Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-12-21

public purse, a. will give TO the people. IN return
tor their contributions to it, the creates, prac,ica-
bic good; mean, by the economical administration
OF an economical II anne of governinen, DISPENSING
on principles OF equal represent alton, equally i,s
Dement'S, outstanding the public revenue for the
pron'"t on OF great a useful public works. II is
IN ,hsse things, as IN other respects, showing an
entire disregard OF some Of the fundamental princi
pies OF he bill OF rights, as shall presently al,
tempt TO shew, that cons itulion is defective
These remarks, Mr. SPEC ker, are sufficient to H.,
lustrate the difficulty to which alluded of direct
ing The attention OF the people the evils of 90
We nmen', however great they may be- where their
causes are speculative in their character, or not
pslpabe to the perceptions Of the snoran, and The
uniearned. Bot, sir, over all hese obstacles in
, herent Ia the subject to the probation or tia,
popular concert which is so essential TO action
the intelligence OF the people has triumphed and
they have given every evidence in their power of
their disposition for convention. Yet were Their.
o'her chc instances TO prevent such direction of
the puolic mind, other obstacles In The march ~
public opinion. Our Constitution was formed j,
times of difficulty and OF danger. Engaged with \
powerful foreign enemy In arduou- struggle for
liberty; and when that was ended, in no less
important, though more amicabe confrt with The
os'e' "'a'es as TO the terms on which we should
oecome member oil the Confederation, TO saw
nothing OF our critical relationship with the F.a.
raj Government ever since, bur little opnor,,ni,v
was allowed the people of xainnng into The NOR
It's Oh their Constitution, far less of pressing ira
amendment Every circumstance tended % promo,,
It's ready aud grateful adoption Every feeling
NATIONAL local aud patriotic; erery prejudice.
fenced 10 suppress objections, which il might after
wards become proper TO urge against IT, /, wa.
me iirst Instance given to the " rid of Cons;,,,-
tion OF purely written rights. IL elevated ms
rom the Coalition OF an oppressed co!ony TO thar
OIL a Tree and an Independent people. 1t was inf
nitely better than The colonial government. ard
stood IN an Infinite " rank OF praise' II was the
onspring OF our fathers, and readily became the
child oi our adoption. Yes, had i, been far n,ors
defective, the people Of Virginia would hsxa
cinus to 1t, as doing parent 10 its off. pripo
which nature had detormed Is il then 10 he ,von
deed al, that with all OF its defects this ons,i,p
ton should have attained in silence. its th;r,;o,,,
Ut 'o'''etn year! But, SIR let it not be regarded
IS altogether The silence o appreciation. There
was one, "ho' eve watching over the interests
oil his fellow Citizens, had almost coevslIv vyi,b
ITS existence, marked aud exposed its defects. n.
whose heaIt was as distinguished for its patrio,.
| Ism, As MS head Tor wisdom and foresight who
having filled he measure of his glory, in IN. TIL;
umphant manner In which he welded the dest;oias
OF The Cnion' might be supposed competent, 60
drect he councils OF his State the Land of his
| tiviy and of his constant and anx,ous c,,e W.
IL was Mr. Jefferson who first proclaimed the ne
| ce~slty OF amending the Constitution of VIRGINIA
ana mark his views. 1t was the first write,
instrument 'hai went formally Gas it should ha We
done practically to denounce the wicked and
| pefhicioue theory oil the divine Inheritance OF
SINGS ana 10 place the permanency and the au-
thority oil government, on that basis on which on
~ they should rest, the declaration By The neonIa
OF great natural and nalienable rights the lorna,
ih'esuture by the people, in a body delegated TO
| frame constitution, OF plenary pow ers 10 effect
II, anu me no less formal ratification by the people,
oi such constitution afterwards; and yet this Con-
s'Iiu'lon formed by ordinary legislature. meyer
was thus ratified by the people. Il commences
therefore, in error. 1t framed too. at time
when universal assent was given 10 the princinl.
OF equal representation, when our whole noli,irs
atmosphere was pregnant with its truth as essen,
ual 10 an equal participation in the benefits of
civii government; and yet this Constitution admit
leu III It's details, very great, aud consequently
very oafdensome inequality OF representation. =
IL continued therefore in error. II held forth ion
IN .he Dill OF rights, on which it is presump,yely
ou''' NE profession OF equal individual rights.
ana YET under this Constitution the right of suf
"ase' mar most substantial right, constituting the
very Ver'eore' In The whole frame of civil
rights, Is much more limited than required bv that
very rule on which its Limitation is profess.JIv
based, and on which limitation in any decree can
only oe Jished The eyIdence of permanent com
mon interest And, s.r, with all these radical de-
fecis, 1t contsined the still climacteric one of
possessing no provision Tor its own amendment,
IL was therefore consummated in error Sucb
not 10 Sllude to others, some of the ,i.,v
taken by MIR. Jefferson Such were tb. e,o,,d
on which large convention was assembled !,
stanton in The year '16, delegated by the people
icf The purpose OF concerning legal and pronsr
means, by which 10 bring about a general con
Yen'ion TO amend the constitution OF the Stare
Their appeal TO the good sense and TO the ;,s,
aud liberal feelings OF the people, and their re-
'AohsT'nce 10 the Legislature, would have been
answered by Tie Immediate call of convention
anu senerai system OF reformation, as was pro-
ven oy the voie OF this Hou-e, taken on that or
caslon In favor of bill in all respects similar ~
that winch Is contemplated by the movers of this
resouion,) but Tor a compromise 90, up by the
enemies oil reform, which went TO allay for a time
The public ierment. by removing portion of The
evils complained OF. mean the vast ineouaIi,v ne
representation, IN the other branch Of the IeesIa
lure. but, SIR, the opposers of convention mich,
have known, that If this could for a time aone,,e
il could not ultimately satisfy the public ,pind
fuOiic opinion in a community of enlightened
| ireemen, slow and discreet in It's fo,ms,ion anI
| sure OF the attainment of truth, once made nm nc
yer recedes; " knows no retiring ebb bn, -
due on" till those truths tbeoreticaIlv do,Irsa,I
from the experience and wisdom Of the world aro
consnrnnated In practice. We find, conseouennv
IN ~, another convention, not less considerahle
man TO the former is, assembled In Stanton. ano-
thef appeal made TO the justice OF the State ano-
thef memorial transmitted TO the Legislature SO,
ing forth the same grievances that had been noin,
ed out by MIR. Jefferson that had teen reiterated b
the m etinS OF 'l6, but which, their efforts had
been insufficient TO remove. nd when the s,b
Ject mas never ceased to be affiliated hu, be.r -.