Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-03-04

stunendous scheme Aye deep in those recesses OF the
distant Nevada under the drppngs OF such commerce
as Asia would give supend5ns palaces would rise up
before the wild native who wanders through Its wider
n.sses could have become familiar with the steam horse
of civilization The sandy deserts OF the great valley
would be studded with aye 1t s to invite thus to
Us the flow Of this mighty trahc that has hred my friend
with n zeal which fear HIS gwen lin distaste Tor
mc.ani,vscs Under its Influence the spoil OF nations
would become the aowry of dausher the spoil OF
nations not WANG rs the red rght arm OF war, but led
81 smiling cap:iyr in III. civic riumphs of commerce and
peace Rapid doubtless would BE- the strides renend-
Qua would be the impulse impaired to Virginia, ana her
march to Empire might probably excel the march OF the
E,npire State Of the North. feel, too sensiby feel,
that this mighty idea Is stealing its way to the hearts OF
nv coyntrymen: fe, that already the envious glance
ca.t upon those States OF Union that have excelci
us in population and in all the external evidences Of
wealth. and that their contamination has been With
drawn from Vircinia. i gentleman in my eye seems
to think, that already her dignity and pride have
pr.vcd upon her resources unit. they prey
longer They seem wiling to discard forever that
nj amulet ave- thai amulet Of sublime morality, this doc
trnc of rctaphys SIZE, emhodyins the fundamental and
eternal truths To which every st0rf that has rocked
is vast confveracy tie political mariner has turned
his eve as to tic star hope AMI the harbnger Of safety
fear that they will in this age of physics. make Virginia
what New York is and if ever Child breathed pray
for the safety o: his mother, would say in mercy
Col forbid it, Ycs would not have the people Of
this State to bow du;yn the idol Of ramno. would
no, have the population Of this Stat" divided ly
trcmc, OF wealth and poverty such exist i'll New
York | would not lave tina. here the oper-
alton of which j. every day accommodating in the hands
Of the lew, the whole wealth of The community,
and year by wear widening the circle Of the poor
and eniarcinr the list of the starving. No would
not have Virginia TO equal New York in all the -plcndor
of her external greatness ii with that spenor must
have the proigacy OF her politicians. the moral leprosy
Of her people rs the fruits which fastest grow in that
state ol prosperity
have wandered frcin ;ho subject unntentonGlly,
and will cneayor now with the permission of the
committee to return 10 the important question before us
an conclude speedily ns possible the Genit"ry re-
marks which .cl an initiating ulnn this body and
in that rctdrn, conc to tie opening remarks Of the
gentleman from .ir.,,st; IL won't back INTO the dark,
am Of The past. To ascertain whether property
col.Situted-l might almost say--n organic eieiri IN
tho formation OF society and lc seemed To come 10 the
cnuc.!si,n that while il: >tinctlytly cndow
ed by tile great Creator from whom he came. with ar
intimate and ntu:tyc knowledge 81 his rights to life,
liberty and to iliD, IT,; idea Of property was some
thing which the God nf nature had not implanted there
That grew NJ alter scc!cty WAS formed. That Is re-
markabe propositions remarkable because who do, :
nc perceive that w;tho.! proper: ihecty weakness
and infancy wJld i.ye ching tn fear FROM tn" .gsres
zion OF lie strong; No. al the deliberate acts Of crime
which eye- yet sprung icta thc heart of MAJ were
conceived and executed III the pursuit OF rropert Now
! if YOU could, by rernoudiuy the iaabtlnts 81 the
EARTH if you could u: process strike from his i'll
telecual nature all ideas Vf property, BY the same
stroke You would free him forever IRON the fackies Of
all government. Property is the great tie Of social
life. 1t is to protect property that government
has there ever existed, for any length Of time.
! government, which did afford ADEQUATE protec
lion to property PropaT." does no. inci. i cal!
culatcd t. ilce those w!o it. 10 net: ri a,ro,-
sion. Ii IL Conservative III its influence. recognize,
fundamental principle at universal! application. in the
organization Of all governments. Ny idea il, that the
srea; doctrine has been truly set forth BY the fathers of
the constitutions in Virginia. That government is, or
ought to be instituted for tine csmnon benefit pro,ec
ton ard security Of the people, nation community
and Of all the various modes and forms Of government
tia: is best which is ca?abc Of producing the greatest
degree Of happiness and satc;:, aud is most cectually
fcrurej against the danger oi ral-admnistra:on
All a'lnit the Necessity "r the protection Of proper
ty: hut Western friends contend that That protcc
ticn is Tot ~ he u, in Ssiyn!n. the rights in pro-
Teriy. any influence il The organization of the govern
mcnt; they to rely upon perfect ability in man.
which, Of itself would be sufficient restrain the hand.
of governmci; OF numbers from infringing upon the
rights Of property
government organized upon mere numbers cannot
CONSENT thus to believe, without discalding from my
mind all those attributes which every page of human
history hns assigned to species Nor can Conceive
any mode b: which the right in 'roposty coud be adc
quacly protected, unless they 90 constituents
into the basis for the organization Of legislature
II could believe that the principle implanted in the
breast If man. which in tie state oi nature or III 4 say
age state induces him COMM: depreciation upon his
neighbour il | could believe tina; the principle which
gives strength physical power unresraned by gov
e"nncnt exngui.ied i'll his bosom, when govern
mental s:ackle, were imposed upon him, then might
be prepared 10 coneede that property msh safely he
entrusted to government oil mere numbers protcc.
ton, TO ne work. anything, be adequate and efrc
tla Now, if We conccde that guarantees. el"reitsd
upon your Constitution restric, the power Of your
legislature rI-Dect l.,it lao
Will the Constitution existed! yrotsc: property what
guarantee ak you, gentlemen rive me that this
majority III the government viii res2ni thai organic
Ia, whenever the temptation coinit re>a,s up
the tights ii property, shall lie suiceu: induce
themi
What experience upon Tie subject OF constiti-
tional guarantees Look 20 tia! most celebrated of Ill
conetitutions'ook the great work IF the purest
most intellectual and no5c-t T. no ever adorned the
history Of any people; look tn The Constitution draf ed
by the conpeer- Of Jefferson and l!loi bv the appro
baton vi Washington; Reflect upon the mi htv inl
which tia. lallowel name ii exc-s upon the peo-
pie Of ls ccnlederacy, and til, ne, when yal hsve
contemplated wien v"l have finished the examination
Of history for the last fifty years guarantees thus
sclcinny sirel-apcr guarantees li's enacted. with
Influences wh,r guarantees before possessed 10
sustain them have been kept inyioate!
Tell me nol If constitutional guarantees; hold THAI
the unl guarantee the OILY protection, is 90 to organ
izc your government blend the strictly personal
rights with the rights property in the majority of your
electors. Aud. in connection with the history of our
State under all its constitutions, YOU will find that the
government has hccn organize-he acting AM existing
government has always had fer it, basis proposition |
like that, And has it lot been sac, government
What injuries 10 the Western people have ever iiyet
from its operation: Aye. though the ingenious gentle.
MN from Augusta had searched Tie musty rcc,r,,, q!
the past, though he to have travelled every
act Of the legislature ior the las. fifty years what ass
yot was the and substance of the wrong which this
government, thus organized, had inflicted upon the peo
pie Of the West They required the militia be mus
tered thrcc times year. and this the only solitary
wrong which that ingenious gentleman could charge up
Mr.. sIIEFTEy. The gentleman did not apprehcnd
the argument. | dill rot consider il Is a wrong ed .
nj ted was The duty Of citizens perfo-:a military
duty hut another duty Of citizens was &c pay taxes
AID LAT he iscaryc u the mii;.ay duty hal a much
ri., t. representation The sc::arye Of the ax-pay
ing duty.
III BEALE ! al. glad 10 fad that not oven one
wrong can hc charged upon Us.
must here look at Virginia she IS notwihstand-
ing tho extended statistical information which was
given us BY the gentleman from Augusta see the |
broad fact before NE, that while eastern Virginia owns
more than hall OF the landed estate of the whole COM
ronwcalth in value; thar while she pa.s more thar
tvo.thir,s al H.. taxes Of Inc government. ,a, while