Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-12-22


emsn suppose. that he sank the controversy in ques-
ton by that provision, Could be expect that those
who were 50 extremely anxious for the establishme
Of what they considered the only true republican bz
sis Of government. would make effort TO get
convention Tor the purpose Of establishing such basis. f
the gentleman hoped this he be far more sauvuine
than he was. Or did he hope, that any constitution,
IN any conceivable shape. would not, in w sctsal opera
ton, epgender disconten's, which those gentlemen
could use as an instrument TO effect convention
Could he Imagine. that any constitution could be devils
ell oy THIS convention or by the wit OF man, that would
exempt this community from evils. and evils too!
IL the gentleman knew az he must know that every
work oil man was necessarily imperfect, he could not
but own that many and great evils must exist under
any possible form oil government and that the question
concerning the merit OF every government under the
SUM- was only this,-whether the sum Of good il pro-
duced was the greatest abe instead of the great
est desireable! Any cons ution that could be devised
would cause some dsccnrnts reasonable or unreason-
BILE dscontent', which might be inl imed any time
when any great question Of geographical and po,ica
interests was to be decided.
Mr.. l.. said he would be content to take the appor-
onment OF the gentleman from Athens f that ge n
eman could shew him that il could he xed az a per.
manent rule of superintendent His great objection to
il was that II could not be made All that IL did or
could 10, was to settle II for the present-for the pre-
sent IN that sense oil the word, in which, while are
yet speaking present has parsed away The rule would
he overturned, the very moment the question could be
submitted to the people, whether Il should continue;-
instantly. Both sides would unite against it, 1t set.
tied nothng:-t left Us just where we were Ii left
the great basis question to agate the community till
all the community shall be dissolrei between the dis
putants.
Mr.. L. said he now prophecied that that struggle If
persisted in, would end in the dissolution of the COM
monwealth. He went on this principle, established by
long experience, that whenever men have controver.
sy on matters OF interest, that continues for long
time il |. sure to end in separation He wa. for a
vong this, ii 1t were possible avoid 1t by fair and
il It means.
The gentleman from Frederick (Mr cooke) had pre-.
a Hpren
port) He was for taking the proportions of represen-
taton, assigned by the plan Of the gentleman from Al
bemarie as present arrangement, and providing for
appor,ionment after the wear 1910 to he enrust
ell entirely Legislative discretion. He Mr. L. had given
this plan as full consideration the time would ena-
BILE him. AT the first view Of it, he had been strongly
disposed to give It his assent. As the proposition OF
the gentleman from A!bemarle gave to IN" cis-mon.
tame country majority Of 81 in the lower House. and
in the Senate he had supposed that the future appor
tionmcnt might be left with safety TO a Legislature thus
constituted But, farther reflection, he found that
there was one reason operating strongly against its
adoption that he was compelled to that reason
was, that it defeated the great end he had in vie w.
which was to sink the controversy between East and
West For, supposing representation in both Houses
to he distributed according the proposition of the gen.
ileman from Abemarle, and the prospect to be held
out OF new apportionment in 1S40 and no principle
settled as rule for that appor,ionment It was only
making provision Tor party To last long the
seigc OF Troy 10 be prosecuted for long years with
the utmost zeal and ability that could he furnished by
both sides He asked gentlemen If they did not feel
and see this coDse qucnce The moment such A plan
should be submitted to the West they would be told eyes
accept thi. for the presenor in years the Legi,-
iature VIII have come to sense of justice''-snd
we shall then have representation based upon the white
population exclusively" The leaders Of that party
would keep that idea constantly before the minds of the
People And did they suppose, that the other party
would remain perfectly .sn,' Dill any one persuade
him'eh that il pamphlets and spapsr ESSAYS were
resored TO and multiplied in the West that essays and
pamphlets would not be written in the Ea.twh at least
as much fipency and zeal, il not the ability p
Hooking toward Mr. Cook.l For cne he promised
gentlemen, that il God should spare his life the quas
ton should be met with much earnestness and dill
gence, on this side the mountains, thu o'her-
and II success depended ZEAL earnetness and sin
ceri'y, he thought he should stand good a chance
Tor success as any they hal more Jealous adj
vocste for their princires than he was for his AMI
should be (he beeve to the day of hi. death Though
ts'd he) have changed many Of my opinions
you, Sir and were together at College, do not ex-
pct alter arriving at my time Of lie, TO change them
again.
Mr.. l.. again insisted, that the proposition Of Mr.
Cooke, was the proclamation Of Troiar betwe en-
the two great parties of the State This was his obiec
ton to it, Tha, he wished to end now and aver,
hereafter. But the proposition Of the gentleman from
hlnemaIie' renewed il at once-immediately; while
that OF the gentleman from Frederick, would keep IL
up, without decision, till 1910 What new fruds or
ames might arise in that period of time IL not for
the wisdom oil man 10 oreknow. The had endured
now since 1924 and who could be ignorant, that in
the of its prosecution many who had once been
bound by the strongest attachment had become entire
~ aienated! Some. who reposed unbou0dei po-
hca confidence in each other, had found all bonds dis
solved, and hostility planted, where nothing but peace
and harmony once reigned. He knew this 10 be the
TACT; and was impossible that Others could he blind TO
TO ~ His own temper 10 FIGHT az hard as he could
while the battle ragged and TO forget all as soon as IL
was over-Give him short war, hard they pleas.
ed Only, in the name OF Heaven let IL be short and
uen, when peace comes, let II be sincere and hearty
peace. He was for no ten years war. He preferred
mat The controversy should be decided once al the
point OF the bayone,, he bayone he referred TO- was
the vote OF the people votes the only bayone,s
he hoped ever TO see employed in this contes let i,
rther be decided at once the question Of accent
ing or rejecting the proposition Of the gentleman from
AIbemarIe He had rather have that than he pan Of
the gentleman from Frederick, with that ten wears war
10 follow 1t. That OF the gentleman from Albemarle
brought them hrst to the charge: and IL they must
come to il, the sooner the better, aIways
As to the plan he had submitted he said he did not
address himself to any who thought that the best way
TO reform was to begin by demolition; nor to any who
thought there was BEST in Government which an.
pied 10 all mankind in all times, places, and circum
Stances nor to any who thought that they bound
to any certain set Of abstract principles. az being the on.
~ Republican principles which dt could exist or
who were OF opinion that the particular Of
virginia ought not TO he regarded He spoke to those
only who thought that they ought to suit insiitu-
lions IN our condition. All those who thought that ooe
who did not advocate The white bass could not be re-
publican, OF course, thought him an sristocrat, and
were ready 10 hx the name OF ndd-dOg upon him ac
cordingly; and TO keep clear OF all communication with
him, for fear of bite.
But, he asked the consideration of his nrono st;on nm,
on its own merits alone Let it be separated from il,
author, and judged by itself
IL was his opinion that in the Allegheny coun
try there ought, in short time, to be farther div
sion OF countess for the convenient ation
oil justice and for the purposes OF internal police He
n Rpnublican in