The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-02-01
tIbe G1lqutrer.
RICHMOND, I5f FEBRUAR7-.
CALL OF A CONVENTION.
Hone Of Delegates, Moadep, jan. 90.
Concluded from kaR luejIay'5 baasy.

Mr.. SrANAan moved that the Ayes and Noes
ihoud betaken On fuch al important qusiion, !, was
proper for the votes of the houfe to he recorded.
Mr.. RANDOLPH (of Amela)
Hoped that the motion for pnRponemen,
would prevail. II I'd the gentleman from Franklin
conhned his ob!er7aions to this oueG;on. he
you'll have been in favour Of going into a com
mitiee of the whole on the refolution for callinp
convention, but iince he has fully entered into
the ;ifcni!on Of its merits, the nhietf for going
INTO committee is anfwercd, and TO do 70 now.
would be an unneceffary waite of time. Oar
BILL of Rights fecsres TO the majority Of the
communitv, an induhtafIe and unaiienabie
right tn reform, alter, or deitroy the conti,u,i-
on, when the public veal may require it. No
man on this floor climates more Iiyhly (faid
Mr.. X. than do, thisinvaluablc privilege. Let
us revere 1t; let us cherish i. as the fAfeguard
of our liberties. but let US not abufe it by an un-
necei'ary cXercile Of il. Founded on this Bill
OF Rights, diilincuiihed patriots, equally dif.
tinguihed for their wifdom, formed orr prefent
contribution, than which, few, in my opinion.
approach nearer perfection. At the period of
its Intuition, when an nfilpoortabc tyranny,
pathetically defcrbed in the preamble, en,Irne-
rating the various initancee of royal mifrule,
drove to dcfpair the tkinly fcattered inhabitants
Of TINS then widely extended wilderness, the
genius of liberty animated its councillors, and
By her Imported, braved the ltorm which hung
over them. 1t was under the Influence OF this
fpirit, that the Bill of Rights and our prefent
government were formed. in comparfon with
which the cold fpeculations Of the tlieorifts
NUT fink into diregard.
As human inftitution it mnit be imperfect !:
the wi!dom of man cannot devife that fyitem of
government which will pleafc us all. This,
h1, 6,cr Ct, <.
and experience, the beft teacher, fpeaks loudly
in its favour. When the grand deGdrrata of a
government are fecured, let us not bubble i.
bout minutie; for government is at heit an e.
vii, inpoied on us by our vices. Wherefore
hazard the experiment ? 1t is dangerous
one; the conflicting opinions Of multitude
are not eaiiIy reconciled, and dire necef1ity a.
lone, fhould induce us 70 adopt the expedient.
He could not perceive the necelIity of the mea-
fnre; we are all equal, we are happy; the H.
berry of the prefS, trial by jury, and religion,
are fecured by the prefent contribution. Why,
then, hazard certain bleiings, for thofe which
new fyftem may produce, but the dangers and
consequences of which cannot be forefeen?
The right of faffrage, it had been faid, ought
to be extended, yet it is admitted, that fone
evidence of attachment ought be required to
give the right, but what that evidence fhou!d
be, would he fubjeet of great diverlity of o.
pinion. Without advocating the prefent re-
QUITE, he would only obferve, that it is at pre-
fent eaiily acquired, and equally in the power
of ns all. There were other objections to the
prefer. meafuie, flowing from the mode which
10 propofed for calling a convention. It fhould
never be done by our ordinary Legislature. We
lhould be warned by the experience of Penn
fylvaDia. Until the people Ahemfelves call for
an amendment to the contribution, until they
demand a convention to be called, we ought
not ourfelyes to interfere.
Ma. RoBERTsoE---
Heard with anosignment and regret the motion to
podpone the confederation Of this fubjetl. Shall the
Legislature devote its whole time to enading laws
the mot frivolous add uninterening, and ,rnk from,
the ddeuiIon Of principles upon which the lberte.
aud happiref, Of the people dependl When imper-
tant queaons are brought forward, was it not in
cunbent upon the houle to beaow upon them the
n,oA matnte and deliberate confederation Gentle.
men have Unified TIA: the conaitasien requires no a.