Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-04-16

.ne contemplate amount OF tax on tea, which
Induced the people to resistby force the oppres
sion OF the British Government. He did no
consider the possession as the best evidence o
permanent attachment to the country.
might induce a man, If the country were attack
ca oy powerful enemy, to make diferen
terms OF accommodation, SC. But il gave n,
addition evidence OF intelligence, of patiotisu
or Oh virtue. The -landholder was now no
excluded from voting only, but from serving or
Jury III many cases, and especially where the
rights OF the iandholder were involved Was
not TINS, he asked, actual evidence OF grieyous
oppression IN this country which called for q
remedy,
.ur. II. said he would not go into all the sub
Jects OF discussion. lie had not intended TO saw
one word. He had never heard until that nigh,
that the organization of the Executive was NOT
oelectiYe. The court Of appeals consisted O.
nve Judges, three OF whom might be superanna.
ted and unfit for their Office. .Nany OF the
JUDGES OF the circuit courts and courts of chan
Gerry might likewise become so. Were we TO
wait until this state Of fittings actually occurred
before the evils were guarded against, The
failure In the several departments of the co-
'ernment to abuse the powers which had
Deeh ih'r,sted to them, was the best evidence
mat no danger could bc apprchended from a
Convention; and that 1t would exercise its pow
ers with due regard to the interests and bappi
ness OF the country.
sHr. Leigh remarked that be had not said that
the resolution itself was treason or that its nd
vocates would be guilty of treason by voting
forIt. But he had said, and he still thought, il
recommended TO the people to doan act which
would amount to treason, Had not the reniIe-
man read the preamble to the constitution, and
the declaration of independence? Had he for
gotten the loug list of grievances and opprcs-
sions there complained of-and the history OF
the times? But he had gotten Oh the favorite
TOPIC oil f'ce suffrage, and all the advocates of
convention, would disturb that antient and
valuable ieathre In the constitution; he would
toa BOY OF 10 years the right of suffrage. A
galnst such changes Mr.. l.. most earnestly pro-
tested and disclained the support of any pr;n-
clpie at all analogous to that on which the Ho-
~ Alliance was founded, &c. &c.
.nr. .munford regretted that so strange an in
depreciation had been given to his resolution.
it only declared an opinion, and proposed no
illegal measure.
After a few further remarks from Mr.. Leigh
Mr. Rtclie offered the following BY way of
substitute to Mr.. Muuford's first resolution:
and 1T was accepted by that gcntleman
hsSotoed, As the opinion ofthis meeting, that
the present Constitution of Virginia is defcc-
d'e and requires amendment.
MT Leigh called for an enumeration of the
detects in the constitution. He said that no
Two OF the advocates of convention would be
toHnd to agree in their ideas on the subject.
Every man had list of defects, and a cores
pondlng list of remedies. ltwas from this great
DIVERSITY OF opinion he anticipated most danger
Ii only 4 few features in the instrument were to
be changed, IT might be all well. But he was
alarmed Tor the safety of its most valuable parts
art~. IL
TO make long speech; but that passing over
the other defects in the constitution, he would
name one upon which he thought all the friends
OF Convention would agree; the unequal re-
presentation of the counties. He had no idea
that the small county of Warwick should be en-
utied 10 as large representation as the popu
lous county of Bedford. Was it not unjust
oppressive, contrary to the genius of our insti-
tutions and did il not cry out for amendment.
Mr. Leigh asked when the gentleman would
be satisfied. Could any system of representa-
ton be devised by the wit of man that would be
perfectly equal? Even make it SO, would it not
be eternally wavering?
MIR. Ritchie replied that it is clear there could
6e no perfect system of representation but was
that reason why we should not attempt to cor
rect gross inequality? Upon the same princi-
pie, the English people ought to be content with
Old Sarums among them.
Some conversation ensued between Messrs.
Leigh and Richie, as to the expediency of ia
Vourlng the measure of a convention The for
mer commended that the citizens of Richmond
ought moi TO be so very active in the matter:
he denied, as Mr.. Z. asserted, that the people
elsewhere were moving in it; that he had only
seen some votes taken in Heurico, and Spott-
sylyanla, and had heard of some meeting in
shenandoah; and that the gentleman who spoke
Oh the movements going on among the people
must speak Ike prophet.-To which Mr.. r.
rephed, that some few counties had already ia
Ken votes-that meetings had been called in
some others; that others which had formally
moved IN 1t might be fairly expected to stir in
1t again for as the lawyer said C What had been
done once, might be done aeain.n
Mr. Leigh thought it remarkable that in the
lower country in whose favor the excess of re-
presentation existed, there should be any desire
tor a Convention on the ground Of inequality
IN the representation, &c.
Mr. *. G.. Scott would not have said word
but for the last remark of Mr.. l.. He rose
only 10 say that the remark did not apply TO the
city OF Richmond, for there were is counties
with two representatives, and containing a white
population less than Richmond, which had only
one. There wcre25 counties with represen-
tation OF eight for one, which compared with
this clty-and in which every voter had eight
times the political influence of the voter here.
And there were only four counties represented
on the footing of equality with Richmond This
he thought was grievance sufficiently great to
induce the people here to with Convention.
Mr.. Leigh said that the country beyond the
Allegheny mountain and below the head of tide
water, including Richmond, had more repre-
sentatiyes than they were entitled 10. 1t was
the middle country that was not fully represent
ed, and which bore the chief burden of taxation.