Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-02-08


states of Virginia and New York. in favor of the
former. 'hy should we at this time, rush into
changes, when Gen. Jackson, with the army
and clergy at his back was about TO be Presi-
dent!-though, for his part, MIR. w. said, he still
thought, as he had always done, that Mr.. Craw-
ford would be President.
Mr.. BRIGGS regretted that this motion had
been made. He was equally sorry, that MIR.
randolph had proposed his ryder, because its
subject had already been debated and decided
| against INN by the House. He was opposed to
the ryder. The bill combining the vote TO free
holders, had been called Unconstitutional He
urged that the word community might as well
mean all, negroes, Nc. non -freehoiders. He
! perceived no occasion for the excitement dis
played by the gentleman from Goochland. The
| people from various quarters had pettioned for
convention; and all that the Legislature was
asked to do, was to refer it, in a tangible form,
to the people. They had right to decide on it.
and he hoped the liberty would not be withheld
from them.
| MIR. RANDOLPH, of Albemarle, read clause
from the Bill of Rights in support of his idea
that the present bill violated the Constitution
He considered the argument which compre-
| hended negroes, &c. in the word community as
a mere jest. If we believe that we are called
upon by majority Of the people TO act at this
time, let us do it fairly. The gentleman from
Goochland had spoken OF men of desperate for
tunes-he respected that gentleman, but he was
almost tempted TO say, that lie had rather be of
desperate fortune, than desperate in conscience
and intellect.
MIR. WINSTON said, Mr.. Watlsins's objections
had nothing TO do with the bill. However strong
individual opposition to the bill might be, if MEM
bers respected the Doc populi, they will pass the
| bill. The gentleman had asked, Had the peo-
pie called for this measure? He replied that they
| had. He referred to the petitions on the table,
and to the clear indications of popular feeling
last spring. If there be a large portion of the
people in favor of Convention, how was the
collected sentiment fthe public TO be ascertain.
ed, but by this bill? He did think, that there
was no other objection to the bill but distrust
of the peoples for they can only be governed by
the fear that the people will decide in favour of
a Convention. This was government of the
people. If the constitution be perfect, where
is the danger of referring it to the people? But
did our forefathers think it perfect? If they
thought so, why did they incorporate a provision
in the Bill of Rights, authorizing its amendment
or abolition? 1t was recognition of the rights
of the people. by the trainers of the constitution
Mr.. w. referred to the period of the formation
OF the constitution, as argumentative of its i'm
perfectioas. He revered the memories of the
patriots who had framed the constitution, but it
was like the mansions of many ofour forefathers,
which required Improvement & enlargement for
: the wants and condition of posterity. Was not
the doctrine of '76 opposed to that contended for
b. the opponents? If our forefathers had opposed
changes, where would now have been this clio
rIous Republic: Every thing from the hand oI
man was imperfect. The old articles OF confe-
deration which had carried us through the Re-
volutlon had yielded TO new constitution, and
this again had undergone thirteen amendments
Every state in the Union had amended its con-
stitutioa; and was it TO be pretended, that ours
alone, required no change? Mr.. w. proceeded
TO enumerate the defects in the constitution
! which he thought required amendment, to wit
The inequality of representation in regard tc
, population. On this topic, Mr.. w. dwelt al
length, and presented, forcibly, all the views u
the questlon---as the vast expenses of the Gene
raj Assembly; its too great numbers, exceeding
those of any other State Legislature in propor
tlon to the population of Virginia; the pro
, gressVe increase of these evils, from the con
slant formation of new counties-and the une
quail representation and influence of different
sections OF the Commonwealth Mr.. W. ar.
gued in favor of extending the right of suffrage
: and inquired, why individuals who had a per,na.
nent interest in, and attachment to the Com.
? monwealth, should be denied this valuable mi.
, vilege? He would not extend it in az unlimited
, degree. but would still guard it with vigilance
against abuse. lie denied that the bill CONFER
: ed rights on the people. They possessed all
the rights which 1t recognized. Ii did not ash
for new rights, but for facilities to exercise them
MIR. w ATKINS, OF Goochand explained. and
discamed all personal allusion TO the gentle.
man from Albemarle. His allnslon had beer
TO the state of things in Kentucky.
MIR. CoLsToN said, if this bill had been to cal
Convention, he should not have been surprise,
at the objections to it. But when it simply pro
posed to leave the question with the people, az
tording them facilities 10 express their opinions
, he surprised at them. One arp,lrnen
against 1t was, that the people had indicated ne
wish for the Legislature 10 afford them these ia
cilitIes. W.H.ihis true? Did the petitions on tn,
table, signed by thousands of citizens, iudicat,
q nothing in favor of this bil2 Did the expression
of the popular voice in thirty or forty conntie
of the Commonwealth at the las, elections il
favor of Convention, prove nothing? Was
not notorious that great portion of the state de
J, sired the call of a Conyen
Another objection was, that it would throw
the State into confusion. Was this to be an
J., pretended, when so large portion of the Stat,
l bad, year after year called for the measure
Was it not rather to be apprehended, that a de
Dal of the facilities granted by this bill, would
D throw the State into confusiona Mr.. G. urge,
d the proprety of this time for calling a Conyen
e ton. Peace and quiet reigned in the State, an,
e the public mind was but slightly agitated. II,
had no fears of shaking tie Independence of tn,
Judiclary-of extending the right of sufrap.
indednitely-or that the lights of any portion o
D the State would be sacrificed. But if this bill
I were rejected--if the minds of men became in
fiamed-if the moderate friends of a Convention
e were CODDeIIed Tn IInilo viii ,,o 49,, a,