Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-04-09
CARA.
FOR THE wJJIC
TO THE PEOPLE OF y1R R9,1 Tsl MIC % t.

FOR THE WING.
| TO THE PEOPLE OF VIRGINIA.-No 3.
In ny last number, fellow citizens, I proposed
next to consider and suggest for your considerations
several Important alterations that thought might
be made i'll your Constitution with equal satsfacti-
or 10 yourselves and advantage to your country -
| In compliance thereof, now propose to consider
the mode of representation to the General Assem-
| bly,.
By your Constitution, as it now stands, YOU are
required to elect annually tco from
each couhty-which, believe, your good iudy-
ments Will warrant me in saying, without hesitate
on, Is entirely useless, and than adequate to
the duties which they have to perform Nor do I
consider 1t necessary to argument to prove
that so numerous representation is unnecessary
the Tact is too apparent, the consequences too deep
ly felt, to require il. But think the most faibe
and undcniable proof that it is not only unnccessa-
ry but highly destructive and runous the hes in
tcreStS of the country is advert 10 some OF the con-
I sequences of it.
| And first let me refer you to your laws; arc YOU
not yourselves apprzed of the fact, that many laws
which havebeen enacted by the Legislature of Vir-
GINA, by whom you are governed, have been unin-
eilIgible &ineXplicabe by your Judges themselves;
that an some instances f my recollection serves mel
ii has been necessary for Legislature to deter
mine the meaning of an act passed by 4 previous
| Legisia ure-Laws, which should be written in Ian
guage so plain and uncquivocal that "he who runs
may read, are now susceptible of such variety of
courts do
hesitate to pronounce upon-and this is consc-
Qucncc o. TOO numerous rcprcscntation-it is be-
cause the business is conducted Gas it always must
be IN such large assembiies) in neglected. man
ner that each man depends upon anotlcr Ia remedy
any defects that may seem to cxst.-What is every
mans business is no ones business.
| Again: The expenses Of the Legislature, which 10
me appears no email consideration, next requires
your attention. TIE noidinate length of their sessi-
ons' and unheard of consumption of the public
ney, WHICH is alse Consequence of too numerous
representation, calls loudly for amendment to
your Constitution.kre you aware OF the fact that
| from 100000 to S120,0G0 is annually taken from
your Treasury to doifay the expenses OF the Legs
iature, or areyou dormant and require to be aroused
| to an emancipation of yoursclves." Are not your
taxes insuPportable Is there individual in the
Commonwealth, who pays taxes at all, that has not
complained of the weight Of them? How many thou
sands arc there at this who have had their
last horse, or more, their last pillow sold by uerci-
less sheriff to satisfy the eXorbitant demands OF 20
vern,ncnt How many families are now SUFFERING
under the severest affection of having the only COW
that gave nouIiShmcnt their half starved children
sacrificed at public sale, to support these children
of luxury and case, who spend in riot and dissipati-
ON that time which ought TO be employed for their
country's good.
/ Why then, fellow-cRizens, will You hesitate Rv
a dminuton OF yourrepresentatves TO one half not
only would the expenses of the Legislature be there
ply diminished one half but still greater dimnuti-
on WOuiu De made, sessions being shorten
ed for no man Will he hardy enough, (no matter
how violent his opposition Convention, or to the
change of representation say, that business of
| any nature cannot, and would not, be performed
with much more expedition, and that too in a much
more efficient manner by so men than by 100. The
| larger the body the prccrastnGton. On the contra
ry, the smaller the body the greater is the epedit-
on, and may say, with equal confdenca the great
| er the deliberation for each man then feel mnre
sensibly his responsibility. hazard the assertion
(hc it tried "yhcn it may thar If the time should
come that there viii be only representa- tive from
each county, that the same business in quantity
which has occupied 2l2 men for 100 DAYS, at the
last session, would then be performed by 1876 men
i'll little than half that time. Thus, would the
expenses of this bra nch of the government be dnir
i5hed nearly throeiourths ard your business per-
formed with much more satisfaction 10 yourselves
If this deduction should lse made in the expenses
/ of government, would not propoT;icuable deduc-
ton be made III taxation; and if the good people
of this Commonwealth will say that the pecu,,iarv
distress of the county Of itself docs not call for th,
| cxpedint, then will cxclaim with the Roman Ora
| tor o Judgment, thou art fed to BRITISH beasts,
| and men have lost tsir reason"
Nor will undertake suggest, whether The alto
| ration should be made to ono member fIorn each
county, or whc Their it would be faTer that it shonld
| be regulated by population; provided that one
county should send more than one representative
he this for Inc people i'll their wisdom decide.
1t is not my object, fcllow-citi7cns, in presenting
to your consiiera ton the few numbers that have
| already written, and may hereafter write, to adj
! dress myself to your passions, and lead you, if
possessed the talent, headlong to precpice, where
something might be lost, and nothing was to be gain
ed; for there men who could have represented
| to you the identical facts which have endea-
| vored to pourtray, i'll colours so glaring as would
have taken possession of your heads and hearts and
led you bliudfold captives to the stake. All that
desire to do, and all that am capable of doing, is
10 make Il plain md simple statement of matters of
fact, that you may judge for yourselves, and
| cordingly. C0nS entiOn or no Convention.
| MUTICS.