Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-01-18

Mr. Thompson If FAN fax, movad to suspend III
= execution OF the order, until Tuesday.
4 Inc motion was opposed by Niessrs. Wollac
and Paiteson, and lost.
The House then resolved itself into committee o
the Whole Nj. Colstuu ia the CHAIR.
Mr.. EN- ron rose, and said IS he believed ;
nil"ii,y OF the lnuSe, il there was a Convention
wished that II should be unilmifed, proposed vari
Gus amendments, which operate to remove the res
friction on the powers OF the Convention p,oposrc
by the bill.
| Alr. WALLACE offered a substitute 90 tic bill
| bat II was declared out OF order
Mr.. RANDOLPH hoped the gentleman fton,
tfedesic% would withdraw his ,dtion, tina, the
! question might he take n ON the preamble.
lhe I'll AK observed, that the preamble no
par q" tn. blil-inlt il WAS usual To perfect the
nl'i Mt, aud th"n 10 consider the pr,a'ubl-
All. hohDON explained further the views 81
| hiS colleague, (hr Santolph)
~ the suggestion OF MIR. Randolph. Mr. sexton
Withdrew ms amendments, and then Nh. Eandoiph
moved 10 st'ike our the preamble the bill in or
de To ascertain the sense ol the Gene nj Assembly,
whether IN tlei, opiuiun the wishes OF the people
wee sufficiently expressed for Oh against Il Com
Nehi"n' To authorize its consideration by the Guue-
! raj Assembly.
Nlf sen TON opposed the motion.
M. THOMPSON moved 20 amend the motion
~ Mr. Randolph, by striking from the preamble ouy
the Following words: Ito provide the means of car
Tying then wishes into effect"
Mr.. CHRISTIAN stated, that he supposed the
object OF Mr. Randolph be, that the General AS
stmoy might express their Willingness, unwil-
llnEhcSs to consider this question: He thought this
desirable, and therefore hoped the gen,lrmaI from
r airiaX would withdraw his motion, and permit
'ue sense oil the House To be ascertaIucd.
MI. THOMPSON explained the reasons of his
unwlilingness to withdraw his amendments.
Nh. RANDOLPH explained
MIR. GOODE suggested that it was unpara-
menta'y to amend the preamble before the bill had
been perfected
Mr.. WINSTON presumed the object of the CEN
ieman iro" Fairfax to he, take the sense of the
people at TINS time, and leave the execution of their
wishes TO a future Assembly. He thought, there
lore that this motion did conflict with Mr.. Ran
dolph's.
The CHAIR declared it out of order to consi Ter
the preamble before the hillnd from this decision
Nr. Randolph appealed. Th chair was sustained
by the Committee.
M'. SEXTON renewed his motion to amend
the first section.
Mr. RANDOLPH thought this IL most cxtfaordi-
nary mode OF taking away the right of instruction.
L" limit the Convention, would be To deprive the
people OF the night OF instructIng their members.
Mr.. SEXTON said that his amendment cores
pounded TO the views of MIR. Randolph.
Mr.. WINSTON advocated the amendment. The
nl as reported vas the effect of compromise in the
Committee. He himself was opposed to a legisla-
i've limitation OF the Convention. He thought we
had no right to say the people, "thus far shall,
thou go and farther"
Ms LOWELL said that his value for the bill
would be determined by the decision.
me question was then taken on liking out the
restrictions on the powers of the conventions and
carried ia the Affirmative by ii large majority.
Mr LOWELL moved 10 strik. from the first Sec
lion fAl. al /, ,l
voting on The call of onvention to Frechudcrs
and inserting III lieu, clause allowing all free
white males of II years, having resided Two wears
In the county town, and who shall nave paid
state % county taxes, to vote.
MI STEPHENSON opposed the motion 10
| amend.
Mr LOWELL. explained the amendment Upop
the determination made by the General Assembly.
IN reieecr 20 this section of the bill depended IN,
tate OF The Convention. Ii the question of calling
onvehtIou was 10 be determined by the free
ho'de's alone, IT was idle and ridiculous TO enact
this bill 1t was easy to loresee that the PROPOSE
ton to divide the power with others, which they now
exclusively possess, would be rejected by the free
holders. Col Lowell took a variety of views i'm
support OF his proposition. He dwelt upon the ma
ny defects of the ConStitntion-and the ripht which
every citizen had, express his wishes in reference
TO the call of one.
The amendment was opposed by Messrs. WAL
LACE and THOMPSON ofFairfax who protested
themselves friendly to the call OF a Convention, on
the ground that the General Assembly, as the repre-
sentatIves of the Fgeeholders, had 40 right to le-
gisla'e away the exclusive rights of the Freehold
crS. MI. Wallace said, that the non-freehrldcrs
eiheT possessed the inherent right OF voting for the
call OF Convention, they did not. II the first
the recognition Of the right by the Legislature was
Supr'inous-ii ;he last, thar the Legislature had no
power to confer this CHIT the expense OF the free
ne n
IN the non-trecholders If Convention were call
ed aud society resolved its original elements
thcn MI w. admitted the right of all citizens to
ENJOY the equal privilege of assisting ia reorganz-
ing the Government. Mr.. Thompson thought the
question Constitutional one. lie was Of opinion
h't 10 give the noh-iecnolders the right Of voting
on the question OF Il Convention, was TO decide in
effect, that there should be Convention. Mr.. +.
avowed himself to be in favor of extending the
right OF suffrage To allow the nOr-frceIrolders to
Note- was the most certain means of defeating the
coll OF a Convention. Let the question be put to
the people, and Convention called, and the right
! oil suffrage would certainly be extended. He be-
eved that the simple proposition to put the ques-
| ton OF Convention to the people, would not be
seriously opposed, aud that it would pass this House
! by an Immense majority.
Mr. RANDOLPH, of Albemarlc, read section
from the Constitutions to prove the right Of the Peo-
! pie to vote on the Coll of Il Convention.
Mr. BRYCE replied to the arguments of Mcssrs
| Thompson and allace, and sustained Mr.. Lowell.
motion to amend, with great ability. In reply ,c
i Mr. Nailaces proposition that the non-irechoier:
either have the inherent right 10 on the call o
! Convention not--he said that by this ill., the
General Assembly were expressly denying them the
right, surprising that they possessed it Inherently
For by comhnins the question to the SURFACES o.
the freehoIders, they saying in so many words
that no other class of citizens had right to ex-
press their OpInIOns. Tho nnlv WAY 10 snrmnmni