Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-08-18
THE RICHMOND ENQUIRER.
ny RITCHIE & DUNNAy4NT.
TUESDAY, MORNING, August Is,Is5,
POPULAR NTy

All governments are more or less autocratic or De.
mocratic. Nonarches are founded in the sssumn
tion OF The superiority OF Kings and courts r.,
publics rest upon the broad bsss of tba eon.;,v and
supremacy CT The people. 1t iu this paramount prn
'So pofuiaf sovereignty that constitutes the soul
anu substance OF the Institutions OF the United
"'a'es ana the exercise OF which ia 90 difficult deli
cafe ahd dangerous, as to require The utmost caution
vigilance and patriotism 10 guard it from abuse.-
IL is this principle which underies and peryades our
system oil politics, Of society," of Industry and, in.
oeed' evo.y Thing Of American origin, in which the
aggregate opinion OF individuals is entitled to con
suera'ion' Our elections in corporations aHd eoun-
'es' IN The States, and in the United States from the
lowest ta the highest from the Constabeship 10 the
Presidency are effected fairly ani iesrsssy throu gh
the soverelgniy of the people
In primary meetings and Conventions Of all
sorts, religious political, agricultural or indus
trial. OF any character or kind, the principle OF popu
lar sovereignty illustrated snd enforced BIZ the &C.
quiescence of the few in the will Of The many So
reasonable and natural is this principle which com.
mends itself to that innate understanding OF right
aud justice in the mind Of man. that it is adopted in
tuVely "a The standard Of fairness wherever and
whenever it is necessary to submit the merits Of any
question 10 The Judgment OF men, who derive their
authority to pronounce opinion from any other source
than that Of the ,nyf dirinO." Popular sovereignty
in truth, so effectively exenpfes the natu;si .tr,
butes OF honesty and fairdealing amols le, that it
is impossible 10 countcract i except by the influences
and agencies oi tue iron arm 6T arrogated and des
pa,io power II is at once The germ and fruit Of free
institutions Magma charta eInbodies this principle
az plainly if not So literally and powerfully .s ina
Virginia bill Of rights or f.? s-e'ean declaration Of
indspende2;s,
The Inherent ani, inaienabe right Of the Peopls to
thin, and speak for themselves to raMe tHeIf o"n
institutions, heher Vi Ynora social, rehgous or
political character ID the hass aud essence Of ali good
government II is the principle which embraces and
involves all Others In the government OF the unlled
Staes Aud to ses that it is fully developed and airy
exercised in the States and in the Territories is the
sacred duty OF the executives respectively q .na
several States aud OF the Unicn ID? elective fran
chiss ia the medium snd .7,espa through WHICH this
principle o; 2?psas sovereignty s to Oo put in 'or's
Though, aa prseticai principle, il ID essentially De
lnocratic u it's character. and comprehensive III lis
sgnGcaton doos not, nevertheless, imply tina, hers
can bs no legitimate restraints upon its exercise III
order TO avoid its abuse. for without thera you Ga
an unmeanng, idle and use!s:s eS$arsci%n
The abstract y;gat o. every individual to all tho
p.iyieses ot ctiGsnsbip in free country where
he means to remsin cannot be denied; The interest
of every msn 10 the laws Of the land in which
he liver, and in the choice Of those who are TO
lou ia and
sequenty in accordance with the precepts 2; re7ao
licanism, and the principle: ct ,opslar 'oTereignty'
it would lie ynrSaaonape snd utlust to contend thai
all who are identified by citizenship with the welfare
of county, town, territory or State are not emil
tied by every consideration of fairness OF freedom
and equality, to express an opinion in primary meet
iugs in Convention, and at the poQ FeIGI;e 10 any
public matter, to ia datelInined by the people, Whe
tber in taeif social or political capacity; whether
an industrial enterprise is to be undertaken, or new
laws are to be framed, and new legislative, judicial
or executive representatives, aad officers are to be
chosen Dat whiie this abstract right nssuredy ez.
ists there must be q mode of proving that which
conf.rs 1.-THE citizenship of the iDdiTidus who
would be avoter.
Txere is the lYihc,p;e Of popular sovereignty in It's
most liberal sense crude aud unfasbioned for practical
duplication. Here it is with those conservative re-
.rrsints without which, republics would be unable to
exist on account of their abuses and e1cesses
Every citizen has undoubtedly right to vote. But
there must be test of citizenship to discriminate be
tween The true man aud the imposor. And hence
arises, it is true, refusal of this rgt 20; anfre
1uently where it legtimstsly ve-onGs' hut this ID
for the preservation and purity Of our
system o; government 1t is one of those iinpeftec
lions OF human institutions that cannot be prevented
tie act, of men are tue most infabe indces 10 their
Intentions Popular sovereignty, like iSst aOeTty OF
which it ia at the exponqn. ano protector, must
have lis conservative ahecka and safeguards or ii
xould be productive Ct its own destruction.