Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-04-13

| Mr.. X. said he would not go into all shs
| subjects OF discussion. He had not intended
70 say one word. He had never heard unit
| that light that the organIzaii0o of IN. Execu-
tive WIS moi defective. The cour, ofappeals CON
sisted of f. jjudg4 3, III er ofwh m nigh b su
pfrai mated ard unfi' for their office Many
of the Judges of the circuit courts aud courts al
chancery might likewise become so. Were
wr t" wait until this state of things actually
occurred, before the evils were guarded
agaInsi The failurp in the several d-part
men's ut the government To abus- the powers
which had been intrusted In them, WAS the best
evidence that n, danger could be apprehended
from aC"nventIon and that it would pxer-
else its powers with due regard TO the inter-
ests aud happiness of the country.
Mr.. Leigh remarked that he had not said
hat the resolution itself was treason. or that
It's advocates would be guilty of treason nv
voting for it. But he had said, and he still
thought, 1t recommended to the people to do
an act which would amount TO treason Had
not the gentleman read the preamble to the
reconstruction, and the declaration of indep.n-
drnce Had he forgotten the long list of
grievances and expressions there complained
oi-and the history OF the times But he had
gotten on the favOrite topic of free suffrage,
and like all the advocates of "a Convention,
would disturb that antient and valuable fea-
ture IN the constitution he would give TO
boy of 10 years the right of suffrage Against
such changes MIR l.. most earnestly protested {;
and disclamed the support ofany principle at
all analogous 10 that WHICH the Holly AL
lance was founded, &c. Sc.
Mr.. Munford regretted that so strange an
interpretation had been given 20 his resolu-
ton. 1t only declared an opinion. and pro-
posed no illegal measure.
Alter few further remarks from Mr. Leigh,
Mr.. Richie offered the flpwlng by way
of substitute TO Mr.. Munford's first resolution :;
ana II was accepted by that gentleman
heS0ired, As the opinion Of this meeting, that the
present Constitution Of Virginia is defective and re-
CURES anne nument
Hir. LEIGH called for an enumeration oil The
defects IN the constitution. He said that no
two of the advocates of convention would be
found 10 agree in their ideas on the subject
Every man had list of defects, and cor
responding list OF remedies. II was from this
great diversity of opinion ne anticipated most
danger. Ii only few features in the ins,ru-
ment were to be changed, it might be all vs. ell
But he was alarmed for the safety of its most
valued and valuable parts.
Mr.. RITcHIE observed, that il was not his
WISH 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 representation of the counties He
lhd no idea that the small county Of Warwick
should be- entitled tn as large representation
az the popuous county Of Bedford Was il
NOT unjust, oppressive, contrary 10 the genius
%! oar institutions, and did il not cry out for
amendment?
Mr.. LEIGH asked when the gentleman
would be satisfied. Could any system OF
representation be devised by the wat of man
that would be perfectly equal Even make il
So, would it not be eteraally wavering:
Mr. hIrcnIE replied, that it is clear there
ceald be no perfect system of representation :;
hut was that reason why we should not at.
tempt to correct gross inequality? Upon
The same principle, tn e English people ought
to Ae content with their parliamentary system,
aitnough they had Old Sarums among them.
some conversation ensued between Messrs
'eIgs1 and itltchle, as 60 the expedency of
lAvourlng the measure of a convention The
former commended that the citizens of Rich
mond ought not 10 be so very active in the
inatirT; he denied, rs Mr.. r. asserted. that
me people elsewhere were moving in it; that
he had only seen some votes taken in Henri
CO, and Spoitsyvania, and had heard of some
meeting Ia Shenandoah and that the gentle
man who spoke of the movements going on
among the people must speak like prophet.
10 winch Mr.. r. replied, that some few
~'N't''-S 'ihh TAKEN NOleS-tndI meet
ings had been called in some others that
"tlters which had formerly moved in il might
be fairly expected TO stir in it again; for as
The lawyers said What had been done once
might lac done again.
Mr.. Leigh thought it remaIl<a able that in the
lower country Ia .yhOse favor the excess Of re-
presentation existed, there should be any de-
sire for Convention on the ground of ne-
quality in the representation, SIC.
NJ X. Il. Scott would not have said word
out for the last remark ofMr. l.. He rose only
to say that the remark did not apply to the CT
" OF richmond, for there were rs counties
win Heo representatives, and containing
white population less Than Richmond, which
had only one. There were % counties with
representation of eight for one, when compar
ed with this city-and in which every voter
mad eight times the political influence of the
voter here. And there were only four coun.
ties represented on the footing Of equality with
Richmond. This he thought was grievance
sufficiently great TO induce the people here T.,
wish Convention.
Mr.. Leigh said that the country beyond the
Allegheny mountain and below the head of
tide water, including Richmond, had mors
representatives than they were entitled to. lt
was The middle country that was not fully
represented, aud which bore the chief burden
OF taxation. They had not complained.-
They were quiet and satisfied and The com
plants come from the skirts of the state The
por ulatlOD OF Richmond, he said, was not per
manen'ly attached TO the state. MANY of our
cltlzrns are individuals who have located
themselves here for the purposes of com
merce, and may be gone io-morrow. Vbese
he thought ought not TO be brought into the
count.
Mr. NICHOLAS suggested that the inequali-
f.l .t..s..--