Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-01-23

~ to prove that the enlargement of the
Suffrage ofthe people, must be the work
OF the people themselves, in Convention,
TO be effected by instruction. or such o.
ticr means as they may think proper to
adoptand pursue.
when we compare the memorials and
portions upon which we are acting, with
tie amendment underconsideratiOn, we
siaii hnd no agreement; but universal
disagreement The mover of the amend
ment has satisfied himself that majority
OF the people were represented at Staun-
ton. OF this, neither the Convention
there, nor the Committee here. were en-
tire!y satisfied. The Contention there
ask Legislative aid TO ascertain more fully
the wishes of the people ON the all I'M
portant suhject OF their deliberations.
According 60 ii,e gentleman, they are "a
majority of AL the people /: and yet he
viii not answer their petition. He says
there has been enquiry enough. He is
satisfied, and is ready to act.
Again, ifa majority of the people were
only represented, they had right TO in
terpret the Constitution, and the minority
would be bound by their Interpretation.
They have interpreted that instrument,
not precisely as the gentleman has done.
They say, that the constitutional recon-
mendation of frequent recurrence TO fun
damen,al principles, is not u direction TO
the General Assembly gives them
not the powerto amend or 10 cali Con-
vention. THEY say, we have no power 10
call Convention. The gentlemen SAYS,
we have. They wish us To aid them in
collecting the public opinion. The gen
tleman saws, nc know il sufficiently. They
ask us TO aid them in calling Convent
on, IN such manner as the people shall
think TT; and we answer them by law
compelling them TO act us we think
fit.
To me, therefore, II appears, that in
whatever light the subject be viewed, the
amendment ought to be rejected, and
the Report of the Select Committee a
dopted.
YESTERDAY, afterreceiying or read
ing bills and resolutions, which viii be no
ticed hereafter, the House of Delegates
resolved themselves into Committee of
the Whole, on the Report ofihe Commit
tee on the Memorial of the S,aunton Con-
ven;on
MIR. TAzEwFLL occupied the floor for
more than three hours.-He spoke in OPP
position TO the substitute offered by MIR.
Smyth, as well as 10 the Report of the
Select Committee.-IIe was opnoseG In
the substitute, lst. bccausethe House did
not possess legislative po,ccr (under the
Constitution 10 adopt such a measure :
ID. becauseifthey did possess sucha pow
er, itw highly inexpedient 10 exercise il
at tins time; and 3D.. because ifihey had the
power, 81 twas expedient to exercise il at
this time, they were called upon to exer-
else II in the most Objectionable of all pos
sible modes-Thus, disagrccing with The
mover (Mr Smyth) both as the end and
the means which his substitute propos d,
he should conceive himself bound 10 op-
pose it with all his strength, so long as
twas pending before the House.
lie averred that hewas opposed TO the
Report of the Select Committee, but his
objections were ola character somewhat
distinct from those which he expressed a
gainst Mr.. Smyth's proposition. Should
the majority sanction that measure, he
should be prepared to surrender his op-
position to IT, aDdt 10 unitcwifh good faith
N giving it such shape as would render
1t most pa!aiabIe and perfect lie said
he should therefore pursue this course
He should vote against the substitute
when the Committee rose, he should move
the Report ofthe Select Committee TO be
postponed TO the 3Ist of March-if that
motion failed, lie should then unite with
tile majority in carrying their wishes into
effect, and should offer an amendment
calculated to cary them into effect in the
most desirable form
Having thus silctched the outlines OF
his opinion, and the course he meant tc
pursue, he proceeded into the argument
at large. He attacked the proposition
of MIR. Smyth-and developed at consi-
derable length The three obiectionshe had
taken-dweiliug with particular emphasi:
on the qualification Of the voters whic,
Mr.. Smyth was willing to admit, and dis.
claiming the idea of extending the cleo
tive franchise TO any but The freeholdcr.
| He objected to the Report of the Sc
| lect Committee, because it went torecon,-
mend to the people a change of the Con
stitution, and call of the Convention
| an authority, which he contended the e.
| glslature did not possess.-But, that il
they would have Convention, if thew
,0o"d exercis; the power of recommend
ing one, he would propose measure
which was calculated to produce the OBJ
Ject with less hazard, e<pence and ter
mol, VIZ : let tine Legislature appoint q
board OF the wisest, tie abcst, the most
experienced men, one for each Congress
sional district, 90 revise the Constitution