Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-06-16
CONGRESSIONAL.
HOUSE OF REPRESENT ApriI !

49, BILE, Oh kentucky, began by saying
that the Locrians had statute which required the
person who intended to propose an alteration a..
amendment of their Fundamental La,us. to on into
Tie assembly OF the People with a rope around his
neck, and u he failed IL his plan of alteration or
amendment, the statute declared that he should be
instantly hung up, without any further trial or
conviction. He thought it possible that similar
enaclmen's might be useful in our day and genera
uon TO fepress the rage in favor of amending Con
situations; but he did no; wish for such ia,v =,
present, because there were some twenty p,ans he
lore the House to amend the Federal Constitution:
nineteen OF which would fail beyond doubt. and
probably the other also, and of course the law of
the Locrians, it not in force among US, would
sweep US off by tens and twenties and thin onr
ranks most marveiously. But he would hold il nm
70 the COMMITTEE as fit remedy for premature and
useless Innovations in the course of legislation.
ftistorlans tell US that these Locrans made no
alterations In the body of their laws for about two
hundred years. during which period thew were
prosperous and happy people; applauded and admir-
eo oy all The other States of Greece around them
But why was such a law ordained, What could
nave been its origin and object? The law itself sug-
ses's the nature OF the evil, and its dangerous ten
dency There were demagogues in ancient as well
as modern times. They had 90 gaipanized'' the
L1ocriahs from year 10 year, until the tumults and
disorders OF the factions had produced crisis in the
state That People found, by long experience,
that The ambitious, disconented, disappointed Office
hunters, were always making or proposing altera-
tons and amendments to The laws Thew saw aIso
that these plans AMI schemes were sometimes offer
ed 10 promote the wishes OF aspirants after power;
tha' s'res and bros, and civil discords were con
staniiy engendered by such movements; and they
hnaily resolved TO make serious matter of il to
The factions, by the enaction of the law in question
WINCH II would seem, preserved the State from
RUIN Tor two hundred years. Wise and prudent
| statesmen should nm IS
| and prohi by them. The Locrisrs repealed this
celebrated law, and then deiuge of alterations
innovations and amendments, came upon them and
they lost their liberty any People will who fail
10 maintain with frmness the stability of their fun
dsmental laws and maxims
| Mr.. L. was In favor of the proposition 10 ex
ciude the election from the House. but was decided
| ly opposed 10 any scheme which would diminish ~
impair the fuil powers of the States to regulate the
whoe SUBJECT, as separate independent bodies or
communities OF People. His best Judgment ,vas
opposed TO the district, and he should vote against
me district system, unless he should fad the Pen
pie OF his State In favor of that plan 1t was ad
United on all sides, in debate that the States In
adopting the district system, would have to surren-
der some portions of their power over the election
and this was not consistent with his views of feder
| al or State policy His opinion was, before he
cane into Congress, that the Federal Government
was rather too weak and feeble to maintain itself
against the otates: but ne was fully satisfied hat
INC o'ates were the weaker vessels, and he would
not agree TO Increase their weakness by tskino
power from them. He felt himself bound 10 regret
! the movement of the question here He was a
cltizen OF slave State, and could not consent IN
chahge the ratio OF representation present FIX
ed upon the basis of three-fiflhs of the colored
population. He was sure that question would he
maze whenever, and wherever, the subject is dis
cussed ne noDo. In this House said he we vote
1 md fbp IL -.
'ed here anu therefore it might be best for them to
agHate the question somewhere else He boued the
| SUBJECT would be lett to primary convention of
! the States; where all would meet as equal soye.
| 'ei6"s, edch having one vote, and no more: and
where OF course, the slave States would have a
certainty that nothing could be done without their
own consent, agaiDs, their rights and interests in
the matter. There were several nodes he said hv
which the election might be taken FROM the House:
all OF which would be open for discussion. if the
SUBJECT should be first moved in a primary conven-
ion; out II the district plan should be sent out for
adoption, all other plans would be excluded as
not open tor deliberstion, and thus the CONGRESS
would uSurp the Peoples right of choice amnng
the several plans that might be thought of and
brought forward themselves. He was yvil,ino IN
refer al the plans OF ameudmen. to the Peope. and
let Them make choice TO suit themselves: and in
this respect, he was ready 10 repose more conf
| dence In the People than those who were aryions
to limit and restrict the Peoples choice to a sinsle
mode by Districts
He would vote, be said, with the gentleman
from South Carolina, (Mr. M'DufIie) in favor of
MS ABSTRACT proposition to exclude the election from
The House, but not for the reasons offered bv that
member. The gentleman made his closing arso
! ment on yesterday, and such an argument in
cuding all It's personalities had not been heard be-
tore within that Hall, or any other Hall of Iesis
Iatoni and probably the like of IT wo1IJ NOT he
heard again. In his first speech the gentleman as.
sailed the Cabinet en- masse; but on Yesterday he
! singled out the President and MIR Claw bv name
| and abused both oil them in the most vanton man
ner Inc attack was not confined 10 public men
and public measures; it was in part directe1 ,c,s,
private Character and private reputation Mr.. u
bad been eight years in that body, and had nevs,
heard such things, or witnessed such scene before
\ lie felt IT MS duty to forward 10 repeI the
calumnies thrown out behind their backs. vyitlop,
/ regard 10 time, or place, or Circumstance or anv
thing but opposition TO the men in power. Tbe
gentleman informs US that the President and Cabne,
/ are against his propositions that their opioiSr,
have lately changed upon the subject: And how,
does he prove these things? BY reading US some
| scraps from newspaper, which he save is semi,
official evidence OF his assertions. fbe een,ien,sr
might be right, but Mr.. Trimbe had his doubts
That paper, at the time referred to. stood i, sncb
a questionable attitude that these scraps and nara
graphs ought 10 he ascTbed to persons bostile %
/ the President and the Secretary ratbe, H.. -
either OF them or their friends II ,vas an ,c, ~
justice 10 HIMSELF as well as Mr. Clay. TO that he
had not spoken TO him on this question; and that he
had held no intercourse, directly or iDdreeuv yy,,b
'oe ffesiuen' or Caolnef upon the subject in debate
or any thing connected with it. He did No, 49,,
nor care for their opinions. He was No 49,,
! sJeophant and in no mons power. He would der.
tliy himself with no mans tneasores n -