Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-03-07

SOD the one the author Of the declaration the OTHER
the bill Of rghts-even here. demand Is made oy non
orabe gentlemen to give superior potcai power 10 TIT
perpendicular and virtually nve7t goods ana c'a
tells with the prcrogative Of les.atns upon the right
and liberties Of vast majority OF the people oi 'hl'
Commonwealth trust this can never take place.
cannot take INV seat without rendering to the com
nitee my incs grateful acknowledgements l"f It's long
late and most aattcring attention 10 inc vcri poor
remarks which have been able 10 submit. VIII iron
be YOU bit seldom hereafter
On motion OF Mr.. SCOTT. of Fauq'lier, the commit
tee then rose.
And then the Convention adourne. until to-.norro"
mornings at II clock.
[.ur SNEFFEY'S REMARKS or TCESDA \
EkBREAKT ISL
Mr.. SIiEFFEi. | conr,, that so far as an per
solaiv concerned this debate i. to some extent forced
upun me 4 net DENY that have given attcn
ticn to the great principles involved III this question:
that have uT. ~. I'D the facts connected with IL
acknowledge. hnw"rrr, that the documents on which
wish TO rely not, ii present al my command
Not expecting that the debate. on the part OF the gen.
tlcmen who were to begin the disc;lssion would be
concluded to-day did NOT armed with those
facts 10 which / wish 10 refer. But car say few
things in reply to Of The remarks made by the
gentleman from Grecnslle, Mr.. CHAaGLiss.l That
gentleman and myself differ 40 cain, in respect to the
grca! starting ponl of Ii, argimcnt-of all argument
On this subject tfla i. ;iid III ls LTeat machinery
/; Of government-this science in which involved all
the dearest rights and privileges Of men, there are 70
ineplcs-thcrcis nothing to begin argument with
that in framing the organic law we are to look to TO
fundamental principles If government: that our fathers
all wrong in declaring certain rights to be the
basis and foundation Of government That these arr
mere al>lrac;ors--a succession o! empty distractions
have not so leaned The theory OF 'nmani.
There was ore principle conceded hcic fc,a days ago
though all other, were denied, by he gentleman from
FauqGier, Mr.. CHnToN Ono staple iei Oh which 10
hang the framework If government II that al
power righluy resides ii the people, and that when
eve. il is cxerc ed by any OTHER than the people Is
still considered their power. and cgitimatcly derived
from them. Yes. sir. hclcng5 Ia. and comes from,
the people. And who are the people; The people,
il i. said by Somc combination # sentlcnt intel
ligent. responsible, and immortal beings anG-money
Laughter. all foolish enough 10 believe that the
people are community If men, with responsibilities
to themselves. 10 each ether and to God that free
propc iia high and holy mission cuafdc'l 10 them.
and thai their destiny will bc noble aai ssated they
faithfully observe tie laws Of their intellectual and
mora. being, The power derived from the people is
to be exercised Tor their benefit but the gentleman
from Grcorsve says il is TO BE- exercised for the BEN
ii! of and monev. ard that in the declaration Of
independence. and our LII of rights the rights Ct
properly stand side by side with the rights Of persons.
He SAYS the laws made rather to protect property
than pcrsonsthat the courts Of justice and the exec
utse established rather to cxpound and enforce
laws concerning property than persons. In this arsi
men lies the radical error of the gentleman: il is in
supposing that by our laws property is regarded as .
being that has ri ht to speak. 10 liigae it, interests
in our courts. and 10 demand for itself the execution
Of the laws Property is no separate subject or source
Of government the right TO hold II Is personal
right Just rs the right to lie and liberty One great
cause Of this assumption Of power for property origin
ates. perhaps, in The distinction made by Blackstone
and others between the right, of persons and the rights
Of things. All rights that apper:ain 10 men - mem
bcrs OF community are Personal rights. and there IS
no such thing right Of property Independent Of
.c rights of persons In the contention of lS.9 80
there was an eloquent who came from the county
Of Northampton refer 10 Mr. Upshur-who, in a
speech that reflected immortal honor on his intellect
immortal credit oil hi, iagrnulty-Spoke OF this matter
in such manner 10 mystify the thoughts Of the
great men who were around him. But what did he
say: lie admitted that property was creature Of
society, but argued show that "a feeling Of prop
crty led to The formation oil society il we can go
back to those dark periods Of The past when it may
be supposed man was III state Of nature would ask
what probably prompted him to cease roaming over
tie plains, or meeting his fellows, by chance. in the
forest TO form 4 social compact: 1t would seem rca
sonabc to suppose that il was 10 preserve rights which
,nan understandable value Of which he realized
What they: The answer s-the right TO life,
the right to lbcrty-to his limbs and body accord
ing to h, pleasure These are clearly natural rights
and to preserve them intact, il would seem .ar were
cd-if they were in state 0. naiusa---;o form
the social compact. Feeling the danger 10 life, with
regard 10 which there is instructive and uiac
of apprehension, the danger 10 lberty--aa impulse
"A ove-a passion that starts instinctvcly from every
human heart. would, form together to protect
themselves against the law OF force, of which the gen.
tlemar spoke awhile ago-the assaults of the strong
against the weak TO destroy life, to eurta liberty, and
10 ensave the body Seli-preserHation was the first
impulse to society: spontaneous impulse TO protect
clearly appreciated rights, led to combine, that
those who wcr: separately weak. aud prey to yio-
encc, might, BY union, become strong to resist the
ruthless and the violent. Out of s,;ch an association
sprung the concession that he should oxpend his
labor any work should have the right to claim, and
the privilege Of using it his own by separate title.
Prior TO this. all property was held IN common as ma
turc gave the Of susenance TO This right
10 separate property concession Of society, al
readr formed, 10 its individual members How, then,
nropery--to use the idea of Mr.. Upshur-thc off,
ring the creature of society: And now what is the
argument of the gentleman from Grecnyille (Mr.
CmAMBLIss) Why, that the creature sha! become the
ruler of the crcator-tha property, instead Of Eeng
right. recognized, protected, and allowed, BY the
consent OF society, shall have power TO countcrvail
that consent in respect 10 lf and bcr,yio control
the original inrpoes that brought il into being. The
doctrine that pr"r"ry ouga! 10 have power 10 control
governments be said find its origin either in
nature in the original institution Of society. But |
did not design 10 speak these abstract questions
may refer 10 them tomorrow. Ny chief purpose,
however, is TO address TO this committee argument,
lolnacu Oh RAGS. taxing the princpe, "hich gen
tlcmen the other side will concede that if VIC. as
people he homogeneous an possess identity of inter
css. representation should he based to give equal
power to equal numbers of voters. wish to show
that We may safely and properly adept the suffrage
basis desire 10 Iiose BY lie Statistics that have
been laid before Us, what will be the legitimate effect
Of the principle that representation should be appor
toned according to the number Of qualified va;ers.
wish 10 satisfy ny friend from Fauq:er Mr. ScoIT]
tia! if thi, principle he carried oui-the principle Of
equality. not only in regard suffrage bu, represent
aiions approximations Of danger =. who'll, unlond-
ed aud tla: if there is to be Any plundering--f
there is to nc any marai;dns-if there is 10 liz any
f,ray from the mountains down on the Icgans las in
former times The in Src'Iara the low andcr
themselyc, Mist invite The foray--m,lst open The way
for the ncurs;or And vii cnleayor 10 show tina;
NY friend from Fanquicr (Mr. Scorr has, IN DAYS
gone by. hecn heard sounding the bsl charge al the
head OF the mounaneers in their rush 10 plinder tie
treasury. lI.augher wah a:so, To intimate 10
tide water that she has. perhaps, much fear from
the Piedmont district iron. the valley and the vest
wish to show that, if expressions are anticipated
they have already beer inflicted, and tina. If tide wa
ter has any right 10 complain OF burdens on its purs,
those complaints must te dirsc.c,, a. .iust the Pied
montasa Is p.!l 81, western men.
Mr.. PRICE. | would ask my friend from Augusta
if would not lie agreeable to him n move that
the committee rise. He has stated that his documents
not here
Mr.. SHEFFEY. j. ronld POI iaps, be better.