Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-02-20


men,s .-Wha, would he the reply? do you bee
licve the concession wodld be made! could your
law bolster their claim: would il be Of any force?
/ conceive, not, Sir Yet II would be an Nt OF
the Legislature; and would be as valid in that
Assembly, as i, will be, in Convention of the
representatives of the same people The persons
who made the law then in Conventions; the
power which was delegated TO them has melted
under them, and those who made them txeI
cisins in person their own unlimited and illiuta-
bic sovereignty. And this, in the presence OF the
same men who enacted the law, aud who, in
General Assembly, have precisely The same ratio
Of ROVER which they have in Convention, and no
more. II they have more in the Legislature.
whence is it derived! Is there any grant in the
Constitution? Let gentlemen point it out! VIE
the gentleman assert that the people have conferred
The mons,rous power on the Leg klatue, 10
act upon them, not only IN their social or political
condition, but in tier natural state; for they
must be, in settling anew the fundamental aw!-
And. sir, il they had granted the power to the
Legislature TO limit their actions; STILL when they
met in Convention, the power granted would
be reinvcsted in them; they would be celebrating
.or themselves. There being no necessity for its
continuance, the agency must cease as matter OF
course. Having ip my reply TO the member from
Amelia, Mr. n. uuiolded at large my views on
the power of the General Assembly, to limit
Convention, will not longer claim the attention
q
speech
II has been asserted by the member from North
ampton, that " the objects tf the Con ven'ionists
have not been reduced 10 a tangible shape" The
gentleman i right; our objects have not been
duced TO tang ible shape; bur. sir, whs, is the
reason? I will inform The gentleman. The Lee
gisaiure have withheld the only rational means by
which they could be disclosed. We have told
you through the medium of the press, by resolves
adopted in Public Assemblies; by votes at our
elections and by respectful petitions, that
desired the present Constitution TO be changed;
that II violated our rights and wared against the
first principles OF republican government; and, for
the purpose of asceTiaining whether majority Of
the community he for against it's alteration, we
have asked the Legislature to require her officers
TO record the votes OF such persons as may vote
with or against us. All this has been denied. Sir,
this is the reason tina, our objects have not been
reduced 10 tangible shape: and whose fault is il
that they have not! Not ours, unless our uode-
ration, our ioibearaDcc, our love of peace and
good order he faults, and for which, indeed, we
are now tainted by the gentleman: No, sir, the
fault * in the unequal representation of the peo-
pie; il is in the inequality OF rights enio.ed upon
This floor. Permit me TO ask the gentleman, If the
objects of the friends of emancipation from Eng
land, were reduced TO such "tangite shape"
were so definite, 10 he known throughout the
colonies before the olution actually comnenc
ell? Were tie objects ofihe friends Of the presen,
confederation of the states, reduced TO such
% neibe shape" before the Convention which
formed the constitution assembled, 10 disclose
perfect unity of sentiment? ! think it y i'll not
be contended that they were. We know tie fact :,
that each Of The colonies had peculiar grew
snces 10 complain of and redress we know low
various were the views and interests of the states;
and II the argument of the gentleman, founded on
The disagree ement Of the fieads of Convention a.
TO the defects of the constitution. that we ought
me- to have a Convention, be sound, upon the
same grounds and for the same reasons he VI uli
have Eeen or posed TO the revolution AID 10 the
present federal g"vernmeDt-Ws it wrong to Sc
yer ourselves from England, because there rot
community of sentiment every subject of
compliant! Was il wrong TO sreng hen the bands
o. The Old Enntederacy, because eve's "'-" i'' so
cie,y did rot all of the alterations propos-
Ell 10 be made; in all the powers TO he granted?
Ct the gentleman answer these questions.
But, in defence of the amendment ard tue pow
er of the General Assembly, the gentleman has
asked. " if we are not in the same situation as
another Leeislalure:" My reply is, that we are
not, in reference 10 the organization OF a Con
vention. The people have not lool; for it
why should they, before il is known " heller there
~ majority for il? Ii tie majority lie in favor
OF II, The members of the next Assembly will be
instructed IN adopt some measures for lis organiza-
ton; but, SHOULD the conveniioniss be a minority of
the people, then, you will have a Law providing
Tor a mere Contingency or for an event which
cannot occur. ] cannot see, on the question of ex
pediency, suprosing had the power to pass the
law, why should so in advance Of public
sentiment and feeling, and hamper The views of
lie next Legislature, which will be drawn iipu,e-
dia'ely from the people? But, sir, the direction
taken by The gentleman uniolds his motives: il is
intended TO operate the small counties; il is in
tended 10 enlist their feelings against tleir indp
ments and their principles; and in cases these
n nuaIi,
ty OF the iriends Of reform, 10 produce he impress
sion, that they are 10 be totally d,sirancbised.
hope that they will not be deluded, that they will
not distrus the sincerity of our attachment 10 the
great principles OF our government, and ntr res
pect and love for them. We approach rot t,i.
subject with despoers' hands; we have reverence
for all that IL good in the constitution we cannot
be inaItentive 10 The existing order Of society," nor
ioTgeful, that IL is interviewer with their habits
Saturday, in answer TO the member from Amelia
Mr. n y should Danish all aIarmI should sootb.
down all aspenties, and ds,ipate the misgiyings
excited 10y the impassionei appeal Of the gentle
man Mr. Upshur) TO their most Freiudced sensi
biiies. We shall ask for nothing, sir, waic!, !;
is not our right to have, and the duty Of our op-
ponents To give
1t has also been asserted, that these amendments
contain - no restriction on the Convention ,,
What mean the second and the seuenM .ectionsi
The second declares that each county shqH be
eHfHted 10 enc representatives, and the seventh
That the Cow enlion, &" so organized shaH hare
PotceT to- DO, what we may permit them 10 do
Are these no restrictions the power of the Con-
vention 20 far as Oh can impose hem2 AtetLey
not festriciions, 50 lar as you impose them,
on the pos or Of The people TO pursue some other
basis OF fefresentaii 10 the convention If they
be not intended as limitations sLouIJ be nle,ssJ
{ y Know the Object which il 10 be attained =,