Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1825-06-28

all change. 1t were impossible 20 detail the grounds
OF this estimate here; and, with my adversare-,
know, my opinion will weigh nothing, rather
be esteemeda negative quantity. refer then, to
the letters ofjrdge Brockcnbrough (bimselfa friend
OF reiorm) recently published in the Enquirer,
from which gather that he doubts whether there is
a majority in favor oil conventions: no man will
doubt his competency to Judge, or the fairness of
his Judgment. refer, also, to the remarkable fact.
that the bill, which passed by the House of
Delegates at the last session, for taking the sense
OF the people on the expediency Of calling a con-
", ion, rejected in the Senate, where the
representation has been equalized and apporiioned
according to the wishes OF the most jealous reform
ers, by majority OF two votes, representing about
80 600 free white citizens Here is evidence enough
which side the majority lies. But this is moi all
for | 6eiiere there other senators, and
h7,OtC there one (or he declared it publicly in
debate who voted for the bill TO submit the ques-
ton to the people, and WHO would not have voted
to call a convention.
In the third place. would gladly be informed
how the meeting at StduHtOn is make IN ATTEST
the fact, that it is not small minority but decided
majority ofthe people, who now call for the reform
Considering the plan on which that convention is
! proposed 10 be constituted see nothing which
Is 10 prevent any thirty, twenty ball dozen per-
sons, in any county ofthe commonw ealth, from APP
pointing just as many delegates they please. And
In point of fact, as the business has eencrallv
been conducted, it is wonderful how few per
sons have taken any part in these anomalous de-
legations the friends of the cous tuition car.
tlke no part admit, that the sense of the peo-
pie of Loudoun, Shenandoah, and some zen or
twelve other counties, has Lcen IL one way or
other, pretty well asCeItained do not include
Fairfax in the number, for ii my nionnstio, be
correct the sense OF that count has OF been fair
ly ascertained la Loudouh, learn, tie delegates
were nominated 10 tic people, not chosen on
them and Mr.. Ciltol demonstrated as-.iLst II at
the time Even in Frederick, here lie p. ucectl-
ings have been conducted with AZ much al e.iion
% decency, fairness and disnily, tie case adj
mitted Of the delegates, see, are n0lrina ed 10
the people. Ia Fairfax, they are lid 10 lave
: been nominated for tie people, after the srea,er
! part OF them had Dispersed There has beea no
{ where any thing ike election Nov, waving he
obvious consideration, that en- hose who acuai-
esce in nominations thus made only express zen
= eral opinion that there ough o ae some reform
without iEtimating ichat reform they desire how
. Is such a delegation 10 make manifest the fact
that majority lot tie people cal for reform
cannot conceive any meiEod Jul ole: to require
= every meml er of the convention, as preliminary
to ali proceedings, TO state his honor no ma
ny persons present and coacurring In tie act
oil delegation. And, as both MIR. Mercer and tie
, Friend If equal rag hts declare, tn tie object Of
the proposed convention at Siauntou is 10 elci, ar
G expression ofthe real opinion Of the people, and
mercy W CohNihCe lHt legislature mat here
o large majority in favor of reform, 1 hold them
h bound to adopt some method like ,ilat have sug-
gested 10 show the real number of constituents re-
presented in that cony ention.
: The last observation have TO make on this
pert OF the subject, is, that aho the Inequality y
If tie representation is tie chief ground oil dissection
! 10 the Legislature OF account OF It's pr. ent cons
sution YET, IN this instance the complaint Is level
Il led, not against the House Of Deiegd fes where the
e representation Is unequsl bui against the SeRaie'
= where is equal II twere true, that NJ iority
= olthe people were IN favor of reform aud ii il
|, were true (5s Mr.. Mercer says) tina, tne House
II Of Delegates has twice in ten We r. admitted and
e the Senate denied, that The constitution Is defec
II tive and true also (as Mr. Header o. suDposesl
X that the House cf Delegates o ed .or a conye.-
ton al lie last session, and tie senate re,ected
: lie bill should then have the sli.sias COM
: nehlary on all these theofuc al Objections con-
Al corning the inequality of the Representations tisC
IS the House If Deies0tes, where lie rep. eseaia-
IL ton Is unequal, Is yet competent represent the
d sense OF the people, and even more compel cut to
/ represent it, than Senate where he FePresen-
s2o9 Is e9gan nod BIZ yd q f. le len e i'sf OF
!, that he constitution is defective AID n did n,
e at Tie last session, vote for a convention. Ia
q SUI that House sent up to the sena,e two
a oiis designed 10 propose an aLerualye one for
'"iihs Convention the other for oqlalizins tie
e representation III the Senate. The later was pas
, sed by the Senate and then the Other was d ont
c win Tie appreciation of almost every man NJ al
parties, and especially with The approt ion of Ejr.
MERCER, warmly declared on Tie floor of he Hone
7 OF delegates AT the last session, bill was 6r,t
q Drought IN Tor calling convention, with very lea
c ious limitations and 1t being apparent thai the
rouse oil Delegates would not pass any such bill
I substitute was proposed, by which it was pro,i-
ued That the sense OF the people should be taken on
me question OF convention or no convention Il
ven TINS was carried in that house by scaniv ma
lloIIty. lie argument which weighed "a III tho
I senate 10 reject 1t, was, that such measure fond
eo o agHa'e NE public mind 10 no purpose : that
{ mere was Dul very uncomfortable number oil ne
td0ReTS before tie legislature, calling Tor no ~,
in any shape that OF The count :, which had IN
eu Tor calling convention, at the elections in
ihe spring OF 1924, very many were known ia t,,.
soon repened tie vote, and TO have resun ed n cir
accustomed state OF peri contentment with tIeir
ancient institutions. 1t is true, that the Son
a'e' OF any member nj that body, especially Mr.
Johnson, TO whom Mr.. Mercer pays that hgf com
PiiInent II wish Tor my friends sake il were jrss
gross towards him, and disrespectful to the bod,
ne belongs TOY, have eyinced the least disrc.
CARA 10 tie will OF majority of tie people. The
sense OF the people never can he deepised il, ans,
country and in this to despise il we're (ollv Ss
well Iniqui'y.
ale friend of Equal Rights, desirous 10 re-
conoHe lie reneraion he proie-se. for The trainers
o we cons i'ution, with lis reprota,ion of their
| VIE '"Aes very harrow ana imperfect view Of
vac "equaHHes IN tie representation; aud insists
'hat TIE trainers OF the constitution did NOT. and
could not, loresee the enormous iocre.se of
1 equaHlles, which then existed in the counties
ihis rs no place 10 give true view OF tic re-
piesenia'ion appeal 10 any man, who has ever
given the least attention to the si,leet .ta,l ~