Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-04-21
THE CoNsTIrUTIoN-wHAr 1T Is, AND

1
ordinary reason and apparent right.
And hence the necessity, inhersn, in the orgaunz
:ion OF all Civilized society, of O covenant or com
oacs distinctly aud Gsfni;vsly expressing recoc
ton OF certain inulienab!s rights, coust,u;irp IN,
substratum OF the system Of government, and ar
nrfn;pg Gxed facts, not to be cun;roye,,od O,
| attacked without. denying the truth Of its p.i
mary principle, and recommending revolution
| by imputaton upon their purify or policy. The
Constitution Of the United States is a covenant OF
such character. BY the assent of the American
people. it was adopted as the basis of their national
Iagislation. Expressing truisms In politics, and
enunciatng great governmental guides and guards
in ts patriotic principles of liberty that sprung .pon
taneously from the honest hearts Of its wise or9us
tors it s sacred charte. Of freedom inrerposing be-
tween rational repubiicanlsm and lcen;ious liberty
to protect the people from Themselves, to save con.
servatve segc vsrnment from the riots and revolu.
tions Of radicalism.
The Christian religion Is defended by the Bibls as
Its sacred shield. The Of political liberty mus,
be protected t7 conpscs that canno, be lrampled
upon or denied The Constitution of the United
States 10 no compromise. II san agreement between
the several sovsregnties for The conduct of confs.
Grated republic, the advantages OF which wers in
tcuded to inure to all without imposing 10 any respect
on the nerests of either. II 10 the embodiment Of
principles incapable of ccnproniss without ds?ar.
agenent to their truth or denial Of their practicable.
ty aud power. Compromise amounts 10 conces.
sion enc side or the o,hsr. II is Indispensable TO
trade and traffic and commerce among men, where q
difference OF taste education, association or circum
stances renders relative and uon.e quently variable
value to almoet everything; but 10 polite, it ia high
ly reprehenslLie. Men may compromise disagree.
msnts and difficulties, honorsbly, fairly and finally
but governments cannot compromise their principles
with eafety.
The Constitution OF our country is tho result of no
bargain between the States Massschusctts asked
nothing OF Virginia, before .ha wo:d consent TO enter
into the organic .ton Of the Cniun there was no ex
change Of one advantage for another, bartering of
one right privilege or immunity for another, on the
part Of one State or section Of States to anoth.r-
The spirit Of liberty at last let loose from the thra
dom Of ignorance and "nan's nhumanty 10 man"
needed to be formed ard fashioned into q practical
political system. The principles were already pro,
regularity writing and in solemn snd sacred compact
to complete an independent Government, of separate
and sovereign Slater, undera common confederation,
recognizing al! their rights whou. demanding any
c,ncession for the protection and accommodation
afforded.
II the Constitution is compromise, the rights and
regulations originating under it, or expounded by 1t,
may continue TO be compromised by virtue Of
the same authority and propriety which couu.
tenanred the compromise ia ;he 6rst irsiapce.-
But in Its origin and nature Il Is contradictory
to compromise, aud liz very Object Is to avoid
compromise. The principle, which il hvows and
rspressnts are political truths, originating not In
expectancy or temporary policy, Gu; based upon the
rights OF man, derived directly from God. Aau,
consequently, to com5rtm,;s them is Ia deny and
destroy lhe,I. f'tHsip.fi 60 ~-"'eea, eu'
measure. me ts: tor instance. OF some sort,every
man adr;st be necessary FOR tls United Sate. but
whether i, shou!d be high or low, aud when and how
It should be raised or reduced h:vs been matters OF
much honest cpposit;on OF opinion, ard Is consequent
ly admissible oe compromise.
Tue foundation Of our form Of government the
pre.smnent pecu!!e!iiy Of our Institutions is popular
sovereignty The rights Of the States ere the CORES.
ponding corolares Of this great unimpeachable prn-
cipe which psrvade, our body polc and constitutes
the Constitution The institution ofsarery, authorised
and recognised by the government In ito origin, bt-
longs like all other domestic matters liable to legsa
tiou to the tribunal Of the people of each sovereign
state 10 be approved or condemned. II Involves, or
rather itss!f Involved In animpcrshabe principle OF
iber,y upon which our and every other free gov
srpmep, alone can rest-the right and province Of
the people 10 ogisate for themselves Each State Is
separate sovereignty, and can, consequently resu'
late its own affairs, through the voice Of its people
If a majority of the people OF Maize or New
Hampshire should express preference at the polis
for negro slavery, there lie no earthly power tlat
would have the right to prevent the Introduction oi
negroes there, as property
The Constitution Acknowledges no authority on
tbs part Of the Federal Government to strike down
the principle of popular sovereignty, by prescribing
boundaries beyond which the people shall suceuno
70 CONGRESS. Tho Missouri Compromise, 1t Is true,
bas at last been undune. But the anxiety ot poth
the North and South, each to outstrp the other in the
race for preponderancs OF numerca! strength IN
conorea. 10 be determined by the constitutional
cbarsoter Of new States s evidence of disrust aud
dread on the ons eide, and desperate determine
tlon to disregard the safeguards and guarantees oi
the government on the Other
II each State is sovereign, and has exclusive juris
djcou over its own domestic mnt'er'; II the govern.
men of the United Slater, es it was originated, is to
be maintained intact; if the Constitution s still! to
he observed in all It's primitive purity and power;
and the people are not to rebel against themselves
and their own sacred covenants, surely there IS no
mead Of uunbers, no necessity for phSsical strength,
N nsnre safety in the Union. But itwould seem That
,bs aboi,onis:e ere only awaiting numbers enough
in Congress to trampe ths Constitution into the dust;
while The South is .tranng every nerve to battie
their design and perp.tus.e The Union BY Intercept
ing and cutting OF its euetnles.
If the Constitution is TO be invaded by physical
force and the republic be saved only by the active
vigilance Of mere majority, which may become
minority almost at any moment, our Tree institutions
have ceased to rest firmly upon the prlncpes OF 10
e-ty in the hearts of the people. Ih's oanser' now
over. il 40 evil attendant upon salt g9Ve:nmsn''-
Tbsrs ara mscon,ens traitors and revo'rt;onisis in
all nations, If they can be kept down, :ho conntryia
safe; if not, sther the patriotism oil 'he pe"pe or
ths inherent. strength ofthe inadequate
to the object of the institutions Of The country The
Constitution Of the United States "a plain, practical
and comprehensive. 1t cannot be compromised
gi,hou, weakening, II not running, the government;
and to be preserved, for the preservation Of the
Union, It must be considered sacred and beyond the
reich of men, who know 10 right or reason or reve-
renee, where they have an object to attain, and the
mean. of accomplishment. Physical force is stan.
dard Of rieb. belonging to darker ages Our govern.
nept ,s essentially trophy Of the triumph Of mtAdi
psrioti,m love Of liberty. and regard for rgh, must
be IL. supporting pillars stl or thu fabric will fall,
from prsm.turs dilsplda,ion. produced by an unpa.
,u,.l deo.y Of the basis or which 1t stands.
r1E HISTORY OF FRANCE, FROM THE EAR.
LEST PERIOD TO THE PRESENT TINE
Nv THOMAS WRIGHr, ESQ. NJ. A., +. ). A 30
psrt nF thi. all into