Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-03-18


oppre q minority.
The position which have assumed, does not
conflict in the slightest degree with the legitimate
exercise OF the right oil majority TO govern This
may be shewn from various reasons The right
oil majority applies, in general, TO ordinary legis.
lahon under constitution, whether defective or
otherwise, without impairing the right to amend
! IL whenever such amen, ncnt shall become ne
ce'sary and proper. Ii applies also 10 equal grev-
ances A poll tax, for instance, of ten dollars on
all the citizens OF the commonwealth, might be
DuruenSome and oppressive in the extreme, but a
majority only would possess the right of redress:
| because the minority would sustain special and
exclusive grievance ,lustfynga departure from the
general rule The right of 4 majority does not ex-
tend TO the inherent rights of the citizen because
these arc nalienable, and were never Invested by
the constitution itself 1t is obvious that the prin-
cipleS OF liberty and equality for which contend
can never interfere with the rights of maiorties or
minoritcs; whereas the opposite principle would
be subversive OF the will of the majority Thus
Tor example, to deny that a county deprived OF
oil ITS representative power, has right
10 demand the restoration of the golitica equilibri
um, is equivalent to the admission that other coun-
ues may OF right possess ten fold relative weight
IN the political scale On the same principle one tenth
oil the people OF this Commonwealth might lawfully
govern the other nine -tcnths, which is too absurd
proposition 10 require refutation.
but At may be objected that if my position be
conceded, 1t would nevertheless amount TO a mere
right without Il remedy, because all power is
vested IN the majority To this reply. that the
objection amounts 10 4 recognition of the odious
and exploded maxim, that power constitutes right
moreover, the practical operation OF this maxim
would divest the majority Of the sovereign power.
ior II IS only in free governments that I.owcr is
lodged with the majority, and when the Inherent
rights OF the minority are destroyed by the hand
oil power, the government ceases to be free and
VIII soon follow the example OF the nations of Eu-
rope, whose liberties have been sacrificed to the
power oil civil or military despot. True it is the
nII
when they have no alternative but revolution with
all the attendant horrors of civil war. The day
however, may arrive, although hope il is far dis
tant, when submission will cease to be virtue
IL Is very certain that the temporary defeat of the
measure contemplated by this bill, either by the
vote OF the senate or by the voice of the freehold
erS at the ensuing spring elections, will not arrest
The spirit OF reform. The efforts of western Yir-
gina TO obtain redress, will never cease until the
object shall be fully accomplished.
| shall now endcavour to demonstrate the expe-
diency ola convention.
1t IS eXpedient, because it would restore anonp
the citizens of this commonwealth that fraternal
feeling which is in danger of being lost forever
To expect this feeling to exist among individuals
unequaily yoked together, while some are revealing
IN power and others iaboring under oppressive bur-
thens, is unreasonable and chmericai You mipht
as wen attempt to establish fraternity between a
Helot and Spartan.
a convention would, moreover, revive and per-
petuate the spirit of liberty which may otherwise
be eXtinguished. There is no principle so cone,,-
GIVE to the strength and glory of the commonwealth
aS that amor PGf'7eo which animates the bosom of
every true patriot. If we wish our citizens TO
love the constitution, we must render it as lovely
as possible but we know that time and circurn-
stances have married its beauty and has no longer
any comeliness that the people should desire it
i me 1t Is sacred and inviolaLle instrument on
~ TO be changed by legitimate reformation II 10
consecratcd by the wisdom Of our fathers and bv
the many hard struggles through which il has safe
~ carried us during the lapse of more than half
century. IL may originally have been adapted IN
the eXIgencics of the community, but is no longer
suited to our change Of circumstances and can1o.
be expected 10 receive the homage Ofpublc resnect
and admiration. Let us, therefore, remedy its
defects ii we arc DESTROYS that the citizens of Yir
ginia should love their country.
But il is said that its defects should be tolerated
because they are merely theoretical and attended
with no practical evil. If this doctrine no
correct, despotism may be the best government on
earth, While attended with no practical evil; for
despot may be q bcneficent master and manape
the affairs OF the people in 4 manner which viii
give them the least possible trouble and expensc
The people OF Virginia will not be Iuled to sIeep
by doctrine so repugnant to the spirit Of freedom.
They will provide against future danrer To avoid
the tate OF other nations who have fallen sacrifice
to the avarice and amb ition Of tyrants Our motto
should be O6sfd principals
whatever is essential 10 the prosperity of a part
must promote the interest of the whole. But
and
condition and deveope the physical resources Of
Western Virginia. 1t is, therefore, the interest of
the whole commonwealth TO support the measure
The present time is most favorable to reform
virtue IS the basis of republicanism. aad the peo
pie are yet virtuous But we know that virtue
dcclues with the progress Of luxury and the de-
parture from republican simplicity of manners-
Existing grievances must eventually destroy pub
TIC virtue by the storm Of anarchy or the calm of
despotism. These grievances have already pro-
duced that spirit OF innovation which the gentle
man from brunswick so much deprecates, and
when may be carried to an extreme dangerous to
the liberty and prosperity Of the commonwealth
The danger can only be avoided by removing the
cause which produceed it, in other words by res
torIng to an oppressed community the inherent |
rights OF which they have been deprived. This
wild and restless spirit, il has been termed is |
generated by the constitution and will be remed-
ed by the convention.
10 defer the work Of reformation until the mi |
nority shall become the majority, might, by pow
eTiu Reaction, convert the oppressed into the on
Pessors. 1t Eastern Virginia shall DENY TO the |
western counties an equal participation in the |
rights OF treemen, until the balance of power and
population shall enable the latter TO redress their
own grievances, is it not to be apprehen,Ied that
eXaspeTated by your injustice, they will consipn
you TO that state Of vassaage which YOU now i'm J
pose upon them'
That the present minority will, at no distant ne
NOD, become the majority, may be manifested by
a reference to the census Of 1910 and 1920 and
the relative increase of Eastern and
Western Virginia. In illustration Of this idea. I
have assumed the western county Of Shenandoah
On the one hand, and on the other the aggregate
rounties OF Henrico, Norfolk and GloucesteT.-i
The latter were selected merely because their
popuia'loh was taken IN tue aggregate and so ex-
The population Of IIenrico, Norfolk and Clan