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

Though The evils OF this most unequal
! representation we're not to be read IN the
a"nais oiour cOuniry-yet, have we not
ih"ncemeni enOsg n tourrest their growth
y me enloymento of political liberty roth
/ ms The tranquil feeling that no man,
Va SCI Oh men, has power 10 violate our
rights Is that nothing Sir this is the
great and leading distinction Between po-
'ieicai slavery, and freedom. The Sultan
"i Censtantinopie, OF the Emperor ofChi-
ma, may allow TO his subjects the full en-
Joym emf Ofthcr civil rishts-and under
The pairiarchal government of the latter,
ms tit Is sald) frequently happens-But,
tie security Tor TINS enjoyment depends
on the MonarchS breath, Sir, tie free
men OF Virginia cannot contenicdly hold
Their rights on so precariOuS Il tenure
NurtuI-d IN liberty, aud taught lis value
by enjoyment, ii is not enough for us TO
feet no Oppression-our happiness re-
CURES ihat we should not apprebend It's
approach.
While this inequality of representation
remains as stain upon eur constitution,
every act oil the government, said Mr.. NJ.
will be regarded whether Justly or not,
with jealousy and suspicion. The senii-
ment of discomfort has already been u
wakened among the people of the West.
Norfolk proposes, until il breaks out into
open instruction before we allay il?
What has he himself promised upon
tins subject that If his present motion
fail, lie will, with good faith, unite in the
object OF the resolutions of tie select com
mttee, and give TO them the best form he
can devise. How viii he reconcile this
course with the oath of office which he
sar be has taken Can the decision of
this house absolve his conscience from
the obligations OF an oath What is his
proposition ?-To appoint board to re-
wise the constitution
1t we have constitutional power to
appoint such board from without
this house, have we not power TO appoint
a committee ofoIr own body for The same
purpose! and five can submit an entirely
new constitution to the people, may we
moi ask them if they wish IA limited con
vention To amend that which now exists!
Can the mere decision of this house upon
It's own powers, enlarge them bay ond the
limits ofthe constitution, and reconcile 10
the oblisatious of the gentleman from
Norfolk, Il violation Of that very constitu-
ton?
We have no power TO recommend 10 the
people the call Of limited convention,
IN order TO amend our own constitution
Anarchy and disorder must effect this
purpose for us.-Yet, says the lonora-
bic member, we had right TO call
convention 10 ratify the constitution of
the United States; nay, lie has told us
that the Legislature might have elected
that convention, or adopted that conSt-
tuition without any appeal whatever to
the people.-The member from Norfolk
claims for this Assembly, power which,
said Mr.. Nj. utterly deny that they pos
sess. tie shoots his arrow much b yond
mine. claim for this legislature the
right OF submitting the constitution to a
TeyIsal by the people, in convention TO
be elected by themselves He claims The
power of subverting that constitution by
our own act. For, did the federal const-
tuition do no more than amend the art
Giles OF confederation Whence could
the General Assembly derive the autho-
rlty oil adopting such constitution from
the power of treating with foreign states
1t they had the power of bartering away
our rights to our neighbours, why not TO
strangers? The same authority which
would have sanctioned the ratification of
the constitution of the United States
would have justified Il similar negotiation
with The cabinet of ST. Cloud or the Di-
van OF Constantinople. If they had
right To TRANSFORM purse and our sword
WITH the persons of our citizens, TO The
people OF the thirteen United States. tiiey
might have made similar transfer OF
them to any potcntale in Europe. What
then remains of the limitation of our Bill
OF Rights, upon the constitution itselfand
the restraints of that constitution upon
the Legislature Our forefathers tIeuqht
otherwise. They deemed If necessary TO
submit the federal constitution TO the
people, and their assent, By retroactive
operation, sanctioned the proceedings OF
the convention by which it was made.
But vet more extraordinary argu-
ment has been used by the WORTHY mem
her. 1t has been commended that. in as
much as the constitution of the United
States guarantees 10 every state a reDubli- |
can form of government, no state can
form new, nor amend lis present consti-
tuition, without the appreciation of Con
gress-and the honorable member has.
with equal eioGucnce and ingenuity, re-
presented the commonwealth Of Virginia
in the humble attitude of bowinr hert
at the door of the Congress of the limited
States. Sir, know not how many states
have been formed since the adoption of
the federal constitution. I do not rqcoI
lect whether the number is five or six
nor does my memory supply me with the
names of the old states who have ifher
entirely renewed, OF amended their con
situtions. We have recently dctermin-