Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-06-06

submit that this il the JUST 'o' 49, " 'o :,
and that al its terms are sa''S i>' >A' " "
construction
,nca nv the advocates Of the numerical ma orty 1t
aclores TINT government is Or ought to be Instituted
Tor the common beusft protection and security OF the
,aone nation or community; of all the various forms
- modes of rov ernment that is best which is capable
If producing the greatest degree Of happiness aud satu
,i ia most eectuallr secured against the danger Of
naIadminstration; and that when aay government
sLould be found inadequate or contrary to
the majority of the community hath an "indammbe
naliensble and indefcasbe ri ht to REFORM alter
rbosh it, in such manner as shall be judged most con-
ducive to the public veal
Now far from asserting that all true authoritative gov
rnment must be founded the right of the numeri
al majority rule, this clause expressly DEGREES that
It all the various forms of government, that as bcs
which capable Of producing tie greatest degree Of hap
oess and safety; and the intelligence of the commu
ty must determine what form is best adapted to pro.
luce these results by consequence it is its province TO
decide whether such government be best or not. an0
whether shall DE esablithed not; and alter
.uch decision ii it be affirmative, it, experiment il
Do found unsuited the purposes for which it de
,gned, government founded on the doctrine of nun.
Jvrs. may be Ri htrIly overthrown and another nsti
uted IN it's stead Which expressly denies and dprovas
ny inherent rig Of the numerical majority To rule.
But gentlemen array long list of authorities from
The bills of rights and tho constitutions Of other States
unnecessary for me to furnish critical eXamlnalo!
# them, after the beautiful cogent, and unanswer!b
analysis which was furnished BIZ my colleague, (Nr.
.DMuSps) should only impair its force and benrlt
!ud am content it shall go before the world and res
pom its strength for its claim upon the cre'ienc
Il mankind No statement OF that anal ysis has been
'ontrorerted or impaired. attcmptedto be mn
aired except that which related TO the constitute"
i Tennessee, which was ussailed by the gentleman
rom Greer brier, (Mr. PRcE lie adduced the eS-
nipple OF Tennessee to prove that the white basis M"
een adopted in country somewhat similar to our own
md having dversities of interests between the iowi
md mountain counties of that State. But by advert
0 the geographical position of that State, and to Tho
ocaion of its population it viii! be found that there
ia perfect identity Of interest IN the majority OF IN
white population Of the State, secur ng the predoml
lnce of power with tho slave interest. The gentle
ian from Greenbrier referredaso to the case of Louis
ana, and it appears to ME that he was equally unior
innate in that reference, and that the phrascoosy o
he Louisiana constitution affords no preteXt Tor th'
criticism Of the gentleman from Greenbrier.
The unchecked power of the numerical majority Is III
where recognized in system and has never been g
ubshed in the institutions Of the government OF al.
ne OF the States situated as ours Reference has beef
Iadc 10 the authority Of iuustrors Tn" h'roo
md sages of shave been arryed before And will
gain proudly refer to the analysis Of the authority
hese great men, it exhibited by one OF my col
eagues from pttsylvauia MR. TREDwAYD Severe crit
It will defy those criticisms without any MD from me- c
nay well go before the country to show to the WORE
hat the wise men, vino preceded constantly regard
I'd the principle of property and constantly matan"d
md advocated the propriety of giving 1t Legitimate
influence and efficient agency in government.
Gentlemen from the west have undertaken To furnish ot
theories to the source from which this power de
lived TO the numerical majority. The eloquent gent'
nan from kanawha (Mr. SU,IMERs) has advanced III,
ea and put forward the argument, that " in combine
ion of jority of equals there must be involved
aioritv of right But the combination oi nonent!t'.
.::n never produce substance. You may combine c,
.hers Indefinitely and produce MT unit. And
here be power to rule in any individual member
), the community-if there be foundation OF right
ule. lou will combine the majority in VAN. to search
nd find the right to rule because indefinite comb
itton Of cyphers must still produce no unit But i j.
aid that the true source from which this inherent pow
r of the numerical majority is drawn may be found il
he doctrine oil physical force. Physical force y
.ricnd Of mine very properly remarked yesteroa
that the physical force of society, may pcrchance exit
n the minority. 20 further. and enunciac the oni'l-
that the physical force cf the community. dr"uS
ides in the minority There is u be found in HI
history Of the world, shy lie ciI. community. i'll wsc
he majority Of the physical .1rce If that community
not TO be found i'll the minority OF the members ..
hat body polite. Que half the human cnns.s a
emales. and very large part of the members Of
community exists 10 the form Of little children certain.
within the limits OF this commonwealth, or in ~
he States Of this confedeacy. Under the most eycnu-
Il regulation Of the right of suffrage, ompara,irrI
mall part of society has been found to eXercisr H.
Elective franchise During he last presidential cleo
ion there registered less than three millions o
,otes out of twenty three millions Of souls Although
lie right of suffrage is extended almost indefinitely
ome Of the States Of this confcderacy. There Is coripl
ativclv small part Of society composed of adult male
Put to recur to the doctrine of physical force WI,
hould we rely upon physical force-upon manr:;
1,1o H.
n state of nature, from employing artificial force
Even i'll the condition Of nature the who is assact
mplovs such means Of defence within his reach
And in the existing condition of society after av
far advanced from state OF nature is it he expect
d. that should allow physical force prevail and
ves of rights, when is easy rcpel hv
artificial forcel What is the physical force Of IL,
world, the manual strength OF the human family when
omparcd with that artificial force which ia brought by
nan to regulate the affairs OF human life In compar
on it sinks into perfect nsgniticance But if you re
ort to force the of the power Of society what
it but the tile Of the despot?what is it but the ii
lie of Caesar, Cromwell or Napoleon They assmcl
he powers of government because they were able l.
command the force which would sustain them. They
we're enabled to CONTROL and when they ceased 20 be
,ble the right of the despot sunk into nothngness
aud if we are to recur to force then Justly m
horized to employ all the force either natural pys
al or artificial, and it resolves itself into right ct
The capacity of communities for prosecuting war That
night be doubtful issue within thelimits Of this
nonwealth. The physical force may reside il mnpr-
The aority is not the exact exponent OF the pow
and capacity to prosecute Ii is far from my in.
cnon to affirm that the majority of physical art-
al force would reside west of the Blue Ridge
If mountains But, if by to the fate Of
var either party shall be overwhelmed it must find for
itudr 10 submit to the fate Of war;
The whole doctrine of physical force the sanction
If hamin government is revolving to my mind. 1t is
,ut the assertion of the insulting dogma, that "mht
gives right" 1t involves contempt for spiritual
properties, the properties which pertain mind, anG
educes the humiliating of mere animal cx-
jscnce regulated by the law of brute force OBJ
ervablc throughout the ANIMAL kingdom where til;
lion devours the OK and the OK drives the lamb from
he green pasture. Where tho eagle prcvs upon the
Kite the kite preys upon TIE dove the dove prevs upon
he helpless worm, until in its turn The worm comes nj
last. TO prey upon US ALL in graves.
Mr. GoopE having been very unwell for scvcra
weeks finding his voice and his strength in state Of
exhaustion at this point closed his remarks announcing
MS Intention to conclude his speech early occa-
sion.
Mr.. PENDLETON, moved the Committee rise which
1t the request of Mr. GoonE, withdrawn to afford
opportunity to others to continue the discussionl
Mr. GOODE wing been confined to his room for two
lavs appeared i'll committee. on Saturday April 18th
and concluded hs speech commenced On W.dn,sJoy