Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-03-14

e,nethinc belonging - t1e 81 virginia something
pertaining to the "ncis n the commonwealth has
in which every 'nal' nd \. something which must
"u' s.,,r s.,tled-and stiie w. rhn MO IN tbo
vii, not say Of all bu, Of in@'e axcrnmeut-bcforo VIC
habit of bong satisio Tho consciousness that we arc
can &C to sleep upon or those with whom we arc
SAFE either as 10 ut Of view, either among our
slrcs or with foreign h, o,r onu;ons about ths
Mr. LEAhh. "a' II the different departments OF gov
relative impol'' c,o in any likelihood. arise among
crunent, no our l, into its settlement rs much ce
us, tina, WIN VII, n this now under cohsioei a.oi WHICH
ING ald -, ,hc distribution of the LEGISLATIVE power
has i' M ysrio:: parts oil the otate. iAho' VIM 'l
among H. M, action upon 1t, to give reflections 10 the
attempt =, ,,;m.uts Of the constituents WHOM with
"isi4 ,,r.s | representation thereby out give eN-
my =, IN. convictions Of my own judgment,-st'll
ts, ,but the difficulties which heset us at the very
nssbol1 Of this inquiry ought to be removed oy are
lance upon one set Of anu W." &c - al, md
ar from this subject obtain the assent oil us all nI
vi and ;u.,ice should DC the axions when shou'u
''. 49,. ian we make in the solution OF the great
sn before Us shal, strive 10 invest nasseh VI an
G oreindces and to treat ths OCCASION not rs one III
'h;h yr,n;aus are engaged in Il miserable scramble
n themselves for roliticsl power, but rs one Oh
"t cr,at constitutional principle IL to be settled
,,h which is closely connected the safety OF Persons
and property And do moi believe that TINS Is IN oc
op on which we ought 10 indulge our feelings OF u
.l;,vo md l,ner
mnronises BIZ, liLerality aud generosity are ludi'
;ars olu, social virtues-not State or national HOW
lndable and beneficial i'll their proper spheres tie
s,o.e that practices, makes saves, not reeei !" s
b;scs There ought 10 be no successful pieao.hSs Ut
,e bar OF conscience Tor the forth-pu.shss VI 'ec
.,;ments by those invested with civil power, when
49, are 70 be INDUCED at the expense OF the rights OF
nr member of the community, even the humbiest, MOI,
outstanding these sentiments constitute the msn excel
lence o our nature, when practscd by the iha'laa'
members of society. The rightiu interest OF no se'.on
the State demands tho surrender to 1t OF any power
tv which the rights of other sections may be endager
ID The lust of power may require the cxact'ohs--n
NAV mold ont rich prizes a. alluremens for concessions
10 It's appetite, addition 10 its appeals 70 all tue
srahe emotions associated with an indulgence OF tue
sentiments oil Inagnanim'ty. These appears n,u Us
,llur.men.s arr seductive 10 the passions anu oihais
n the Judgment while the sentiments oil hoera'!'
which are gatied b. yielding to their "rce, are "t TO
work the conviction that We are following IN. PieP
of patriotism And powerful are the lnnnehees Vi
these sentiments upon human acton, that any ',' "ho
,pds himself under their control ought 10 '","s "liu
,strus, his Judgment, The converse OF aii lh slu.
* tru. ;:s unsafe enrust your rights To the csl'
,y o. lerallt,. msgaaamtv III generosity. "h'ie
there j. temptation for the betrayal oil the rust inc
,ro,ec;ion become. worthless. would not wierVue
r i.nreca.e the GOOD feelings and sentiments which
l.nnr - orr mature. In the ordinary intercourse be-
tween man and man. and in a the social relations Of
hfe my ia,h in and reliance upon, the VIRTUES :" 'he
human heart is sacred and religious. But wien W"
leave these paths of human transactions, and qu eS'
departments OF hansn HE. WHERE .. th' ,"',''o
p,omp,nys OF our nature, led 10 put trust ana
confidence in all the virtues which belong to Us ami 10
,,gard a. sacred thu obligations they impose ana 70 "h
npon him VIII" violates them, being hey 'te pale
Of human sympathy and friendship, ana liable To per
sonal responsibility and Ia such transactions as
these We ar. now engaged in where the interest of con"
muniry comes in conflict with tie interest o e"imnh'
"; where the individual forgotten amidst struggles
Tor power, the emotions and feelings which woG!d De
powerful and supreme III the like contests among 'he
units Of society would vanish from the pnbie hlinu as
the slightest characters traced upon the sand would be-
fore the ching tide.
Not thu ts same code of morals ought not, I" some
4xlep; Mt least 10 govern communities which prevail
among individuals. Not that Inc sentiments a', c'o
tons which are powerful in shaping human conduct 70
yirtuous results in Individual cases soald he impote
in their influence upon the actions of masses OF hcn
bat mark the diversity, and hut announce tact csfan
i,he by the whole history Of society. and all expert
.nce that when the individual responsibility il lost
sight Of amidst the public eaponsbll!ty-when the
thoughts feelings and conscienees become mingled up
ia the great OF human thoughts. feelings ad con-
sciences the storms o passions ana Prenic"> I" lhte
vests and fanaticsn. which, toa often, are allowed TO
:, .ep across It's bo>em have not spared fragment oi
She shipwreck of lights which, between man and man.
wsula have been regarded and respected The waters
Il thousand tributary streams which form the current
is, rr.s,tabiy ruahes TO III. sea- move II obeece to
Avs imposed upon them b. hei: maker, ~ w:cE man
makes them sub-eryrn, 10 his purposes prcmo''e alike
ii his nltres: and his pleasure when they become one
,h the ocean are no logger subject TO his command
nd his highest philosophy teaches him to regard lis WILL
and to make his arrangements fall in with it, move
men,s So It is in the science OF human government
Individual feelings and sentiments which may he easily
controlled for wise aud vrtuous ends, when Combined oy
interest are too often difficult Of restraint Elements
which can be controlled sigy, but which become too
powerful when confined we must dsarm, BY leaving no
occasion for their action This is the teaching of cxpc-
rcnce aud no wise ends can be obtained can the in
trcs OF society be guarded where her lessons are des
pissed.
5cralitv, too will never be remembered with q suf-
hcieaty strong of the obligations II imposes &c
;ak shield OF protection against arbitrary encroach
nents. Virginia has bad sufficient proofs OF this. She
yave up her western lands sacrifice for the bench; OF
the Union. And where is the gratitude. She wanted
10 1uch homage. Where is the remembrance OF her
inagnanmity You have ii in revilings of her people,
and assaults upon her Institutions III exclusions OF her
citizens from territory purchased by common blood and
treasure While the science OF SELF and OF social gov
.rnment ID full OF instruction for the staesnan and Of
valuable lessons Tor the proper structure Of civil gov
,rnnent s principles nus, be modified before they
cngrafed into the great. ii political and repre-
sentative government.
We ought not approach the decision, nor even the
investigations Of the question before IL. with theory
however beautiful in its appearance which lms sprunp
ont of facts and circumstances different from those which
surround U.s. which could not have given birth to such
creation and ts require that every thing in its wny
should be broken up and that every interest OF society,
md every part of its organization which in the way
Of its fitting our condition. should be torn off and left
charity for protection The enforcement of such the
ory would only he despotsm but it's operation would
destroy the ends Of good OF Free republican govern
msnt.
Ii the obec, OF government be for the benefit of the
governed il ought be go established protect and
-ee,re the rights and interests of ALL The bill of rights
romulgates the great principles upon which you to
make Just and good government. lts teachings do
ao direct you take of these general and finda
,nta principles and to work it ont to extreme results,
a akeal of its principles and to have them al i'll
erwoyen INTO the form Of government we may cstah
h SO rs 20 have one that is wise and equitable. Ii in
e formation OF government. no consideration is to be
siye 10 the various interests which affected BY it.
and regard whatever paid to the various elements of
society with which it is to come into conflict then all
enquiries into its condition. and about the materials
N:!Sh compose IT, vain and useless We should up
"a Iii. pohesis form abstract government regard
ie's HI various interests the wants and the <ss
Ice Of liz people for whom it is established. If the
eors desiI. 20 carry out is not ~ all be chang
'a u acd By the character of the people and by their
''a'a ocisl and political requirements then the less
'oi Know o! them the better it will he B3 no one has