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


conscientiously desire to give effect to the law
against dueling and 10 suppress the crime. Bat I
conscientious sly believe that we have no constitu-
,ionai authority to pass this test OATH and by APP
plying il members Of this House, we invade the
rights of the people to choose their agents, as
prescribed by the Constitution. l avn UNIV ing
10 throw that odum the law which !a,yless
moles of infamy ought to atac! TO 1t.
Friday. JANUARY 10. - The order Of the day on
the Convention Bill being read, MIR. .lay n,oy ed
10 discharge the Committee ofthe Whole, from
the further consideration of the subject. He con-
sidered the object of going into committee, (ihe
perfection OF the billy, had been accomplished
Mr.. Up,hur's proposition went TO the organiz,-
ton of Convention, which he thought neither
the friends nor enemies OF Convection would
vote for. They could not with prorriety, proceed
10 organize Convention until the will OF the PEG.
pie was asceriained. Then it would be time enough
10 60 into such organization; and il could be done
in a manner more acceptable 10 the people. The
principle of Mr.. Upshur's amendment could be
tested in the House If the House should decide
ia favor OF 1t. he would then support motion to
commit it TO Committee of the Whole. But, al
present. he opposed to authorisng the Exc
cu,ive 70 call a Convention
Mr.. Upshmr was regardless OF matter of form
4 all h. wanted was that full an fair expression
\ should be had upon his PROPOSE ion. He would
inform the gentleman from Petersburg that the
House had referred his amendment to Committee
OF the Whole by former vote. Flo only wished
that course 10 be taken that The freedom of debate,
peculiar to committees, Should be enjoyed on all
the details of the amendment freedom that scuuld
not be n,iulged in the House.
Mr.. .Ne,ct0n oppose the mo,ion He did not
consider il calculated TO economist time. 1t was
necessary to deliberate fully every important,
subject. 1t due the staajng of Mr. Uy-
shur in this House, and in the community, that
he should be heard fully on his amendment. Mr..
he could not but believe that every republican in the
House would favor and preferred 10 offer them
in committee.
The Speaser said. if the motion prevailed. the
bill would be placed in the same condition it was
in, before the committee had taken up; and the
amendments agreed to would be lost.
Mr. May withdrew his motion, rot being an.
prsed that this result would follow.
Mr.. Ship renewed the motion, and called for
the ayes aud noes but The call was not sus-
tanned.
Mr.. Mayo and Mr.. McI'ac made few re-
marks--Mr Mason of Fairfax. then told the
House, that he was bound by every consideration
TO vote for the bill; but, if the amendments that
had been adopted by the committee were lost he
eiouid vote against it.
Mr. Ship then Withdrew his motion, and the
House went into Committee of the Whole, aIr..Nay
in the Chair.
sir. .sfdson Of Frederick, moved that the COM
mi,tee rise and report progress, withou, asking
leave 10 sit again. He made this motion that the
sense Of the committee should be thereby taken on
Z tine merits Of the amendment. He did not consi :
sder MIR Up-hur's proposition amendment a,
iall; but new and distinct proposition going
gfeaily beyond the object of the original BILL The
friends of the bill only contemplated tina, the sense
of the people should be taken. They were no,
now prepared TO say who should vote; who should
be eligible; or to go into all the important consi
deratons involved in the organization of Con-
Ia-,,t,a l,a-a Il
from the people in substance, TO provide for taking
The sense OF the people OH the single point, whe-
Their they desired Convention or not. The idea
OF Mr.. u. ON another day, that the people would
see what they were voting for, had at the time
some effect on his mind, bu, upon reflection
he had seen the fitii,y of that House declaring to
Convention. wha, they should do, and what they
should not do. If the people said there should be
a Conventions; their representatives would come
here next winter, Instructed as 10 the wishes OF
the people on all the important points, incident to
the organization of one.
Mr.. UpshUr did not complain OF the motion,
because il presented an occasion for redeeming his
Pledge to explain the principle and the object OF
his amendment.
The propositions contained in his amendment he
conlended grew oat of the original bill, and
were strictly anciiliary to il. He took review
4 Of the former views and conduct of the friend.
of Convention, and inferred that they were now
iudisposel 10 do what few years ago they had
advocated The desire for Convention, grew out
of the defects in the Constitution which all a Init
ted. The 5 .auI,on Conv hal distinctly
pointed out the great objects Intended be effect
ell. III the will oftie people be for Convention,
would be the diy of the Legislature at come
time TO orsanzs one; and The iestion was, should
that organization be provided Tor now or hereal-
ter? lie contendei that the present was the best
time. If yor submi The question Convention or
1no Convention, all who want change will vote
iorit. Bat if you submit the que. lon TO the peo-
! pie, accompanied by indication of the form of
government you intend TO substitute, every voter
will vote understandingly. Without this indica-
ton, each will vote for Convention under the
hope that the particular defect in the Constitution,
he would remedy, is to be corrected. The one
proportion was merely tbeoretic and abstract, on
the point OF change change 1.-The other ind-
eating The changes contemplated. The latter be
contended was most preferable. He had drawn
his amendment with great care. Gentlemen would
lind that il was submitted TO the House By his
proposition, to decide, whether the Cony eniion
should have special general powers. Ii the
House were TO decide upon its possessing special
powers, the propositions upon which it would
have to act, would be distinctly Submitted TO the
decision of the voters. Bot If you have Con-
venon with general powers over all the funda-
mental principles of gov rEment, the FIRST question
will be, who shall choose that Convention; shall
il be done by the freeholders, or the ireehoders
AMI non-freeholders! II by the latter, will it not
be certain that they will do away the freehold right
of suffrage. Another question the ratio Of
representation in the Convention. Should the
member be chosen by counties or dstr:c;s--and
should the ratso be based upon the aggregate pop
nIaiion, or uToa white population aIunes
Some conversation here took place as to the
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