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

r introduced reior To the fen;h nunl,r d the Fed
IS alist
/ "A republic, hy which l mean government
which the sch'...c Of Representation take l';'
different prospect, ;.:d promises l"' 'Gf" -.
II We We're seeking Let examine the ":1i' III ne
;, 1t varies l'"'n pure democracy and - sll '"'ftm'
u both the nature o tie cure ,:G :..c '.it''. WEIGH
o must derive from the ,,niou
! The two great point. ri di>rc, - between ''''''
t race an' nrepuh!ic, first. lie c"ics'':l ~ ' 20
e ernreut IL the latter, mail number "i ''tlA'h
":ecte lY the rest; secondly, he greater hliri -
citizens and greater sphere If country, over when IN
I latter may he extended.
; l cite Mr. Madison not because think there can e,
st reasonable doubt rs 10 the deiit"i OF repnl
iican government but bcca.sc gentlemen on the "tic
side OF this question have invoked his authority rs the
supposed upon collateral runt, laiSeu III ''S us
, custom The gentleman whom had the honor 10 sue
cccd and who occupied the floor "n yesterday se'
as believe, with the utno. sincerity iii' tic oe"
cite the opinions OF Mr.. Madison Whenever e 1olo
= He must permit to assis in the citation rcau IRON
Mr. Mali>ons views in the Fedcr;i- III order 10 s,'
his definition Of a republic. In NJ" ~, page ".2' Sir
Madison speaks of the rcpublc with especial reference
to this proper definition. He says;
1t is essential such government thai IL nc derive,
from the great body of the society not from IN ihco>iu
cradle proportion, favored class OF IT. otherwise
handful al vrannical mobiles exercising their oppression
ny dele. on of their powers. might aspire 10 li'
rank OF republicans and claim for Their government INT
honorable title OF republic.
may with propriety cite Mr.. Madsons opinion l'l
benefit of the gentleman who ad'rcs-"! Us ycS'cr
I!ay, order show that i'll Mr. MaGi>ons opinions I;
ma oritv of the community had the power to govern
and willie cite that passage to show Mr. Madison :
lopnion III favor OF the proposition. II Will also nope
enable tn. gentleman rom Richmond Mr. MEtEnri) t.
perceive the dissnllarity and utter Dcnce oi analogy
between the structure Of the federal government aio
1.-The structure OF the State government Hrs argument
1t will appear inconsistent with his ycncrate author
lily. Ii Mr.. Madisons opinion that the structure :"
the State government very unlike the structure :"
the federal government, believing Il he da th't 'h'
general government was rather combination ol nation
aity and federation In the "?ih No. "f Ia, irirrai'
pare leo and l0l Mr. Madison in d-crimnai ns between
he forms of the federal and The State government
nys:
Were the people regarded in ills transaction
.4 forming one nation, the will Of The majority :"
Naolc ,copc of the United States would ha ne !hi
uri.v. N the same manner ~ the !.Joii'. !" '' ~
Il,.s; bind the minority.
Il We try the Constitution by is lat relation, 10 II,
:a:ir; b. which amendments are I" lie made we hl'o
i, neither wholly national nor wholly federal were Il
wholly national. the supreme aud ultimate at.ii'.'' :.
would reside in the majority Of the people oi The mon
mi iii, authority would lie competent at Ill times
like that Of majority of every national scccty 10 atr
r abolish It's establish government. Were IT who'll!
federal OH the other hand the concurrence al e!c H''
in the Union would bc essential 10 every ali GRAFTON INA
/, liz ''N
Inn nj IN, Convention Is founded oil either ." these
pr;nc:pes In requiring than II majority ald par
:icuarv in computing The proportion hy states ho' ~
c,zen- i, DEPARTS from the national and advances TO
wards IN, federal character In rendering the concur
reno, oi less than the whole number oi STATES sncieh'
IL loses again the federal and partake' oil TIE ai''
, character
have thus far enecay orcd very briefly and imperfect
Is to present the argument in favor 81 majority nay
linz the rulc in government have sought t. Show thl
from il universal propricty, that the doctrine wa, ON
# universal application and no, al Il specific or loca
larac en- and 10 demonstrate that il has been pcccal
Is recognized and deliberately rated n the Amer
;c:.n ductrn. OF government. In support OF my posi-
lion hay. referred To various general documents con
aiming a conceive. very spcciilc rcco5nan- ~ IN
ruth will nos advance little further IN this pai
ocular enumeration and endeavor 20 show that this d"I
,re not oalv recognized but embodied in the cons
Il iutons adopted for the government OF large naJ"rt
or the States of this Union. They all rest upon tn
T.. uiilsnenta truth, that the majority have right
rule and that to to them the caormen Of IN
light III representative government, they have rig!
t. majority OF the representatives in proportion to tn
..,aori;v oi v"ters-1hat L. that the will .; the major
tv shall prevail in that department Of government w!c
i organized for the purpose Of representing the WIZ
he community, and that it shall be 50 constituted as
i give solemn utterance to that will. will take IL
wen, mine states OF this federal rion after cxclnln
+ California Of which have Very little knowledge, an
: Virginia whose example will hereafter De con-ere
Il have so classified the several States Of tie Union
10 show III glance the real basis upon which their 90
: eminent: are founded h. surncd or detuced i
: Tie purpose If the argumen; which shall now a"aac
that twent y-;our OCT OF the twcnt nine Sc- |" whic
have referred recognize and soemniv establish ii
popular basis of representation; but Won! realar
l:: that basis IN Of their constitutions : express
. I'd with som. little variety Of language. without t'ie
icing am difference whatever Of OF su5'tanc
Tie basis Of repre- in the mos, popular branc
the Legislature in these ta;c Hill be fouad 60
!; lows: According 10 the number Of qualified vote
: three States Kentucky, Tennessee aGd Lou:-aaa; a
corGns H. the number os free white inhabitants fs
States Missouri Illinois Alabama, Mississippi aud low:
according to the number nj free white male in abta an
four States. Ohio Missouri. Arkansas and Indiana
a cordn the number of the free p"p. :on eScu!ir
degrees and Indians not taxed uae State Texas; accoT
, ng To the number of taxabcs /, STATE, Nassac:,ctt
: New Hampshire Vermont aud Pennsylvania; accor
d NJ to the number of inhabitants five States, N!an
= cxcluans fore. gners not nGctralizel and Indians
!, taxed Rhode Island New York Excluding In;.ns
taxed soldiers c.) This make tota! of twenty-ta
:, States to which others shoi he added substantial
! continuing to the basis, towit: According to
>. ties to each, State Delaware according
towns b. the precxi-tns practice before the af"p.ic
ii of their present constitution one State Connection
!, THIS have aggregate Of twentv-f States No
h there are five States whose basis Of representation
tie popular branch is somewhat variant from the pop
lar basis There four States whose basis is upon c
!, rral numbers viz North Carolina Georgia. Florida N
k Maryland.
l. According 20 mixed basis Of white inhabitants al
taxation raised BY the legislature Of State ;oa
Carolina The whole number OF states have thus en-
mcracd is wcnt. -nine and cr the part the bl-
ui reprcs utaton the senate OF these states conform
to the basis in the house nt representatives the io
" popular branch have thu, shown ~ this ANALYSIS
- The constitutions Of TIE several states of hc union tn
, this doctrine of popular basis OF representation i :,
EMMY ratified rs the American doctrine of represent
ton believe also that ! can appeal To the history
the commonwealth Of Virginia IL show not on h
high appreciation Of this basis, bat demonstrate tn
upon every appropriate occasion when she has be,
called ,7on sclcmnly to declare what il the bass
representation that i'll Virginia Ills basis has be,
sauctcd believe can redeem Virginia from the r
p-oach and the stigma which has been thrown upon HI
! and affixed to her by charging her with love and dew
- ton to this abhorrcnt mixed basis princ'c viii
= eayor to show from the History Of Virginia. that :!
ha. recognized and far the occasion has enable
" her to do it. has con-ecrae, this popular basis hersc
!, Icing 30 shall have 10 historical inform
! ton. | will attempt 10 DO this and in doing ii sla
: ad it necessary to alludc to the bill 81 rights OF V;
;nia very briefly and VIXEN s:y briefly intend if pc
:, sioe to conform TO that expression
Early in the war Of the revolution when tho tyranr
= oc Great Britain had dissolved the government viii,