Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-05-09

Lom authority and the history Of the Federal
Constitution Many of Mr.. CHESS recent sup
porters in Buckingh to think it strange,
II there be any wisdom in the reQusition of free
hold and residence in the district, danger in de-
parting from it in the choice of representatives,,
- that Henry. with hrs compa,rio,s should MOI
have sounded the alarm" and the" minority join
IN the same strange sort OF arguments; the more
strange coming from this quarter, where the
wisdom OF the principle is fully admitted! The
Constitution not hdring prorided thai The cleo
fiOiLs should be BIZ districts, IL you'd hare been
paipabie absurdity to hare prescribed such
qualifications, There is yet another reason why
It was hardly possible that these qualifications
should have been discussed in the Stale Conven-
ton.
The government, previously 20 that period, had
been strictly federative; AMI that system notwi,h
standing its slaring defects, having conducted us
triumphanuy through the prrilous Of indepen-
Deuce, had sunk deep into the affections of the peo
pie, and many OF our most devoeed patriots and
OF none more than OF licny, Mason, ami the other
distinguished members OF that convention who OPP
Posed the ratification Of the existing constitution.
State pride and state jealousy, therefore, formesl the
chiet obstacles 10 is adoption. II was conse-
qientiy 10 be expected that, if any objections gere
made TO the clause OF the constitution now I'M
der review, it would be to that part WHICH gives
TO Congress the power 20 make regulations to
the times, places and manner Of choosing represent
respective states. Accordingly, we find this oh
lection exhibited, in high relief, throughout their
speeches in that body They preferred THAT the
modes oil election should be LEI; entirely TO tie
Inherent state leSlslatufesi and, OF course, could
have Calculated nothing else but THAT tiilItren,
Modes might be adopted. But whoever will read
their speeches aten,ivciy be at no los to
divine, what would have been their opinion : TO
the qualification oil residence in tine district if that
mode OF election htd been prescribed in the consli
tuition. They object to the representation as in
adequate, not sufficiently numerous To be through
iy acquainted with tire interest and condition OF the
iL4op!e, iHbued with their thoughts and feelings
tnd properly amenable 10 them. But let them speak
Tor themselves. Robertsons Debates of the on
Nention OF Va. second edition, page, 81 and 35--
George Mason says: 4" Is this general repre-
ssHtnttoH to be compared ,UHh the reGk actual
su'stu'iiM representation 81 fac State Lesisia-
lures! II cannot bear comparison. To make
representation real and actual, the number of repre-
sen atives ought to be adequate; thor ought to ,uir
'r.th he people, think they think, feel as then
ieeL, ought TO DC perfectly nmendjlc 10 them,
and throjgtIy acquainted Nth their interest and
condition" Now, in tire district system, how
can these objects he secured, bat by the residence
oil the representative in his distrc;? See the re-
'Inalndcr OF these two pagcs. Same volume page
li9 -Patrick Henry. 80 Sir, ask YOU and
every other gentleman who hears me, /. he can
retain his indignation at system which takes
from the State Legislatures the cane ard rresrr
Nation OF the Interests OF the people; $50 re-
Ses"ntaves, the choice Of the people Of VirrI-
MIA cannot be frosted with their INTEREST," Sc
gage l26, p. Henry. " I shall be told in thi,
place, That those who tax US are our retire.
sen'alives. TO this answer, that there IS no
real check 10 PTeccVt their rui,Jng u.s. There
Is 10 actual responsibility. The 0Rly Sf7ubL77lre
~ u chech IS The Hegatiee pOLDcr GFnOt rc-elect-
sAS fhem. Iais, SIR, is but u feeble 5arTier,
when their personal interest, their ambition and
az arce, come 10 be put in contrast with the hap
i7iiiess of the people. III chccis, Jc7,nd,i on
n'ry thug but Tore, trW not avaH'' See
''ilar passages in IKE speeches Of these gentlemen,
and oshe WAC went with them-passiu Now.
Wan is reco!leetel that the constitution of Viz
e,na, Is taken principally from plan propose. bv
NV. George Mason, that Henry was also a mem
DER 0t the committee which reported III (Wut,s
'<crhaso OF tie life OF Henry, 1867 that they CON-
clrr-d in nearly all their views OF the constitution
STATE and Federal, and that in the 9TH article of the
.0TmeT The qualifications OF freehold and residence
IN the county, expressly adopted in reference
to representation in he stale Legislature, can we
40 ot lor moment, tira the authors of the speecl
rs rom which we have made the above extracts
II they could have had occasion, in discussing the
=. U States, to express their opinion as to the
Qualification OF residence in the District of re-
preventative TO Congress, would have expressed
ole diameirically opposed to your infcrences
Nothing can show more conciGsiyey tic desperate
shifts TO which these gentlemen dirk en-, unless
1t be the motley mixture of attachment To- an old
and valued institution, and desire TO frittcr il
way, which marks the address of the u MINOR
ty." We are much mistaken if we cannot fix the
same Inconsistency the writers of the letter to
Mr. Giles. The former evidently attack the usape
with much fear and trembling and, after the at
tempt 10 rsp1diate IL under the authority of high
names, which we have just exposed, and dealing
- another sde-bIow in the conclusion OF their
constitutional argument, {" we conclude there.
lore, that the old law unconstitutional, and, of
r0lTSe, uHtcise," &C., come out Nth an unouai-
iiied admission OF the " wisdom Of the usage, -
and aihrm that they would ye the last to wish il
aoOiiShed' 1t we do not mistake our men, altoee-
ther, their political feelings and piepossessons are
all on our side The usage in question is borrowed,
as beiore observed, JrOl2 our SGr, Constitution.
CT which we know both the authors Of the latter
and The address to be the most enthusiastic admir-
es; and that they would resist every ATTEMPT 10
alter 1t in single feature, with all their strength
These we know 10 be almost universally the senfi
mcnts OF the District and especially, OF the coun
~ Of Buckingham, where the sense OF the neoDIe
20 thot effect, has been several times exnresss,,
we believe unanimously, and at the instance of
most, u not ell, oil these very gentlemen. Now.
among all the multiplied and contradictory ohiec-
;ions to The Constitution Of Virginia which have
to our knowledge, we have rfeye, heard ,bs,
single human being objected TO the provision
that " the House Of Delegates shall consist Of ,,
representatives, 10 be chosen for each countv ~
such men hs actually reside in, and are freehode,s
OF the same" 50 far it regards the qualiGcatin,
Oi residence This important discovery ,yas ro
served FOR the recent supporters of M Z, >,
Bt we suppose that many new lights have hoo,
shed on their minds during the late canvass and
whatever they my have thought before, thew are