Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-01-30

sdoiS viii pctitionS 4 appear 10 the a
ged men of my country, if they have nor
been obliged to urge the authority of
their grey hairs, to moderate. The discon-
tents ofthe people. lappeal TO t,em. if /
have not personally sought To aid the ia.
tiuence OF their experience by my exam
pie.
Mr.. NJ. said, "a doctrine has been ma;,.
tanned out ofdoors, which filed him ,y;,,.
alarm. II is, that the people may. ouej,,
and must act without our AID or cn,,,,'
tenance. This doctrine found an ahl.
advocate Yesterday. on this floor. in tls
member from Norfolk. lie tells us ".
cannot take step III relation to Cnn
yeniion, without violating our oath Of Of
tice or ourduiy TO the Constitutions. !,on
which wedcrivc legislative pow.
wepossess. The right ofrevoluiien, he nro'
claims to be the glorious right of the nao |
pie, never delegated. The people. w;H |
out consulting The authorities which thc,
haveconstituted, may elect delegates y
q General Convention, and change or ~
bolish their existing government Efib;.
doctrine be true, is the gentleman desiro,'
to reduceif to practice! stanrs hero
opposed TO any Convention wba,eyag1
while his argument IS calculated to has
en- It's accomplishment. Theworthy men,
Der has sought 10 rob the word reyolut;o,
OF all terror, by showing that q revolut;on
docs not necessarily imp!y he use of forca
but then he also demonstrates, that il c,,
never take effect under the AUTHORITY -
law. The defc IS ofour Constitution cor
never he remedied until the evils which
they occasion arc past endurance ami
the people are goaded to madness.
Sir, (saia Mr.. NJ let us approach III.
alarming doctrine a little closer, and in
vesilgate the arguments by which !, !.
sustained
Arewe. then. inhibited from submit,;o, !
to the decision of the people The question !
whether they desire a Convention 10
mend ,heir Constitution. by our oa,b
oitlce hold in my hand COPY Of tbs,
oath. declared myself citizen az ga
Commonwealth of Virginia. renonrt"d
the character of subject or citizen Of NV
Prince or other State, and swore 70
faithful and true 10 the CommonweshA
promised faithfully 10 perform the de-
ties of the Office of memherof the Hou,s
to the best Of my poor SIKH! andiudgmem
and solemnly swOre TO support the Gov.
stitution Of the y. States.
This oath does not bind me. In exnra,,
terms, To support the Constitution of Viz.
ginia. But | wll!not make nice dstnr
tons. Concede that it does-as If mos,
unqaestlonably does to support the Con-
stltution of the United Siates-Does ,Es
obligation imply any other duty than lint
otyieldIng obedience 30 the existing Cor
stitutlon; ofnever violating the Consim
ton itself by nv own acts, or lym
please, the farther duty, of resisiir,
and combating, with all my powcr. ever
force, external or internal which NAV Al.
tempt IFS subversion. If 10 counsel Ib4
amendment ofthe Constitution in the On.
y legitimate mode, by the people them.
selves, Is Il violation of this sippos i oath 4
how are we TO reconcile 10 that oath which /
we expressly take, To support the Cons.-
luton otthe United States, all our resolp.
tons 10 amend that Constitution, and on,
reiterated instructions and requests to our
Representatives in Congress to use thsr
best efforts To procure such Amendments,
To render the Constitution, by amea1-
ment, more dear 10 the hearts Of the peo-
pie, Is TO sustain, not 10 violate, IFS most
holy iDiunciions.
But, it is urged, that our Constitution
Is written, and OF that simple facfan ar
gument is rested by the gentleman from
norfolk, against any recommendation 70
the people TO amend If. A written Car
stitutioR, he tells us, is designed 10 pre
scribe the boundaries of the several he
pariments of government. So. answer.
is verbal or oral Constitution I'm this
respect. can perceive no Differences be-
tween them, except that which the niem-
DRY finds IN refining their maxims. 81
Constitutions OF Govcrnmenf conl9rehenl E
tie fundamental law of Tie State. ant
provide a rule Of action TO The marisirate
as well as TO the citizen, which neither !
has a right to violate. But the ons
sanction any Constitution, the public /
will, belongs as well TO All unwritten a: 10
written Constitution.
Shall we OverSteD the boundaries pre-
scrlbed to the Legislative department BIZ
our Constitution, five submit the qnosi
on to the peop!e-shall the Constitution
beamended! Should wc do so, by atlyau-
eng one step farther, and advising such
amendment
Yes, saws the member from Norfoli
Tor we have no more right TO recommend
10 the people an amendment OF the Cor
siitnilon, than aJudge TO recommend 10
The Legislature a repeal Oftle law which
ne is required to eXpound.- Les that also /
be conceded. Aud has this Uonse ever
complained Ofthe frequent recommends |
tons by our Judges, OK the repeal or mo-
dihcation OF our laws Is If rot theirdu
~ to report TO us, directly, or through tie
Executive, evcrv defect which they dis
cover III the administration ofiusticel
But five have tic power TO recommend
Convention. SO, 1t is urged, has the tx
ecufiVe and fhe Tudipjss.,- fT,,,..,.t;on