Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-06-24

Saziton oil government best every III his
aural or individual rights against all interference by
others, by the majority itseft The notion might be
plausible We're the interests and desires Of all perfectly
The same but they are necessarily different in the
:Eallest community. The inevitable consequences Of
vor own arrangement Of gov eminent must create diff
ference for what would be its first effect The nome pt
The political power is given to the mere majority of
numbers vo have the one hand majority who are
interested il, the maintenance of the government or in
the possession Of its power and on the other minority
| :;' have no control that power. Will not tie
majority be absouet Remember that its right to gov.
| according to your doctrine is natural Remember
that, the gentleman from hsawia (Alr. SuHMERs)
we'll argued from his principles, constitution de-
rivrs inrce from the assent of the existing political
society government. but exclusively from its rathca-
lion by this majority of numbers which has natural
-n nalienabc right change that constitution at its
pleasure. Therefore. whatever restriconst may i'm
upon itself arc simply promises, of whose extent it
= the sole Judge and which it has natural and nalien-
able right In change aud retract at moment Your
majority is therefore absolute. Now, when this major
- s placed in possession CT the government, it taxes
h" wkoi. community for the support of that govern
ment You have then necessarily two classes in tho po
Il zeal sncicv the taX-consuming class under the pro-
r'on and in possession OF the government and the
ay-parirl, class without the government. Thus there
il nm -y,alr division aud sit not obvious that where
ever there is div!siGa direct autagonsm of interest
the party in power will use that power for it's own ad
.annrr and Ia the oppression OF the opposite partyf
heir int rrrsts aud ends different One il tAxcon-
uning class the Other is taxpnvng class. The tax
consuming class has IN ntare-t in the increase OF taxes
.ll APPROPRIATIONS because il the benefit: 1t d.
si,- them amongst themselves. II even has farther
mi, rr- in keeping down il; pumbers, TINT the
majority shall he larger than is necessary to retain
In, power in order that there shall be to be plum
,icrct and fewer divide the plumber amongst. The
,.xvers the contrary desire To lower the taxes
AMI rrunol. strict economy. Now, what results from
u,h 4 state of things. Here parties in every
government, each striving obtain the power, to be-
come the tax-cunsumins class The party IN the gov
errnt i banded together by means OF It's patronage
and the government appropriations TO keep its place
mi power Tn" opposite party must resort to similar
meas They must their private wealth to counter
&c! and rn,rarpose the public wealth in the hands OF
their opponents. In other worda corruption must be
,se, They must go further. The system must
IL, introduced and the party organized into regular
army 10 obtain command of the public treasury and the
,ubr plumber Such has been the result in this coun
;rv, il proportion Your principle Of mere absolute
numbers has invaded our government The caucus sy1
:cm j. It Il ION against this numerical tyranny It
i li one at the ry ices by which the wealthy or in
...sc,t few sct; To wrr-t power from the many. The
comedy ia usual. than the disease, for it oftener
,vas the bad n.h unprincipiei than the wise and viz
to,- Int il the necessary result OF this principle
Such state of things may last long while under
certain circumstances; bat ultimately, in all coun-
trie- ,shcr. there has been mi and unequal sys.
SEN II iaxation the natural level and distribution of
wealth will be disturbed. Tho very fact that large
pr:. Of the community have mad their earnings taken
from then. TO he appropriated and spent among the tax
ga, u ming majority, cre.s AZ unequal and unnatural
slri'.u;"u =, wealth amongst the classes and sections
# til. cui.try You have sa: this result IN almost ev-
ry government in the world and a; the north it has al-
rrndy fastened tie period which Has cone sooner or
IN. in every non-sav -hoiiuu society when the great
,oinry of the community vii! lie those who mold pro-
ritz and live on the c:.I:G, OF their daily labor Now,
when this state Of things is attained the property
n. a; The mino:itr !t upon the proposed system Ito
D:neri,al majority would be entitled to absolute power
ar what is the same thing, the whole political power
with no rant- hut promises which has the natural
i., 20 take back whcnere! i chooses: and what must
anen! On tie side. you have the property
r. II the country Gu the other side. YOU have ma
orty who.; property, feeling perhaps that the rich
hold their wealth by tenure stained BY the injus-
ice and oppression of FORMER gcner"tions hunger
urd want urge them They have power, why
bouo they not use take what they T7ant to selzo
up,n the property of the '"'lItry =" hat protecuon
~ that propertv have except in military orgenIatlonf
This c.s,.s no mere supIoston; has been seen as
;,.l reality in every country where such government
l.. lreu tried You find il nj this moment III France
Two Or tire. Years since, the power in that country was
l.cad in the hand. nj the numerical majority OF the
,nci, ,,olc suffrage was made universal ana repre-
nt,, ON aportionsd mere numbers. What was the
in.;ur. effect of that revolution Why ar the major
y were nnll-;roperty or those who hela so III
lie property that they Mi ht we'll expect moro IRON the
. COX
MI .n; interests if Tie le.irc be powerful one will
t D.,t r REASONS 30 Justify them, rather they Will
lin rr.:cxis which, if they 10 not excuse them IN the
eyes If the wnrl 81 least justify them IN their OWL.
.;n with these Frcnr:,iHen. hey se'Lea upon Po"e
,.j Instantly proclaimed and established system OF
government which overthrow all law but the will oil the
stronger md tended IN destroy property lney pro
r;,,n tia; every man had natural right to be fully
c,I,,rat ed ~ III, expense Of the community lhey pro
,,,.l thar il wa. the right and duty OF the Stale 10
,v for his labor that the idle had right to be sup
orc out the earnings Of tho iadstrlouA ano ~ Que
- tEr: chief leaders says ~ his book on the FRENCH
rayclnton that wrr" entitled 10 receive OUT VI uo
nro,4 Of society not in proportion to their noor not
IN oronortion their ability or capacity 10 use Wisely
,i . rro,oytion 70 tier trditS. ms was the primo
Mic On which they attempted to organize society iney
.lccurml that every man had night 70 DO eniPoyeu
,ha, rycrv nan had right as they called IT, W iaD''
,I ,t Il any one able bodied on otherwise, was III
t -, o,ninvpert it was the duty of the government
,,t,n him on, o the public treasury TILL he found
.isr Where wn- the security tor prl'a'e properly un
' lar ,c = system as this: In The ihWsi NE ia"s
-r. administered Ev the very men whose interests coL
..,sd IN th nIIaisr Of that property In the consltu
; Tha c,ns;ituton was but the voice OF the sover-
Ian, .o.;nrty the breath Of ts mouth. 1t existed oy
III viii; and might he chsnse or abolished at us soVer
.;,u measure; Where then WAS security 10 DC fouho
H.; Observation-Disclosures al France could lind It only In
o, o yonets: they could find it Only in the Tollies
Of artillery that swept through the streets OF far'
..,c rnuld find it only in armed military dcta.ossnp.
in discriminating nearly every Trstlge OF raIofi fee
,i,; which France had enjoyed in destroying the tree
% a. fine press and violating that very law OF univer-
50, suffrage Which the revolution pretended to esta!!lsh.
81 hi, moment what il the condition q" their govern
msn, This principle of the sovereign right OF the nu-
mtc majority to the political power of the country
,,a. been sanctioned b. the community 1t 10 carried
.,,t 20 lis natural and legitimate consequences What
i;.t. ii law and order 10 now maintained there Is
man.ained at the point of tho bay"ns and proper
~ and socirv listen with trembling for the earu'-
Quake, which momertv threatens to swniio" them up.
yhy sir s,ch condition Is no better than anarchy i,
- NOT even rs good IA IN enlightened ccsPo.in WIZ
t onurr il viii, England Or The state OF things %'ch
.xiIirI in Virginia. and which We are now told IL 8"
i- iiur Ju. I will say Rtssa herself Is ireer. IL
.c ar security that crc in Virginia the same prlh
. viii not nan 10 III" results 1t Is true ina.
.i ,onsa-v,;r, i;frenc.a Of African slavery protect
.,in.. var or ola and Unite the interests OF
alr and capital; bat hc.d" tie natural anu lnesa
bic division mi" tax payers and
other important !ivrr.i,ies 81 Interests ,,,rosr
win. i, Ike result Of the principle that the aa,t
lea! majority has natural right to the govern :.
w!cr. ir nor property holders constitute majority
TIE community h., suppose that apart from this d.
vision sto ,koSc who hold property and those who DO
not. there difference OF interest arising Of
tcna division of the country; will the sectional major
w administer IL. 20, crnment any better, just