Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1861-11-26
The Communion Of ,1s.

Following the popular tradition We have loosely spoken
Of the old Constitution Of Virginia, that Of George
Mason. There may be error in this There Is no sufi
cient authority for ascribug it TO him. Mr. Rves, In
his lie of Madison has collected tbs testimonies on
The subject and they leave the matter in doubt. Mr..
Madison was not certain the author. The original
draft was presented TO the Committee by not
now known known at the time. 1t amendedby the
committee, though the framework retained. Mr..
Madison says there was tradition that Nerwether Smith
was the author-and Mr. Rives incines to the opinion
George Mason its most active, able and irauentl
champion, aud did than any one man to secure its
adoption. In the words Of Mr.. Madison, abe was the
builder of the constitution and its main exposition
and supporter throughout the discussions which ended
in It's establishment" he, however, never cdmed the
paternity Of it. as he did Of the Declaration Of Rights
Mr.. Rvss' solution strikes perfectly Just. Ia lite
crude FORM il the work Of keTiEeher Smith, avery
great man. by the way and in its perfected form, the
result OF the combined political wisdom Of the truly
gea. men of that age. "The character thought wis
dom and patriotism (says Mr.. of an entire genera
ion Of superior men were thus stamped and moulded
into the Constitution Of l776, and 1t is the immortal
praise of George Mason have been the acknowledged
leader of such assembly ard tSe accredited exponent
aud champion of It's principes."
In this cOuueIon we cannot deny ourselves the pleas
ure of republsbng the following just commentator Of
the FIRST best and greatest written Constitution Of free
government the world has II is appropriate
TO the times. We are graiH.d TO learn that second
volume Of the life Of Madison Is nearly ready for the
press, and we hope it NAV be Published in time to eI
er its proper Influence In the formation Of sound Repub
lean opinions and contribute to the establishment Of
our liberties on a broader and better basis than
From Rlvss Life Of Madison
In locking back the Virginia Constitution Of l776
With all the tights which the intermediate experience OF
eighty years has shed the science Of popular govern
uen We cannot bat be struck with the reach OF prsct
cal wisdom and slgscous craftsmanship exhibited in IL
construction. Il was system which, while resr
,he general principle of the sovereignty OF the people
nd equal rights organized as to combine Istice
and moderation with power and 10 barriers az ins
every species Of arbitrary authority whether OF the
few or the many. II set limits TO the sovereignty
o the people Itself declaring that there certain in
harent individual rights which no human power can law
fully invade aud in the ordinary and regular ion OF
me constituted authorities il provided the most efficient
security against abuse not merely by dividing the whole
government into separate and distinct departments
ordng TO the nature OF their respective functions bu
~ divdirg each department into branches whose
currence should DO necessary TO utter the deliberate
pertinent whose great province it is In the adminstra
N justice, not only to protect private right and
"a public wrong, but 70 maintain the balance Of the
Constitution itself by passing upon the validity OF the
pcts of the other departments, endowed with the
rmnefs and independence necessary for the proper dis
charge Of it, high functions by the Of good be
havior alone.
While every department of the government was de-
rved directly indirectly, from popular origin, the
tight of suffrage was exercised by those who, by fixed
liz hovr ernrn In thaa NJ tn
were attached by "a permanent common interest" TO
the society, whose destines they controlled Nor
ibis grca and naturally vrtuous body Of eectors-the
middle classes Of society, removed alike from the temp
ftOns Of riches poverty-caed upon to fl by their
immediate choice all the various grades Of public
nagstracy After the election Of their representatives
j. the legislative department, upon which mainly de-
volved the guardianship Of the public interests it
ought that the choice Of most OF the other public fuuc-
Iouares whether local general might safely and wise
~ and greatly TO the relief Of the psople themselves be
EFT 10 intermediate agencies created by their will aud
possessing their confidence.
r. is no true friend Of popular government or popu.
Jar liberty who is for calling the sovereign power Of the
people into action for every OCCASION whether great OF
small and thus disturbing that calm, deliberate and i'm
partial revision stated tines Of the conduct Of pub
10 servants which Is the highest and most essential at
tribute Of popular sovereignty IL s the best presevs
tive Of freedom The necessary consequence OF FREE
quent aud teasing recurrence to the popular suffrage is
enslve them to the habitu guidance OF party leaders
and managers who cover, and hardly cover their
INTERESTED and selfish ends under pretencs Of public
z.alH
The men who framed the Constitution of 1916 were
men versed In the history Of popular governments as
well profoundly nverslnt with the principles Of hu-
nature and the character crcumst nces and ger
Jus Of the people for whom they acted They had stud
red the ancient deuOcrsces and knew well the vices and
iurmities By which they led to the Of yran
MES They had design Of adding another TO the list
of these disastrous and dscredtfd experiments. Their
purpose to found not democracy upon the ancient
model but a Pepublct Ia which the people exercised
heir rightu, power through delegated and responsible
,encies; TO each Of which marked out It's proper
province Of action by the Constitution the supreme law
binding both upon the people and their SCENTS until
CD nged by like solemn and authentic act Of the public
will. /.
In this republican form Of polty contradstpgusbed
from democracy the authors OF the Constitution OF 1875
saw the highest guarantee not oy for the public order
md happnesL but for popular liberty ITSELF The dis
tincton has been fearuly but most nstrucvey illus.
trated by the democratic exp rments which, since their
day. have been ad led 10 the lessons OF history In that
fruitful but sauguuary hot bed of political theories and
rlvolu onsFfance. The present imperial ruler OF that
country has said, France is democratic not republican
BY democracy, mean the government Of an individual
BY the will Of abby republic, moan the govern
ment of number In obedience to n certain system v
II There cannot he q striking proof Of the real
merits and essential wisdom of the Constitution Of l776
tbau that 10 an age Of change ard revolution Il firmly
maintained It's ground, Tor period OF fityfour years
against the perseyerng assaults Of host of critics and
theorists sustained by the authority Of some Of the high
in the State and when last 1t was super
ssded by new experiment which in its turn has given
pbce to another, that there Is hardly thinking
man Of any party 10 Virginia who would not gladly cx
change the modern structure and all its ms gined i'm
provemenu for the Grcient Consi uon Just Il was
with only necessary readusment OF the
10 the changes which have aiken place in the l)ca dis
tribuon Of the popula ion. Government" our wise
ancs ors thought Nth Burke, "Wis practical thing
made for the hspolnes Of mankind and NOT to furnish
spectacle Of uniformity TO crafty the schemes OF