foundation upon which Ii shall rest We
;,nda.icn the basis OF representation; I'D 1t Is
-" hi IL representation that sha!i address myself
..iyy. AMI il shall At any time cevia,e rom inc
, ,a.tjon 8: issue wiii oe r''h.f 'o ne Pu,pose
~, ,.t;oo than for he purpose III e.sc'!ss coisate
.,n,. The ioiln and structure OF the legislative
L. -, will impress upon the government It's true
"'i;.;. .q.,r,s A. organize tins legislative
''"s -, =, viii Our government be either democra-
:ss ,rbNsan aris.oc:a;c ANA oll.archH, ana
~ o,l.. necessarily from the division oil tue govern
;., .l,.. coordinate departments. The cXecu-
!,-.,n.l: cannot impress It's characteristic upon
a,. hecl,c ia peculiar and exclusive func-
-. r,frc.a,,at of the laws. The judicial de
.o,. .,una. impress characteristic form upon the
.var3meu; because ia proper iuaction Is I" eXpound
M a.i<.,t tie laws /, IA therefore to the lesiSia-
49,, ,na-..l,.t We mist lock to determine the true
cl,,yac. eli, tic ct government.
t. n. Threshold Of t.;s discussion. We are met by
c,.,en II on the ohe- side OF the question, who NAM
,u that the right OF The majority to preponderate IN .
rn.o.o i an abstract and i:Mprac:icable idea; am
On. gentleman has characterized IN arrant abstrc'
ton We are then challenged 10 present some reasons
nlv a maorit. ,hoaM rule III this republican govern
mint or rather WIN : minority should not rule. 1t
7.
=. m. majority .aa- pcd1:na;e IN the government
m r,,:n,an that since this inevitable, the majority
,.her ;han the minority >houi prcdoninate moi MY
n I'll, original structure OF government but IN us SUD-
el:c,.t mins;ration And We are challenged 10 au'
u reasons FOR the support OF this doctrine OF the ma
...~. will with the indulgence Of this committee,
-;stv and rapidly Is possible alduce Certain reasons
which - nv mind are conclusive III favor OF majority
VIA. Is ..cyerunent: Is il not civil compact between
III the members Of society on the one part ana each
e,s::aal OF society the other stip"!ang that the
s-ete Of society shall sustain and support each ind
!aa in the enjoyment and exercise OF his rights ano
thai il return for the protection afforded, each nhvi
a .hall Weld his obedience aud his support TO gov
qlent thus cons. :tutel Now, VIII insist that 1t II
necessary in order 20 understand this question cor
,r-in order to arrive at right determination u
or IL ,nent wholly unnecessary that We should So bac'
= me buloas ages Of antiquity, OF speculate on sup
,.e. peval state, for the purpose II possible OF As
,--giaa.. VIE existed in what IL called state
q; nature believe man never vas IN such state: II
h. as in -rhat understand tina: LATE 10 be, he was III
80. unnatural condition God has impressed upon
-sn certain nature composed of various faculties Gu
r,;.. and wants aud this nature and these faculties
orno ,,..ibly be developed and attain their proper
t--i,n except in state of society society," therefore
ua.rra state OF man. IL Is the state III which the
go. Creator designed him TO occ py, Tor the very Puf
p,- developing these faculties ana raising nun 70 e'
station where his Author wills him 10 stand emo
beia i ,.rahed Then whatever may be necessary III
+.,..rg,,on or the riyhtiul administration OF gov
eren: n conducive to tina. high destiny, must De ma
;s.aliy ri.h, Yc, gentlemen have here denied the
rauga! rish: c maorities 10 govern Hence MAINTAIN
ia, Whatever Is essential for society to possess, wiat-
eyer ,w.r m! authority is necessary :ar government
.r,.s and cacy these powers and these authorlt.e>
are -.e i.vl the law Of nature. ana not merely from
liz .e.,uac; They are prc-eXistent tights recognized
+ .le * ;.v law Of the compact, but not created b:
j, T.es la.; be more vayue aud unde;Aed IN the ma
Ia Law bit their existence Is nevertheless eeie,'
s- recognition and more accurate definition uir ~
lal in conventional stipaations and compacts Well
:,er:,l,a i thus instituted for the purpose OF pro
.,,a. the happiness of society and OF manHlnd 40"
y question Immediately arises in the structure OF gov
al.n winch form cf government i oeSt aaaP'ed u
q, promotion o thi. happaess " men form OF gov
,4ea i be. adapted t. subscrve lie great purposes
(which society j. instituted One would naturally
5are that form oi government best which would meet
WIZ universal appreciation; but sine" "nalhtv j. uh
.,4asble from ne Infinite diver: :, OF Elaividua
mons another standard niast be adopted, or govern
zen. b. abandoned 1t j. certain that unanlntv eau
l., hail. and il il vain 10 expect IT, IN the decision OF
L., cec.ion The mex, rule. therefore. Is 10 ascertain
Tie nj. r,y n. the nearest a,tainable approximation to
-a,atnir.
Til. would be n ver9 natural ii not the instantaneous
tarlgson 20 anv one who would calmly ana dls2aS-
,aa,.Iv consider this subject Government is es;ab-
e -. the purpose Of satisivin: Our mutual wants
s. ;h.s e.stc:ualiv promo. the happiness of the so
,.eg over whoa this government shall. prevail Now
question Is who shall determine upon The adapa-
IA ); tbs government TO promote these ends w,.o
.ec.le upon the adaptation or iaal-ad@pta;ion O
sgsyau, &c the promotion OF these great objects o
a,;i,u,iors Certainly hc persons mos, directly in
..ea the majority. But there are other Reasons ip
,@ljo.v After you have constructed your govern
L. it is next ycur duty as II is your necessity, 10 al
s..,er that government. And what 10 YOU mean b
=. Mias,.a,ion of 4 government Dovou not Meas
:, -aio-cciaen. Of that government aad the compel
3. oaeicacc 10 i. I Yoa require that every membe
] q ae ,occ; shall render obedience TO that govern
--. hall conform to its mandates, and elall ODE,
ac;.rs But suppose tina; a portion of this societ,
sd ,..i-.. a portion should become contumaciors
'-atfy AMI bcoas: can you enforce that govern
~: How can you eafcrcc it BY calling to your aic
gay>:ta power of the majority You ammo, do il
= .4soh,. 10 your assistance the power Of the mi
- tecacre !: i. mag be inadequate. Tie admin
is'oa ~; IN government essentially reqnics that
'-...i aase ii, ,rsa. power TO aid and support ii;
IA, power i con.ael 20 the persons representing
@''l.lia-, the majority Of the community. 1t thus
- ia' .paysi'ai necessity. physical superiority
'f.'Fcd To- tie s~ppo-, OF the government aa'!
-.ol.-iF~,.on, i: can b. ;aaud alone in . mcorty.
NE iso:l.,;y ii the majority principle is thus de
'raei iron. la; necessity. The necessity proves
~. ''--t i hi, ex;ravagan idea I That the GOV
- 49, upon the physical power Of the pco-
'Nefnmea, IS erected @pon that idea exclusively.