Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-01-23

7
plainej that the power of the state was in ,he
hands Of minority of the people. To produce
change IA this respect, was openly avowed by
most oil the hiends OF n Convention. lie was in
s,ructed by his constituents, and by the people OF
the neigheotias counties. to oppose any Conven-
ton, that shall have such q change in view. II
was surely veil known for what objects Conven.
ton was vsan,ei. II for this, the small counties
must set their faces sinst il but IL Tor o her and
rational objects, they would concur.
AT some other session of the legislature, the We.
~ details OF his amendment would have to be a
dop'ed Suppose the people voted for Convention,
was il not more than probable that the Legislature
would split upon these details. II was impossible
that they could agree upon these points. What he
asked, would be the result? The people will have
said, there shall be convention, and their dele
gates, nterposing, will say there slall be none
WIZ not this state Of things produce great excite
ment and particularly in many parts of the stare?
But even should there be convention, and a
constitution formed upon ths principles con. en-
plated, he predicted that the people would reject
It, All the excitement and expense " i'll have been
produced for nothing. The Intention Of disfran-
| chisirg the small counties, will gain friends or
not as it is expressed, or di-avowed
| Mr.. Rufhcjo wa opposed 20 the amendments
and, of course IN favor OF rising. He thought
the argument of Mr. u. implied a di-trust of the
people; and that his amendment would delest the
passage of the bill, by producing dissatisfaction "a
the amendment Tor another reason--If a conv en-
ton was TO be oiganzec upon our present, prin-
cipie oil representation, the large counties unwil-
ling TO be put Oh the footing of the small ones
would vote against il under the hope of getting
one on principles more acceptable them Sap
pose That the convention recommend d, the aho-
iition oil the executive council; the reduction of
the number Of that House; the ex,en. i'm of Il e
| right OF suh'a.r, the e9ualiz tion of the rerre
sentat!on according TO white popula ion-was j.
probable he asked, that such a constitution would
meet with the appreciation OF majority Of the
people, II called on 10 vote for the whole or a
ssinst them. III they were To vote upon each
singy, ii was probable that most of them would
DE approved. Mr.. US amendment REQUIRED lba,
| me people should 20 for sgainst the whole
In that case, men. account OF one otiectiona
ore amendment would vote against many they
| approved He objected to the amendment be-
cause 1t proposes to regulate the proceedings of
the COW eniion, with which that house had no
more 10 DO than with the proceedings Of the Con-
gress OF Panama. If the principle of the amend
! nient prevail, he said il would seem tina, conyen
lions were The creatures OF legislatures audn le-
si>atures The Creatures OF conventions. lie thought
that Mr.. u. could have devised a better
scheme TO divide and conquer the friends of the
bill. lie hoped they would not permit this but
present an undivided font.
The chair here III lie explanation of it's deci-
sion on the point OF order; permitting members
principle OF the amendment was involved and az
tar as was necessary 10 show that the committee
gu gl,i not TO rise.
Mr. Mason, OF Frederick, was fee 20 saw II
the amendment were engrafted on the bill i, woulJ
be his duty TO vote against il. lie though, o.be,
gentlemen would go with him. Should they then
encourage the amendment? He did not understand
whether the amendment was TO go to the peop,e
as the expression OF individual opinion or a.
clothed wirh legislative power
MIR. OpshW explained, that the thing would
have 10 be done at some day, and it would be a..
wen 10 do II now; not as an expression of indi-
vidual opinion; but the expression of The will
! oil the people, tbro 'gh their representatives.
| Mr.: Mason, in continuation, contended that !,
1t would be a preversion of duty 10 express i,
this way private opinions. Ii the legislature, on
the other hand, were TO adopt the amendment in
their legislative character, they had well take
up The constitution at once and amend il. He ar
gued that the legislature had no right to indicate
40 the convention any opinion at ALL To do so
would be TO assert the omnipoence of the lerisIa-
| ture. How could they sy.wheiher there should
lie special or general conventions? That the a.
mendment of Mr. II. would be an indication of the
VIII oil the iriends OF convention, lie denied; be-
cau-e it would only convey the opinions of the
members OF the pre'eat General Assembly TIA
ken either Individually collectively their opin-
ions were OF no avail - for if they were il would
be TO give them the power say to the people
you must submit TO our fiat Ii that legislature
had the power 10 say upon whit ratio of repre-
sena alton the convention SHOULD be formed would
be useless TO call one. The will of the people he
thought ought to govern this point-ali govern
ment was compron!se-and such compro-
mise was 10 be entered into by the conv enton and
not by the legislature, or in pursuance Of any init
nation from them. liihe latter ATTEMPT it, he
pronounced that il would be u>urpalion. 1t was
only asked that facilities be given for the express
sion OF the will OF the people any thing beyond
The granting o. these facilities, would be e.
quivaent to asserting that the legislature held the
power TO grant or refuse convention. The PEG
! PIE he commended could call veniion without
the fundamentally of The legislature But, if, in
the first instance, they express themselves for a
conventions, then, the legislature, possessing their
confidence, may recommend the form of nrgani-
zaiiou, which they may approve or not. He con
tended that hsre was distinction betweer recon,
Me1diag, and commanding. The amendment
| spoke in the latter language. One clause in il
| provided that the 90 convention should haze
POUer" sc. He admitted that a recommends
ton OF the organization OF a Convention would
be necessary 10 future, and If it was the will of
his Constituents that he should come here again,
he expected 10 come prepared To vote on that
subject but even them he did not think he could
use The positive language that the Convention
should do this, or that-stho' lie might be autho-
rised 10 decide whether the members OF the Con
veation should be elected by counties or dist ricts
| The applications for Convention did not grow
out of the feyeIsh excitement of the people or
any particular portions of them-Tbey had come
before this House with the most respectful pei
lions; they had almost duplicated the House for
aid in collecting their Of the propriey or i'm
propriey Of redressing grievances they had long
felt. How had you treated iben,S You had torn
Ii a al ala ooIt