Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1828-03-12
Ttrgfmfa AsntaIat,trs.
DEBATE IN TIE SENATE T. VIRGINIA ON
II CONVENTION ELL.
Of Mr.. BERT:3RD, in suppo,t oc n.
amendment submitted by mr.. CLoproN.

/ 49, ~@SU'' IL OOflDO IL ne nrtnf
as he hoped a Just estimate of the comparatiye value
OF the time of that House, aud any THING which he
couio nave to submit to lis consideration, would al
ways induce him t. do,l he might have been. and
IRON henawhs. could not have IMPUTED to him amonos,
o"ets' d "crror OF submitting this or any other sub
lect' u 'he decision of the Pooale. lie was aware that
ae Aao on mat oCcasioi, exhibited sometL. = Ekc
horror, but of a species which had excited the rene
rotls sympathy and not the apprehension of that body.
a weakness which, whether the result OF constitution
or faoS, nothing but that strong sense of dnty which
he should cherish with his life, could have enabled him
n not TO subdue, at least to defy. No sir, said MIR.
D. L never ieit, nor did l ever express any such hor-
rorc MY horror, sir, rs not of the many, but of the
artiui ana designing few, who in all ages Of the world
past, present. and l fear to come, have proved and will
prove an over-tnatch for the uuuspectinr and disu,
hi'eu maDy. MY Tears are not II the people, but for
inc people OF whom | am one. Equally mistaken. sir
was that gentleman, IN %asCribing 10 me anv profound
veneration, or scrVile and supersitious reverence for
'he wisdom OF our ancestors. ! feel none such. |
agree VITA that gentleman that W. do indeed occupy
a position upon the shoulders Of orr ancestoxs, not as
piG1nies as he supposed, bat as fuV grown men. in the
complete development of al. our faculties, moral and
physical; but, sir, how often has il happened that hu-
man presumption has Outsjripped the progressive march
Of reason, and buried it with most wicked speed down
Inc hea5ioH% career of wild speculation, of rash and
misctiievous experiment. The estimation in which. I
hold our existing constitution, is Get founded upon lis
age, ont upon us youthful vigOr ana promise, and | AN
hnwliliuS To interrupt the progress of an experiment..
which TO my mind, has not had time 10 GeyeIopc its
most asaiui results, for the purpose of substituting an-
other wholly untried. ! have however, sir, a horror. 4
profound horror, AZ the idea of n hrm of government
being imposed upon me or mine, ~ the will of a mi
noF',y' possibly Il small one, ccrt;inly a restless and
blinded one, for | contend that tits bill in its present
shape, rs a mere blind. lbave a horror ut being led
IN fic dark, whittier or by Ehon, we wot not. ard if I
am alarmed at shadows. It IS because il is tho in.
stihet OF all sent'ent beings to be so, in the dark. Sir,
give us but light, and like Ajax, We fear uo:hjpr.-
GIVE us but truth, AID fearless Of consequences, we
viii give you justice. The friends oil this ,iarl,pc bill
SIR, nave endeaYorcd - invest ii With a character Of
StCh diVine anu iiiltau;ag'c perfection, that they seem
TO regard 1t IA a species OF sacrIlere in either friend
or Zoe, to presume that it is susCnpubIe of increase -
But SIR, when gentlemen preagd TO aim ~ perfection
III their WSgks, they should be mindful of Tho maxin, oC
Cesar, IN all his important undertakings; pHu ac:ir
pata, 81 qrid su7erest a~gcnd1E,. Now sir, viii gentle
men pretend that this bill contains within itself the
means OF ettectilr lis objact? that il has The necessary
Wis insita. which viii enable a succeeding legislature
even VITA the expressed will Of n majority O.! the fee.
holders (which by this bill can hardly be attained : IN
progress directly 10 the contamination the legitimate
contamination ! mean, OF lis ultimate design? Is il
meant sir, to submit 10 The people the mere shadow
ola question, . mere nam; mas umbra, and to reserve TO
a sncceeding legislature tie power of deciding is real
form aud substance: Or. sir. is Il meant merely 10 o5
tain an entering wedge Whereby the guarded oak of the
( CONSTITUTION shall! be split isto faggo.s to kindle the fu.
neral pyre OF tie first, and | believe the best written
constitution, even the bhol and shrieks, like those of
I NIrgiPs illIated and maNyred Poly dorc, should issue
from every insure! ST., the elements, constitution
dHu ISs II u IL contention, are questions which
must be decided somewhere, somehow, or by somebo.
dy, bit tiun day that any legislature al this Common
wealth shall dare, without The express instruction OF
'heir Constituents 20 decide them, the day that they
shall Dare to 80 guilty of a0 usuTpati0n, as fragrant
and as groS7 as that Of the long Parliament of England.
trust in God, that the people will rise in the majesty
OF their strength, hnrl tfETn from these walls which
they would be unworthy to OCCUPY, and make room
for hoSestcr men. Sir, this bill may be perfect, but it
IS the perfection of monsters; it is tie perfection of Ca
iioap, or rather to Judge from the ardent zeal, not Of
IFS fierce, FIRE eyed dispntaats, but of its honorable and
CONSCIENTIOUS, though =! think dciudpd dev utees, il is
he perfection Of the vciIed prophet of K0rapan. Sir.
trust that the penetrating glance of the people viii
penetrate tins gIitieTiDg aud imposing veil, that 10
stead Of this boosted, divine perfection, it will discern
a deforrni'T which will alright not merely the gentle
man from kenayEIa's inmates OF the nursery, but those
least given TO horrors. Sir, / entreat gentlemen upor
whose cheek | already discern the flush OF assured vic
tory, TO reflect ti,at although Us glorious TO possess
giants strength, twcTe tyrannous TO use il like a gr
ant. l conjurc Them TO give to their darling, not il
words, hut in reality, that moral beauty and perfection
which VIII cpnCIiste the confidence, the good will, an
the support OF all conscientious and honorable men.
Mr.. CIorToN's amendment being rc;ected-Mr
BERNARD remarked, thai in redemption Of n pledge
given in an early stage of the debate, Of perfect goo
faith, and a sincere desire 10 render the bill as per:ec
as possible, he felt constrained by his duty, to offer III
following amendment. Strike out the caption and On
question as contained I'm he dill, and insert the follow
ing:-WiI you or will vcu not vote to instruct you
Representatives in The next General Assembly. To- pas
such laws as may be necessary to the calling of a Con
vcDtion 10 be composed Of delegates chosen by all ih
free white male ipbabillDts Of this Comnonw ealth
over Fl years Of age, and who shall be invested viii
full power 10 change alter or amend The constitution
as 10 them or their constituents FIsy seem fl? Yes
No. Mr.. y. said tiat he would not consume the tim,
Of tho House by cpteriug into any additional arru.
moDt in support of this at~senGment. lie would con
tent himself, with sinpy stating . fact which ha,
come under his personal observation. Sir, said he, il
a county as remarkable for IFS intelligence as anv IT
this Co~Thrnonw eakb. J lave seen The People apsesle,
TO on this abstract question; and l have seen men a
intelligent as any IN tbs body, come 10 the polls, an
vote with as many various, fantas'jC1l and contradict
~ qualifications as lho5e to which | alluded the offr
day. Sir, it is impossible otherwise TO obtain any thine
like that co0sentsDeoUs expression oE opinion, whicI
is or ought 10 be desired by all, or Which will reliey
US from that confusion and p%erplexity which will be in
cre3sed ten fold instead Of being diminished. Sir,
cdRIder that We at this moment stand ON the yer
brink Of usurpation, and That without such an amend
ment, it viii be impossible for the friends Of Conven
| fi0u a. r,D-a ~, - .-tthcvf p1ruoin~ s-s. -. IF