Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-05-30

had en- tertained different opinion. tot.ly differ
ut OPINION i had thought if history which has been
leu philosophy, teaching BY example, had taught any
e' IL was this lesson that the few were ever tryng
power and when power had been thus obtained
mu Always been most grossly abused You rluy take
u'eo non Hs earliest records down to the present
time IN Which am nuw addressing yoa and YOU will
Ind that more distress more ruin more caan;tr
breaking OF hearts hnve been caused by the rrc az
few over the uany, IN any year. than ba. avsr h
caused in the time by the majority exsrcisino CON
troll In any government.
Sir we have been I'D another thing: that in forming
good government there should be an infusion of the
arIstocratc and nlonarchical principle
or what does all this mean do gentlemen mean that
because in republican government certain powers are
deposited by the people in the hands of agents for the
purpose OF administration, that therefore, Necessarily
the arstoaratic monarchical features engraed
upon the government WY sir it is true that in re-
Puoean governments certain powers are lodged in the
hands OF agents or trustees who those powers
sno IL IL also true that i'll moparches and arstocracs
power il exercised by certain persons but the whole
question conles back how are these powers thus sxer
cised derived
had supposed that when these powers were derived
from the people in such portions they might choose to
give them when they exercised by agents or trus
tees responsible to the people, and when tie majority of
The community had the right alter reform the GOV
eminent, that then We had good government reppb
can government But when these powers were usurped
and exercised against the wishes and will majority
OF the community that then there existed monarchy
aristocray. Sir fear this mixed basis which il
now attempted be fastened upon this State is the le
Ultimate offspring OF these views, the embodiment Of
these opinions, which declare that it necessary to in
fuse certain monarchca and arstoeratcal principles in
ail good governments. Sir agree with the gentleman
from Accomac, MIR WIsE) agree with him fully and
that like lulus, must follow with unequal steps vet
fur lies will 60 with him cradle ating ev
cry appearance Of these arisocratc features the
government which we about to form for Virginia.
hope gentlemen do not mean what they say. have
personal acquaintance with them and judging from
their general conduct, believe they do yet
can only judge Of them here by what they say, and
unwilling 1t should go forth to the world from this Con-
ventlon that there is member here who believes that
in order to have good government for this common
1t ID necessary TO have with arstoatc
or nonarchical features.
The gentleman from Fauquisr MR. CHILroS last night
held up to France and the first revolution in france
TO prove that the majority Of the yUters Of Virginia
not capable of se-government. Sir that French reyo-
luton was hearensend to all persons who believe that
1t ID necessary TO have arstocratc principles in govern
nent; it - the text they have been preaching rsn ev
since The revolution of France has been attributed
TO everything, and everything has been attributed 10
the revolution Of France. But in fact what was why
the perpe Of France consisting OF between three
and twenty-five millions, had for hundreds Of years. been
under the will OF most tyrannical government OPP
pressed ground down. until longer endurance was inn
possible The light Of liberty had been shut from their
Eyes for centuriee and to get rid of this state OF things
100 people overturned the government king crown aud
a. Were the people of France blame for this great
work. because in the first break of THE light Of bsrty
upon hem they could not see distinctly but saw
trees walkiugT
No. sir the whole of the of that rsYo ution
horrible they were be attributed and only At
tributed to tue tyranny under which that people had
lived for many hundred years.
Mr. Chairman, tho eye OF man is wonderfully made
wonderfully adapted to the purposes for which it was
intended but take an individual and shut him up In
dungeon for months for years. and then suddenly bring
him into the light Of day, and you tell me- because hs
DISTINCTLY that therefore the eye il not sdap
ted to light not to consider that the
why the individual is that hs has been shut
mp in darkness. .g.
80 it was with tho people of France They htd bee.
exclude from the light by government Of the mnori-
ty under the plea that necessary for the protco
tion of society Not ray, not single ray Of liberty
had been suffered to enter the gloom by which they
were surrounded. And is it to be wondered at, that
when the first dawn broke upon them they were unable
10 clearly the path Of liberty and good government
No. it is not to I've wondered at The people wsre not
to bame. The blame should rest upon that minority
who had usurped the government and exercised such
grinding oppression =
Sir, it had been hundred and seventy.fivs yssrs
since the States general Of France had met 1t had
come to be common saying that what the king villa
is the law Of France" and what the king wants. he
has right to take" and whom the king wishes he is
to shut up Il was tlmo to overture such govern
ment and it was better that million Of persons
should have pershed in getting rid of these evils than
that twent gthree mhlion should have to 1.-Two under
them.
We have also been told that principles of govern
ment are desired from the uother country; ws wers
told that England gave US the example OF the go,
rous effects Of the rule o. the minority. Well
there is much in old England that is entitled to tho
highest praise But doe, the example OF Engand fur
furnish US with evidence sufficient .<1nosh the taos
that the minority is the safest depository ~ Inc power
of government Why all there is Of good, e"erts.
a6eas corpus the trial by jury, the restraining OF the
king from evyng at his wu will and pleasure:
the bill of rights have all been obtained first by the old
Barons and then by the people, demanding them, witS
arms in their hands But, after OIL what is this much
bonsted liberty Of Englandl Take a few examples.
friend of mine was in England during the last year. at
tending to some private business in the courts and being
astunshed at the delays the perple1es and the enor
nous costs that attended the of mis- business.
he expressed his astonshment to his legal friend In Eng
land and wante to know how poor man cohd posi-
bly claim his rights under such enbarrassnents when
he WINS cooy told that the law not intended Tor
the poor Another example of English liberty is seen
in the fact that man can shoot partridge on M o'''
land unless he has an income of FIVE hundred dollars
year. Another example, found IN the law that denies
to man arraigned for is life the benefit of counsel
Another example Of English liberty is that man shall
be taxed to support hierarchy in which he does not be-
ieve Take these facts along with you and 30 and see
forty millions Of property tied up in the English chance
rs courts 20 and hear that English dogma that tho
king can do no wrong, and then come back here and
tell me whether England furnishes such evidence OF tho
good effects of the rule OF minority as 70 esgs u. :.
to fall in love with it, to wish to e.tab IN at ruie
in Virginia, or whether English example should not
rather make pocu 20 pp bsss
'As NV 'i friend from Fauqder, (ar. Chiffon wt'
seems to have taken unLer his especial charge in this
Convention the history of governments, csrying out
tho idea tbs. oaory were not to be trusted with
own government US to ancient TS. ina
he would have lived Under casu hs or ,Sa,
than under the democracy of ano noau yp
government to show the bad effects o. Eose1eS
OF the people had thought differently, a sT;s,sd
that Athens and her people, as they formei. .ha Al.
were The exciting theme Of every tongue, and
most idol every heart that had any attachment to t.
institutions Not that the government was perfect but.
notwithstanding all its defects, it at that timo tho
best under the sun; and only left to wonder that
when political night, with her dark wings, was over
Swallowing all Others these men OF Athens were enabled
10 sec so clear and TO achieve so much not only for
t..Ar r. Al