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

,crambe for power under that suplc and uneonquerab
word expcdieucy they might triumph as they were al
rcrlv in the ascendant make no war upon real an
genuine cxpcdirncy We should Only know in whe
path il lies to insure our following it implicitly. "
should ever desire do that which We ipk il trl!
expedicn!, but 80 should ever think that cxpedien
which is right ard lust .:oni principle, for truth mus
operate right And shcn opponents have bee
forced coaNed, surprised into the admission Of SOM
great principles they at once stamp them rs ahsrac
tons which neither nor les than that The
are no principles al a!i:i.at ;hc MAY ,:u write poe
try about, IN. that it nc:cr entered Tie head o
tina! they could lie used or applied any concev
able earthly purpose Al best TIA. ~ Away
applicable 10 every case on Gods -, 49, but the pres
cnt. The ;"ry cry Of abstraction D, - evidence o
weakness. an indicaion TIL" i'c. IL Their den, no
/ meet our principles. II h. a.r I'D still j.. th
Watchwori Of power and wrune III" taiis!aanit
countcr>isn VI tyranny. Let man, however w.nnged
appeal power Tor his rights by every feeling Of JUS
tee and equality, power has but 10 turn upon him. anC
with lofty paronizng air charge the suppicant viii
being ab>traconisi, and al is Ore half tht
world al once set hlm down IS food for an asylum
When hear the cry Of abstraction. accompanied By
IL the resolutions Of las and 1899 hook fol
practical federal stroke a the sovereignty of these
States. Whenever | hear q northern manuiac;u lcr be
yin 10 dcery distractions. and draw his figures pon u.
10 prove that nigh tariff makes low goods. and wi!
enable Lin 10 compete With, and al The sauc tnc pro
li.n from the paiijcr ain: of Europe. inyoiu.
tariiy feel oc my pocket. although il nay be empty
To i'll. monarcl>,. Of England the rights al nan and
the 'icclaraijon OF independence were but the wild
c>l and most imrraccahc distractions and il would
seem that the principles they contain p.
atab!e 10 their present iIi;ator>. lose a>rfact
principles III the true srhse o. abstraction. W.t!iod,
them rcycr has AMI can, Advance uit. step
in hcri, and ii stoutis adhered 10. ANA con.l lnty
pressed. liberty never III wIcnche from their
grasp.
Abstraction III the in which il i made vision
AIRY I'll mprartcab!c. canol cNi, in connection will,
principle. Principle, fundamental truths. a>ccr-
tanned and known hy facts AMI results and canNo y, a
principle or theory j., mpraccahc. although is com
pe;c Development mi, he difficult :, principle which
is not lrc practicable, that i no, based on facts
j. s!mp!, no Pfncr pie y: all and il i greatly Ia be
hoped hat y" may never AGAIN hear. especially on the
>ol VI old lr.ia. that old federal battle or, III ali.
,!raclon. II i expected Of III. can,or Of hi, body
and al ,ecio.t, OF this great Commonwealth that in
discussing his vital and exciting question piinciplc>
viii he frankly denied or frankly ad;ncd and Put
iafly INTO Practice o. that we may have the distinct
ard open ayuHa q. intention disregard all prnci-
pies Let have no evasion no avoidance.
II i coEtended by our opponents BY way of objcc-
ton 10 i!ls doctrine. cf government by the will Of
majority o! the sovereign contracting parties that
property i, cemen. of society and that procc-
ton is Of lie chicf-p"raps tie very chief object
Of gotcrnimchi,-tha property j, not and cannot be
SAFE unless under the absolute control of these who
~ i:.a this control and hi. safety can only exist
through the sUprc"ac. IN the legislative department al
its and that 10 secure this supremacy, il j.
necessary and rslt L. make property an element OF
government, and III effect constituent body by making
il 10 extent, the basl, u; representation that the
situation ci Virginia is peculiar, ow, 20 her
ton with slavery, and the diversity u; her sectional
intercs'S-aid that this system of the representation
Of property i rccessar, her safety and prosperity
anl called for h. her position. Til, ! think must BE-
admitted 10 h. fair general statc1cn, of the position
Of the property miNcd basis party Now, il seems
clearly cnough that these positions Of theirs may be
o.cr;iroan b: the establishment ol either oi the fol-
lng positions
ii. That the property holders are III M o,srwhelm-
ing na ioriy III ever. section Of io s,;ate-tIat the
'pcric> 81 property exists in the west a i'll the
cashat the Interest felt in thu protection of proper
y. mo IN proportion 10 Tie amount POSSESSED. b' is
felt cqca by all lis owners and that thcy viii equally
protect ii.
~ That there exists in fact. 10 such antagonsm OF
interest i eoatended for by opponents.
Bird. That the Interests, either than the interests If
property, equal superior TO those of property,
md entitled - superior weight ind consideration.
,ii.. That constitutional GUARANTEES sufficient
safeguard, 10 property.
9TH That the soyrreis.> Of Virginia in the az
prrgate honest ard capable of scf-govrrnmeni. and
that majority of them may be safely trusted with
t!:i- subject of propcriy.
6ll; That there are more valid objections 10 the ba-
ii, proposed by opponents both in theory aud prac-
tcc. than the orc herein proposed.
"
meat Of either of these propositions rather the fail
IRE to establish Ike converse Of them by opponents,
n,st defeat their whole theory. And, upon eNamina-
lon in Il fair amd liberal way do mol hesitate 10
bcc;c, that MT only one but all be mait ainel.
The correctness o thi, belief will bc tested hy tic
trial The first minor proposition has been read 10 YOU
IL; examine H. In attempting TO discuss this qncs-
ton Of property representation, iind il necessary IL
correct what is deemed incorrect in the very outset oi
Their argument. there being. s have said nothing 80
IoJ a.
propcr,r /, al element Of society Now this is incor.
rect. aad lays the foundation ior many plausible aud
incorrect conclusions lis sole 81 and Of ia;siGl l.:
i the fact that il is nnycr>ali. and in connection
with man society II i, lbs; property al
most necessarily exist ii ccnncr. ih i'll every
situation :-po>scss.o "'c,. ~. .ncc of s,cai
regulations. si,c, tide L. l:ar. E.. The 9ildc>i say
asc who lives upon Tie Fruit u forest The she'll
fish upca The Shcrc, n. /. i,- >al. IT, have Ii
tie 10 that which lie has appropriated ~ king into
possession. II i Therefore h:p"sslc perhaps fairly
la conceive E.an ii situation either III >acicr out
oI il. "cfc property 10 some extent does not exist
With him. ,lan brings into Socic!, with him this ne
ccssaf; accompaniment of bis nature Ii is no: mere
necessarily a component pa;t or element of society
Than il j. element of man himself. because it &C
companies man even more than society; yet suppose
Il would kari!: BE- contcHded that it i, orc Of the cc-
r.cus =" man. ard yet The reasons must prove
both both remain improved. Nil things which are
aya.iah!c attendants upon another are 10y no mean
necessarily Ear: OF tight. air. heat. Gi>clsc death.
aid y ilonsard ocr things the constant comrar-
cl.; oil society, without many 81 which II could not
..i>t ..lG in it, elements. To look 1T
h. Gc: clearly and il distinctly, il becomes ride
inrs. L., imagine society in miniature "r in tina.
condition tie mind grass II more dciEiicyict
gard ;or example ih- assembly socicly-of wha;
would il consist What would he il, clements Would
il rui.s..i of tie gentleman from and his straight
>hr, collar. the gentleman from and his spccia-
clr. HE gentleman from and his wig | rather
hink rot. II seems very clear to republican minds
that >occt. i, composed of mcn-of social beings that
property an ornament and cnicnce Tor necessity
il ,ou wii) Of socicty-thc very dress oil society but
n part al I'-e.i.
Ii has hcrn asserted that history cannot show any
form of social compact at any lime or iii any place.
that ha- sustained itself, into which property did not
enter A. constituent ccmcat. and that legally prop
cry i Of even more Importance than persons. Now
tits declaration. in the III which va, uttered
catn,,t he maintained. The happie,t and mos; pros
porous Of the republics Of this mon nj least, are cN
rrlicn> property is IN an clement Of their
social compact being wholly d!srcgartcd in their ap
portonmci OF representation and their rights Of suf-
fragc. Property il is true. receive, protection ard
risitully. II must aud will receive that where
TIE people govern, for property Is law Of nature
and the love Of il mate but it will receive protection
in the same manner and moi othcrwi ,c than a man :
character his religion. winch is believed have moi
vet been discovered Ia be necessary componcht>
elements. The Importance Of property has been en-
dcavnrcd 10 bc aaGni.icd iii connection with this e;
o t> bein. element. from the fact that il has beer