Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1826-12-12
Dirgt,rta NeeisIature.
HOUSE OF gDELEC.37,t.S.


'nittea "f Schools aud Colleges.
Resolved, ,hat much of the Cover or,s MESSAGE
as relates 10 Internal Improvement be referred to The
Committee OF Roads and Internal Navigation
90 motion of AIR. hiacrae, leave was given 10 b,iu,
ina bill. changing the time of holding the fail term Of
The Superior Court of Prince William
On motion Of MIR. Briggs, the COMMITTEE for C,,r,
oil Justice instructed TO enquire into the e>r.,,;
epcy of amending the act relating the authcn,ica
ton OF deeds.
! On Mr.. Wnston's motion, leave was .rco IN b,;r
IN bill 10 amend the law directing the mode of In, ;nS
and collecting the county levy.
CONVENTION
.3r Lctier offered the following Resolution G,,
thc adoption of the House,
Resci,ed That lea we be- given Ia b,iny in , LII o.. 80,
the vote OF the cehoers of this Commouu ral, ON the
subject of calling c. INVENTION the Constitution
Mr. Letter said that this resolution presented ,l,,
Single distinct propositit that the question on The call
Oh Convention, should be submitted 10 the ,lcc,s;on
oil the ffeehOfasIS. Ii OF all others a oueston of
're deepest interest and npo lance. a,ge portion
% me state had long anxosly desired the sense o the
people 10 oe taken ON the measure of Cony enon 10
amend the Constitution Since 1901 varios a,tonts
had been made procure the facilities of Law 10 ,er
t"e "'m o! te majority In sections of the State
'at "'h had been declared by the people at the polls
anI Tue TACT was evident that ia.se portion if no,
majority OF The frcco!dcrs of the STATE were in G,yor
%. a Con'cnon II was in behalf ., that portion Of
citizens ;hat this application was again Ia tI
General Assembly They demanded a law To asce.
tam Tie sense OF The people, ard aie this qnes
u,' ono way or the OTHER lie begged a,-,len,.n TO
Assembly ~ no they
were 'at aidressc! this application Ia them He i'm
oiti them To ,idcr, that tie application was made
o' 'he sovereignty of the land, aj addressed 10 the
servant, OF That sovereignty. Tie respect duc TO 50
iatSe Il o"iy oi citizens desired Cunvention-,le
principles npon which Government was foun,led-
every consideration of political Justice and right, called
upon the General Assembly 10 PASS n I.v =, ,,, ,,o
sense of the people.
.nr Page of Gloucester, thought the Legislature
had no lsh 10 !egslac the subject-the Cunsii,l-
oh nor the people aI clothed them with no suc. pow
1 CF. \ c IfyIj yayl -y,,r- ..
were no petitions tie ablc-and he hone; the Hons
"ouu wal, mill the power TO !cgisate delegated
I'D them before II acted.
or Cotstm of Berkeley, did not understand y,:,a
bis friend fran @ oucester meant by wi;irr for n s,
ciai delegation of power. The objection might tie
valid 1t tue proposition emil Convention but
as II was simply 10 take the sense Of The peonr he
could not pesceive lis application. The friends OF
Convention were placed in peculiar sitmaiinn-ift they
circulated petitions through. the country for suLscrip
lion, they stig;naz,G agisatnrs and s,urbes
o lie pubic pcace-l the question hrur2 before
the fionse without petitions, they we're told :l.at the
people DID not complain. ana had t,sparci NJ, power
10 act on the subject. ii table was not ;s al rl
ast session groaung under the weight Of petitions i,
was not less the duty o! the Legislature 10 iespec iI
known wishes of the frcrs of Goa. lrltion TIE
members were fresh from the body of ,, pcti,ic ana
needed Not petitions 10 a?PsH2 Ic;n OF ine ei,.c's
ises. r.
.hr Page explained lie rcco!lcctcd dat there
were many petitions al the lis. ,,e i;cncrai
Assembly. There nona al Ibis a.,! h. t,o,ol,
The iar presumption that tie ;eo:.e were. SATISFIED
with the decision of line hast General Assembly, III.
concluded b calling for The ayes mn, ,,nas ~ .,
supported III The Gail.
Zen T,iyi0y endured il HE ,.,,,;,,n ,r ,I. p
luton settled any thing
The Cttir replied dat the adoption Of the Res..u
tIoa would not, bat tat is rrieciuo y., III he rom,
dcred without the suspension Of a ,ic y, sat,Ijnr M
question for the session.
Ger" Itto' observed. that !a designed, AT the proper
time frank avowal OF his sentiments. lie intimaed
that his vote on the bill, and his Sentiments wonld be
In coniict-Iat his Yo:I belonged TO his constituents
his sentiments 10 himself
.nr h0ae Of Bedford, said he had been elected 20
lts.ate under tie Constitution, nd NJ IL was ,tonosci
TO cal! Convention by law, he should be ready TO on
pose H. But as the proposition was take i!:e sense
OF the people he considered the Gcne al Assembly, full,
eiioFced TO icgsiae, and the prOpo -tion such an one
as he was bound 10 for. If srci, a law nassei !,
did not impair the present Constitutions which must
stand until ameaded by Convention.
.Gr. vuut9Ey OF Brunswick felt called ro;.n to ev
PLAN The vote he should give. His individual opinions
we're IN favor of Convention, but lie consiIcrc,! ,r-
sell! as instructed by tie known opposition d! :s con
s;iiuenis to tie measure.
.Ir. Giokson of Brunswick ren,a,,,J .,,,, o.
peculiar attitude in which lie stood ON ,is su;cci with
regard To ms constituents, rendered brief g. pina;ion
Oh TIE course he should pursue advisable lie should
vote Tor i'e resolution arder consideration because
respectable number OF the Citizens of VIRGINIA
at lie hands OF the Legislature the passage of the law
winch IL contemplated. Should hc vote against H. on
TIE protest that the number of petitions do no,
now buden tie clerks table. this subject wbicl.
have done for The last two Sessions he woud le ACTING
uncandidy; Tor he could doubt that their absence
was the result alone of repeated and mor ine rcec
.,"n ne represented people decidedly opposed 10
the call OF Conve1on--and were that tie question
before HIM, b's duty republican Representative
would Indicate but one for him 10 pursue: but
me people OF brunswick had told him 10 libel
their capacity for scis government ~ reusno In sinh
nat TO them question affecting their own soy ere.niy
and seriously involving their political happiness lie
protested to be republican Of the most liberal school
and had ever been adniFer of the old republican
+ maxim, ''tat the majority should rule" Submit the
question OF Conv enon to the feehOlcrs Of Virginia
from wiicm the Legislature derives its POWERS and
eaVe wits them lis decision majority of item de-
SIRE IT. IN The name ofiooriy he said lei them have it
I u majority should be opposed IT, in the name of
common sense. lie would ask where were tie evils
iihciy TO follow from such result! The PRAYERS and
petitions of respectable minority of the State viii laye
Ifct Tie attention and regard due 20 their importance
and DE CAnses Of cumnhinl and disan.c llnn cnrelr