The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1824-05-07
sas--
DEBATE
On the subject ETA Convention.


MAJ RICHARD POLLARD addressed
che meeting AZ follows.
M Chairman--lt - with much diff
dence thnt presume to address this meet
ing. particularly rs ! ser many persons
round me who are accustomed to public
speaking, while | am entirely unpracdscd
IN thu art. | shall however trust Il the
jasliee Of my cause for support.
Thr object ut our meeting Is known to
as all We have assembled to consider the
subject Of Convention, and 10 express
our opinian either III favor Utot against the
call Of one. TIL. subject presents 10 my
mlnd thrse two considerations. 81. Has
the stale of Virginia Al, constitution ?.
eudly. lin has q constitution, whether that
cousi. nllon IS defective, and, II defective,
whether sufficiently 50 10 require Con
scuton for rs amendment
| must deny, sir, dat this state has any
constitution; because the persons who form
ed the Instrument called the constitution
were unduthorised Ia the performance Of
that duty. They were persons elected for
the purpose o; ordinary legislation only,
fnd 10 undertaking to make a constitution
for the slatr,lhey travelled o 4 al thrtr pro
vince. know il has heeu stated that al
tho these PERSONS were not property EN-
powered to form Il construction for the
state, Yet the people never having rejected
II, but having tacitly accepted Of it, that 1t
has thereby become valid aud Is now pro
perry our constitution. But here | would
advert 10 thr authority ot the venerable
Jefferson, who says such constitution IN
t,lNs3 the Difficulty as to thrtDme necessary
20 ,laPsc before the people LOSE Their rlGhl
of rejection, CT before their silence can
mount TO a recognition.
But, sir, # this meeting decide TIA, we
have constitution, then Say the coast,
t,.-ioG we have Is defective, and that we
oug.t io give our voice for the call of
Convention II revise ami correct il.
| chautc not 10 90 into particulars ]
will pass over those parts of the constltu
ttun winch relate 10 the executive depart
Iuent aud IT, Judiciary sys,' N, and which
are considered by many a. having mast Sc
nous detrcts / confess HAT have never
cVamiucd these clauses Of the constitution
particular y, uo-gt fertcd Oh them mnturely,
/ will not say how lar we should change
those parts Of that Insiramtnt. ! prefer,
SIR, saig II features @ore palpaby and
glrIngiy fectivr-ti,ose are what relate
10 the right of suffrage snL the system of
our representation.
The writer's un natur1i an t:aunicipal law
state the rights of man IN this order LIST,
the right To lifr--2dly, TIE right To liberty,
aud 5dly, the right to property. by the
restriction of suffrage. AS IT exist in our
STATE, this order Is inverted, and property
is made 10 be of more consequence than
e,her fife or liberty for man who hold.
freehold estate his right 10 vote
for representative n the legislature,
hec1use the enjoyment Of the Land h, hold,
is to be regulated by laws enacted by that
hody--whilt Others wto arr snbjrctto irlli
try duty, s. ofcourse whose lives are obedl
ent Ia The laws Of the legislature, are dcnicd
the exercise Of that privilege. We need
not SO farther thanthe late war To lllustra e
Ills fact. How many precious spirits bled
and 8led in that war who never possessed
freehold estate? And shall suctl t3en as
these, with such n"hle ard glorions evi
dence ell love of country, he excluded from
the rght>of arflrage? Shall they have M
~oier, directly OF indirectly, in the leesia
lures ofoar country, merely because they
are no possessed ola few acres of land p
Justice stares US IN the face and lronus ON
such principle.
AS regards the inequality Of representa-
t'on- right and justice unite in the declara
ton that 500 men SHOULD not have the same
wright in THE public councils az 5000
This disparity should not preval--it speaks
alood as grirvance--l call upon this meet
Ing in the name of justice in behalf of the
rights of man and the rising generations, to
vote FOL a conycaQon-io lend their voice