Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1828-02-27

w e"e Poitica body, is then, $50 far as il can ope-
ae on The subject of debate) equivalent TO an aega
on that the majority have right TO IL, wrong and
uat me 'yrants OF the Old world ho have the power
must also possess the right Cypress their miserable
ana ehslaved subjects
10 me II appears that the question of Iisht has
no necessary connexon with the majority or minority
u uepenas on the original principles of the social
,pt az. winch nave been greatly msconceiyed by the
81, ;t rom view hent, when he asserts that alb
"act riSht belongs TO his individual character
w STATE or nature, and that after he enters into
sou " society," his rights no longer individual but
r''oai and dependent on the will of the majority
ie' me ASK is The real nature of the social com
pact as settled by the best writer's ON qouernmeptp II
contract entered into between the sovereiro and
e suoJect tft is TO say between the peopI in their
sovereign Character on the one hand and each citizen
~ "is 'uiVouai character, the Other whereby the
iaer reiinquishes TO the former norton of his main
IN consideration of being protected i'm the en-
yheh' OF 'he residue. The rights thus relineuished
may be called political, and subject TO the will Of
!he majority, while those retained, are strictly
'n'iereht ami superior even 10 a constitutional charter
81. 81" dsioh Oh The latter resulting from constitutional
ueecH' must, therefore, be followed by the right TO
constitutional REFORM
But, IN reference 10 the actual subu;ss;o, of ,l,o
iues"o vi convention 10 the will of a majority of the
necno'ueiS' lhc gentleman from New Kent earnestly
i.us '"al we must ascertain their will clearly and
nih"oca!!y, without inference presumption, for
Which purpose we must have merely the names Of
"' Vo'ers but OF all persons entitled 10 vote Does
'' ''e BehIchan himself fall into the very error he
!" ro'c are unIricndiy 10 convention, whilst am
"inS uey should be counted in the ratio of those
% '"'e ,u! hn'erences are TO be made, which is tie
most natural inference, that the abseutees from are
'"uty or Otherwise acqufesce in the decision of their
more active itow citizens or that they are oppose 10
Their own interests, the claims OF Justice and the zen
eFa prosperity ofhe State? The most atrocious lon
presumed TO be innocent until his ouilt he nroveJ
anu yct te Ireenen of Virginia to be condemned
without trial, aud from their mere silence or n,ssya
ness we are 10 infer the crime of political suicide
- very possible that even III many of the counties
most interested in convention some deppe of milf
c'ence may exist ON this Interesting subject That
indifference can only be attributed to ignorance or no.
h'tCal ueSeneracy In either case il shouId ,nsnrs
even 'ee enemies OF Convention with the deepest
sympathy and reSrcl and not with authorizations nj
Triumph in Their resistance 10 the cause of reform,
WI any be indifferent through Ignorance that very q
'odice may nave resulted from defective constitu-
''on or detective legislation If from tue former the
ep should De reineded; il from the latter il wouI he
hiioeral and unjust any members of the egsla,p
TO p'o by their own wrong and infer opposition to
convention from the ignorance OF the peoule We
saGnd he Tie more digent in dissemination the bee
sings oil education through every portion of the State
"naer 'e ann conviction that enlightened comuu
l'y VIII always nlai1tain their rights and Liberties
they shall have the physical power
SO far the Indifference OF which am enc. linz -
suits from political iegeneracy il affords . strono
argument IN iayour OF legislative nerposition TO corr
RECT te e' anu IL can on be corrected by constitu-
tionai reform For alhoug it is an established ma
III tha' all government must be founded on public a.
pinon yet II is equally true that government re ,s
upon Tie people, and IFS organic pow NAV be made Ia
exert sanitary influence In reclaning degenerate
community from the error of their WAYS To effect
u..s osaao'e OBJECT, II is necessary that the con
stluon should precede the people at short intervals
IN The road TO virtue and glory SO that if ,nov an
pear To accompany while ii III fact gradually cadng
the citizen 10 his onward march The teinple of lib
erty Increase the interval and the constitution SON
through tie mists OF prejudice and error vii! be last in
'"e osance ana no longer serve "a lamp the feet
and aght TO the patti" OF cratic and beniried men
pie. n f
HE gentleman from Brunswick has PARTIALLY con-
tested my posuate OF the inequality Representation
anu advocated theory pTcdicated the Joint rain r
taxation and representation For the purpose of eIu
cdating this interesting subject, shall take the liner
OF submitting 10 the Senate esmai made setral
years since by gentleman acIsuow lodged accuracy
III winch l'e question is considered with great ability
and presented III all its bearings This document will
concn-vely establish my positions and refue tle
ueman from Brunswick 90 his own premises.
Here MIR. Smith read the following document
Estimate mne several years since In se,g HE igo,,,,,
ot representation in Fi,gfnid
The lst or Eastern District, between the seaboard
and the head of tide water.
The 20. between the head Q; tide wafer aud the
Blue Ridge.
The Sd, between tho Blue Ridge and the ALLEGHENY.
The 4th west of the Allegheny
If the representation in The House of Delegates
whcb consists of gid members, were apportoned ac
cording TO the free white population among the fore
going districts, it would stand thus:
The list district should have members 40 while has
4h do DO a. a. 90 90 Is Is
II the representation be made accofdinr IN lbe
aPporoDmeDt of The Unired States, allowing .5tbs
for the slave population, thon
The LIST district should have 10, while il has co