Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-01-25

aud II, after having all desired facilities afforded
they tail in establishing that fsc,--they mus, fail
the change sought after. He h,d been thus expli
c'', that his course should be understood h
knew the di-po-iioo of men 10 Jervert and mis-
represent The motive and conduct of others h
always sought to guard against its eifec, he ha,
overhead the whispers OF some he disregarde,
them -re'iiUg upon the proud consciousness O
having &C ed upon psinciple-h- dsiied the shaft
OF defamation. that das'ardy foe, lurking under
disguise lie dared not throw off, should aim. 81
ther at The purity of his motive The p,oprety o.
his cou'se
Nr Leel=, replied to Mr.. 7. and contenled
mat the principle was erroneous. No preceden
could be found by which those hn fail To vo ar,
! TO be considered hostile TO the proposition The
pTes"mpon i as fair that their wishes will be the
one way as the other. IL was, he said inpossi-
Die, hom the Commissioners books, to know who
were entitled 20 vote. The owners OF land mich,
be minors, non-resdents, SC. SC.
NJ. DGriS OF H. opposed the amendment, He
s'iu nat The opponents OF the BILL If their amend
nenis were agreed to, would vote FOR the bill
Under these circumstances, he though, their nro =
positions ousii; to be received with great csuiion
amendments had been offered, which would. il
aioped, iEdtce the iiIe d. o: The bill 10 a,ando,
II. 1t this amendment prevailed, there would be
squabbi= IN the mex, legislature on ~ hch side he
''s' sAonid lie counted. 1t " Guild do no gord, and
| might produce harm
Mr. tPshW sai'l he went father even than
Mr. N. II the amendment Prevailed, he should
"her further one that the list should lie made ou,
with reference 10 the actual freehrlders in each
count Was il not right, lie asked, To a-certain
whether a IN Joriy OF the ireehotirrs are in favor
OF a Convention? Should not this fact be ascer
tanned? Or do gentlemen wish that a pinorit,
should govern In this matter ? This was The verv
principle OF which they compliinel. The promo
slt!on was not TO acque-ce in tie p eeent state Of
things, bat to produce change. Those who
wanted II wouii move in it-aid il was fair TO
tier that those - hi took no means TO produce j,
were satisfied, and wanted 80 change A Gov.
veniion ought 10 be the result OF the action of a
majority OF the people. He thought Ike friends
OF Cow ough, 10 be in favor Of the amend
me"t. II MY are prepare! TO let the question rect
upon the VIII OF The majority, ii would, If adopted
promote their own views. In question So
tolemn 20 imp 'riant change in government. a
inIi aud untquivocal expression OF o;tivn ouubi
10 oe had Would any man say that The majority
ought not 10 rule! But how is that majority 10 b
a scer,ained, except by counting? lie enumerated
the various Circumstances which migL prevent
ind iJuals fr"m voting, and asked if their r;sb,
was no, t. be felt. And how should j, be III, !;
Surely, by supposins that they were satisfied with
things as they are 1t the question was not one nj
such solemn Importance, the sriciness OF Ills n,i,,-
cir'e might not be insisted upon.
Mir. .Nttci0n dISclamed any intention 10 cas-,
reflections upon the friends of tie bill. He I'd
10 show tha, This principle had been adorieJ in
many OF the States, on he question of calliny n
convention 1.-The Constitution was to I've CHANGED
10y The votes, not of majority Of the qualified
voters, but only of those who ha t. health and az
iivlty 10 attend The polls, it might harpen t.t GA,
valued and ancient Institutions would b.. mn, ,.;,.
by only less than a jority OF the ,eonle IT..
enforced his view oil the subject bg men,ionoo +, he
dangers which ilOw from the operation of such =,
principle when applied 10 the fundamental rri.ci
pies If government.
MIR. .uoson OF Frederick, was willing TIA,
the question OF q, INVENTION, should re-r unor
the Will OF the &C u majority Of the lice
holders. But whilst he ad.uitie. this, he in
sisted mat the end attempted by Tie amendment
was unaItainable; and, If attained " Guild n ove
nothing. The l1md books ere lie best evidence
ou, they iallacIou. and 10 move Ills I
| man;"ned variety OF individuals who nigh, NO,
appear on the book. If, however, you ulI as
certain The number entitled 10 vote what ,ieh,
had ) GU to put them this or that side of he
question:! II was said the friends Of reform,
were active, and tie opponents passive He
| opJectea 10 Inc amendment, because by il he
| Opponents could oe counted IS well by no, eoino
as by going TO the pnlI-. This, he thought, wa,
req iirinS too much activity in The friends of Com
ven ION, and IL created too great disrari:y II
me proposio" was reversed, this disparity would
not he 80 great, Tor The opposition to Conven-
uon resided principally in the low er roun.ry
q men
'her couFthouses GA the contrary, in the noun
famous county, the roads we're rough th. cour-
'iss large, and The distance travel TO ole YER
great, comparatively Most vi the ffeeholde, =
! VINO were unable 10 attend the poll resided ON
/ me oorder" % the counties, Sc. II was no; ii.t
'h"' all The aIsen'ees from the polls should be
connied agaiis: Convention. lie did not ron
siueT The extracts rom TIE Constitutions thai had
oeen Teau, TO apply TO this Case | erai,.e the q
! ihea"t majority OF the actual voters. and not a
| majority oil those qualified to yole
MIR. Guide held it IS Fundamental priuri,rs ,ba,
The validity Of government depended upon the
implied assent OF the Tiembe:s the BODY noIitic
lie government oil Virginia, particularly, rested
upon Tie assent OF the people Gentlenen -, n
proposed charge, were bound to show that a
magnify oil the whole peop.e ere in favor of IT,
The implied assent of tie whole aeople nov .us
'ains the government aud shall less than an enui
vocal majority, destroy ~? Tie lind books were
'he oes' evidence that existed a. to the voters II
'"e'e was otter evidence let 1 be poin ed out s. il
would be resoued to Tie House, he thousb
we're bound 10 adopt this rule, until better ceuld
oe had. They depended upon this ey .dence. in re
ia'ion TO elections to their body, and :, Inv no,
10 relation 10 the question OF Convention; There
was no reason to eieYe that the peope W., r, ;ss
| isii=d w,ih their government Those Who .xore..-
ed different opinion, were baund TO rake
IT'S truth apparent Ii more votes should be 81 On
Tor, than against Cony eDiion, that woulJ be- nv
no means satisfactorily pgO"i-tiat tie mpio.itv ti
nose wGO were paries TO ne government yishe,
to change it. Aud how is it to be aimed g, ,at
~ such vote a. to give The friends of reform :.
claim 10 a change, on tie fepubeaa principle that
majority shall gOgern! Can this be done in an ,
other " ay, than by asceitainiog the vii lie number
I Oh persons entitled TO vote, aud comparing that
wilh The number voting for Cow emion?