Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1828-02-20
Uirgt.sta 7Aea5alature.
DEBATE Nv TIE SENATE OF PIRGfNIA
or TIE CONYEWTiOW BILL.

Mr.. BERNARD remarked, that very few conside-
raiiUns indeed would have induced him infringe the
pTuant and becoming silence, which as Junior mem
ber OF HAT respectable body he had imposed upon
himself and which indeed well Comported witt, the
quiet and uDobtrusive ba bits of the profession which
he belonged, should've even on the present oc-
casion, have obtIuded himself the notice of the
senate nor trespasscd on Indulgence 10 which lie
e't he had so little CLAIM, but that he informed by
genIctnes, whose skill in such computation he had
reason 10 doubt, that upon very few votes possibly
single one, might depend the fate of this important
measure. Occupying then as he perhaps might in
relation 10 it, position OF awful aud monstrous
ponsIbty, II was due 10 the people of this
wealth, TO his constituents that house and 10 hun
SELF that lie should state, he should et',savor very
briefly 10 do of the which would influence
his in regard to it.-kSir, III Mr.. b. | ddaiu
Disguise under any circumstances and if were
even mbuei with that ooliquity moral principle in
regard TO the by which ends however legitimate
are to be attained, Which characterized the led
! Nicholas MachcaYelii himself; Whose proper name
sir, has, however unusy, become The proverbal ap-
peiiation of onaves, willis, lis christian name is sv
nonno for the levil) yet sir would at least eudc .yor
30 initiate the bold and fearless candor the reIeeling
sincerity cops1icuous tie works OF that extra
ordinary Sir, stand forth the open the ayowed
the decided aud yet trust the just, and the
generous enemy only the ultimate object OF this
bill. hut still more the by which il seeks to
attain Ill and yet sir, let the lists be but fairly marked
out, let tlc space which divides its friends from ITS
foes be surveyed and Invested Of every thing Ike am
buscade let the issue be fully and fairly made up
! between US, and then sir viii | excain III tie
| language OF antirat judicial combat God shew the
right, suceor the oppressed; and will add still more
ferrenly SIR, this coInmouT ealti III regard 10
the ultimate bect of this bill su, perhaps unne-
cessary we'll as unreasonable that should say any.
thing, should have done So but tina, tie uaco.i>
promising spirit 70 say The least of it. manifested by
its friends added their example, would seem TO i'm
pose upon IFS enemies the gpondinr
nty of opposing IT by all fair On this branch
Vi the subject however sir, shall content myself With
very few Suggestions, which atier myself even al
this late stage of the discussion of this nuc!, vexed
question: may possess something of novelty, If not
force. am not sir, of the class OF indscrninate ad-
mrers, who Sickle for the absolute perfection OF The
existing constitution; the contrary, think that III
common with others, discern in it some detects rot
however OF sufficient mag nude to be compared with
The b.reits TO be- hazarded by convention. ,gou!
not discard aud comfortable cloak sir, merely
because ii happens to!aye ontasted fashion of tie
present day, because like the Legislative and Ex
cculiYc branches CT government, il is little TOO
full Ill It's Dimensions sir, would uproot the tree
which or series o years has yielled fruit least
gUgd those OF our neigibors, and has shaded and
sheltered CIR dwelling, merely because OF few wiihcr
Ell supeIituOus branches. In regard The tgo cir
cGmstances which by some regarded evils Of
more Insuferabe magnitude in the inequality in tie
representation and the restricted right @! cchCd sug
ragc contend that tina: sir spuTey theol etca aud
that The latter il not strictly least guards against
evils, much greater than those II iDfcts. appeal To
gentlemen representing those sections OF the State,
which, III The fluctuations incident all countries
have that preponderance in population, which but
few years since was, and few years ieuce may,
trust %i! the lot ct lower Virginia,
this assertion by pointing to single acl safion
in which justice has not been dealt out 10 them with an
even, ifnot liberal and prousc band A. the period
SIR when the now large and populous counties consti-
tuDe those sections, in of BIC Infancy,
aud scarcely able dcfray tho peuse af rpnrese
= tation on This floor, ask where was The liberal and
generous policy, which extended them the helping
hand of brohcr!y love- aud admitted them 10 moro
than equal participation all the benefits OF the CO.
= vernuienC And ask if they do nc, continue to de-
rve from The funds oShe State, their full share of be
q nett? hini1 that If gentlemen will look back to Tx
time OF their need they will abate little OF the
- unreasonable jealousy and discomfort which have ma
infested themselves on these subjects believe SIR
that may with equal safety challenge proof OF
. single act OF aggression upon personal right Dl
from the restricted right OF freehold suffrage whilst
y sOgle familiar question. will sufficiently illustrate In
danger 10 be apprelended 10 the rights of property
tie extension OF the exercise suffrage, individuals
=, having property. Would you sir, I ask deem i
- either wise, eXpcdieu just, enter into co
~ partnership, mercantile, POLITICAL or any other wit
Il individuals having neither common stake, securit
10 OheT you TOR the just and profitable conduct OF you
stock III trade? believe sir that the non freeiiolde
. ofth5 commonwealth, the most intelligent and viruou
=, portion Ut ttcm at least, III according to the exisn
constitution, the sanction of that taCit acquiescenC
- upon which it rests, have had reference to th
- prnciP e,-aud do believe that il the question vvcr
= even propouDdeh to them, they would adopt
~ again; believe that they would prefer To forero q,
of right, which has been found cssen,ia
10 The security of their personal rights that those
property, 10 be acquired by them their posterii,
and 10 which in tbs happy country every conf
IDENTITY looks may Teposo under the trgis OF princpl
- 50 sa!utary aud SO just.-Sr / sorry 10 say i
: but think it but too obvious that a certain Wild spc
- culayc philosophy, IS but too rapidly subsUtutin
= experimental, the only true philosophy; an
- that II IS already, but too much the fashio
~ with the bcaux esPrts of the present day, to pr
fer jumping TO conclusions arriving them hrouc
= the tedious road of EXPERIMENT.; and indeed
= record axioins, problems, which have scarce
gone through tue st stages OF investigation. Tie go
YernmenLs OF this union sir state and federal present
system Of problems, tie most beautiful and rnioresiu
the world ever saw and from the cautious and corrcC
! solution Of which, may hppe to derive n volume
~ political wisdom which future ages will peruse ~
~ wonder, delight and nsucon as constituting the be
~ commentary upon the pcrectability of man and h
' surest guide 10 the highest state social and polite
n happiness allotted to bis finite md imperfect nature
o But very few pages ofbis sacred volume sir, have