Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-03-04
lfani:nui from First Paae.l

staesmen and how srikgly does II Illustrate the IN
discretion. and | will add without intending to be Of
iensive the folly Of disregirdlng the maured and well
considered opinions OF the people. Public sentiment,
must be consulted 1t cannot be safely disre-
qarded For while it may DC resisted. success
fully resisted but eventually it must and will be trull-
phan Ii must be so. 1t cannot be otherwise IL VIII
ever be So until despotism is erected upon the runs OF
popular liberty and God grant it may ever be ~ IN ms
land Of the free and home OF the brave"
have remarked sir, substantially, that one oi me
Characteristic and distinguishing features OF our cons'
,ution is marked inequality in the distribution OF p-
litical power Is not this most apParcntf Proof oil II
;s written on the face of the instrument itself, and
written 81 broadly and distinctly, that he wha runs
may read and understand Rejecting white population
ar the qualified voters. the only true and Legitimate
iass of representation, 1t moi only gives TO Eastern II
ena present unjust majority. bu, The power OF pcrpet-
al control in the Legislative department OF the govern
men AS far as tina: obec; can be accomplished By costl
,utiona arrangement. The growing population and IN
c,easnr pecnniary Of the West. are disre-
p.ric,! and Eastern Virginia is secured in the posses
sion Of power in defiance OF every change which may
occur in the condition Of the country. Is TINS right
Can be right? Is il just Is II not indeed, To Inc
West, injustice, gross iii,itlgacd igiSucc , o"i'
npon the members who constitute the Eastern !ele5a-
non to correct the wrong the alpa5c, ricvons wrong
call ui,a them 70 render 10 The people OF the w EST.
that Justice which under similar circumstances. would
most promptly and cieeriliy Gc rendered unto theln
| appeal 10 them bear testimony by their recorded
votes 10 the obvious, inde;emsble injustice, against
which we Of the West roce enter our most earnest
and deliberate protest. speedily u Apply the corrcc'e.
and AT once and forever remove the feProac',
which now nuhappily rests on the Otherwise E''r anu
spo,less escutcheon Of Eastern virginia am
an Eastern firuinan, born and raised am'S: within
cannoslot of this very building educated in part IN
this very city, and clersng for the Fast, and the PEG
4 III, IL. anl. AZ. I.ttns tua
which il ia so natural 10 feel or the land OF ones ma
tiyity and vet suciInly declare, it were perina-
nently reSHicn: Your midst. and member al this CON
yenti0n from the East would not hesitate 10 do that
which have so earnestly and sincerely invoked Won 10
do. would adopt white population OF the qualified
voters as the only and legitimate basis OF reesen
ta,ion, because. with all my heart. mind. scul and
STRENGTH | believe in the sovereignty OF the people.
Yes sir. the sovereignty OF the people Nhegc Is 'he
Virgnian who would call il question tbs Fundamentals
,luc;rine Where is the intelligent Ancr'c:N ;tasa.
who wo.ii refuse 10 ye!' .''is aoSr cordial assent
| verify believe sgn iir@,aian--such an American
citizen CT 10 whar, he found. The doctrine es al
.ie foundation Of all Zee government, and a.,houi
l. in my iuGgmea.. there can be norational W., Sc
cured we'll regulated liberty | do not propose. how
ever. TO 90 into labored argument in yindication
Of this now well established American doctrine. Fill
,ner the once corrupt and prohgae minion OF power
has no disciples here elsewhere. trust IN Virginia
Everywhere throughout chrstendom. the advocates o
freedom have succeeded in the gradual but steady di
fusion Of liberal principles. The human mind IN good
degree has been emaacipated. The jre dirino has
ceased 70 exer. lis paralizng influence. and every where
the masses begin toregardit miserable humhug, con
tryej to cheat them OF their rights 4 brighter day
has dawned upon tho world-but orbear. Will not
press the inquiry. orlear 10 speak OF my own hopes
and fears the interest which the friends ci ree gov
ernment every where take IN the onward march OF lib
tr1I1a - fat lf.... -sa.
nations of the earth. 1t is enough for my purpose to
know. that here in this country in Virginia the sove
reignty of the people has long ago been recognized and
may not hone forever established The doctrine sir,
xmes down TO the Of the present day. sarciiied
by time, and tested and confirmed by experience. II
comes to us commended to- acceptance by the treasure
expended the blood she'd and the snlerings endured.
in the American revolution. The patriots III that ever
memorable ccffict purchased it at high price, and
have handed it over TO lis. to lie kept Is mos,
precious, sacred deposit. Lea us ncw look Tor
= snrle moment, To some only OF the many invaluable
truths which these patriots have wisely eahoG'e'' II
the declaration OF rights In the second article 4
declaration, these patriots tell "that all power is
vested in and consequently derived from the people"
In simple but explicit language, the sovereignty ot the
ueop!e is briefly but distinctly recognized. Power. and
- il that word inadequate to express The thought
with sufficient precision, i, is said, all power is vested
IN the people. And yet this declaration has been pro
uuunced to b. an arrsn: abstraction. What s.r. the
sovereignty o.; the people arrant abstraction The
declaration in the bill! o.! rights, which prucains the
nreat elementary principle that all power is vested in
and consequently derived from the people arran CD
s,racton No sir--no. |. is pire, unnixed. unadul-
terated ,ruh-practca truth. s'power reside MOI with
the people, with whom does it reside With kings
Under the resisess energy o tho language just quued
the monarch loses his crown and ;ainpered favored
nobility their exclusive privileges. But sir. there Is
another important principle, announced by these pliri
ola in the article under considerations which we should
be careful to remember. because il will
useful guide in the examination and decision o: otheI
questions which will come before us. Ii is declared
that magistrates trustees Of the people ana at all
times amenable to them" Here the relation between
the representative and the constituent body is plainly
and distinctly defined. 1t is the relation of principal
and AGENT The representative is invested with tenn
uorary power, Tor the accomplishment Of objects
neced with the pubiicntelests. HE'S trustee.
trustee; the people the bcnoiiciaFies. whom be-
;ongs the power, and as his rS, is executed
ne goes back 10 the body Of the people Stripped oi al!
authority TO render an account Of MS stewardship.
have diverted to this relation, not because il
has any Immediate or necessary conncxon with
he question before u.s. bu; because it is found in IN,
same article which declares the power OF tbs people
and indicates the rule which will govern me, and l0re
will royen this convention in the decision OF other very
important questions.
In confirmation Git confirmation be needed Of the
propasition that the people The only legitimate
source of all rightul political authority, take leave
most respectfully to invite the attention OF the
,on 10 the third article in the bill OF rights After de-
clarinr that government is ought 10 be instituted iur
Me common benef, and protection OF the people. and
Indicating the preferable government The great dctrine
,r popular RIGHTS. is Re announced in the following
terns--.. that majority Of the community hath an IN
tnbi,able unalsnale and nlecasible right To re!0ra.
alter or abolish the government" whenever il is s,,ad
inadequate 10 the ends for which i; instituted Here
we have another instance Of the bold. independent aud
peculiarly expressive language Of the fathers Of The
.evoiuion The sentiment conld not have been m2;e
lociby or beautifully expressed. |, is no, s;mp al
,rmation Of right hut the right is pronounced to he in
,ubitable only indni'able BIT, unaiicna5lc-no,
only unalienable. but ndecasble. \ majority Of The
community il is asserted, hath this right. LIE. in
ouire briefly what is the kind of community intended
nv this clause VIVA, is its chaaccrl How consl:,u-
,ed? What are its elements The response TO these
heterogeneous, seems 10 me TO be obvious enough
Clearly i, is an association Of ocen for political purpa
ses--an association mean Of free white men. hot oi!ee