Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-12-17

tors being deceivsdn his calculations, had be en- indnc
"a to give vote, which secured the passage of the
ohI' Which he most desired to defest.]
This bill reforming the districts upon the b,.;. of
whe population as sscerained. ny the census Of 1870
gave TO- the country oeyomthe Blue Ridge nine Srns.
tors That country had then about its due share In the
repre- ientaton Of the House Of Delegates. upousbe
same basis and an adequate provision va, made ior
lust spportionment Of the taxes.
Believing that the Legislature would follow this rrc
leedent-woOId preserve something ike practical
Equality Of Representation In both Houses. bv occssiop
reforms Of the Dstriets and by the division Of conlIe
waseontent to submit to the remaining con.
10 the Constitution rather than put hazard sverv thing
valuable that contained. did think there WAS much In
worth preserving thought II suited to our genins g.
character calculated TO pr rights promote our
i call 10 ALL comp,ring h with
~ constitution Of which had any knowledge, and
especially with those which extensive confsderacy
affords, preferred IL to any Of heinsnd yenersted
oeeAuse " was the work Of our wise and vruons an
ees.ors-a ehhd OF the Revolution, born with the Stac
and eonsecrated by all the associations which make M
proud oil our couutry.-l have, therefore, ever since
ne session Of 1915, opposed the call ofs Convention,
whether limited or general and have lahored much 10
prevent H. Step by step have followed the march of
my noble friend from Chesterfeld in the campsgns he
mas made in defence OF the Constitution. and though
nave not emuated the galiantry proves Of nv lea
ger, ne will bear me witness that have been faith.
'u' soldier, aud that laid down nv arms nm IN,
victory was iariy won from u.s. IL not tilI ma
Jory oil the reehoiders had desired the call of
venton that my opposition 10 Il ceased From liza,
time, my friend from Chesterfield and all our o,hs,
WISE men, believe. united in opinion. that the will Of
ne people should be obeyed that the Convention should
De Organized without delay, and that all the ,ubects
adjusted. ~ " r'
| have detained you, Mr. Chairman, with these ox.
plantations, because thought them due to myself IL
they were not strictly due TO the Committee. / mel
hsr expect nor desires that they should TO
s,Saole attention. the poor remarks have to Of
Ier on the great question in debate These remarks
SUBMIT with onsciousness that they are but lit
ewor'h'-though with humble trust, that If thew
Intelligence Of the Committee.
me hrst duty, perhaps. which owe TO the Commit
% ,o acknowledge an error, into which il seems
an early stage OF your proceedings in
approving the order of debate, which was bv
,ne gentleman from Norfolk, (Mr. TAYLOR, who no
onger noids a seat among had been weak enough
20 suppose, that we had siresdy learned the rndimen,s
oil poliica science,-tha had not come here TO be
,aug nj the horn.book Of politics. be schosed and lee
.ured on The elements Of government--hat great
proportion oil this Convention, at least, had been select.
ca lot their presumed knowledge Of its doctrines and
.he'r long experience in public affairs But nv friends
,eu me was wrong, and l compelled to acknow-
leuge H. by the course Of argument, which some of
of mv 'ams have pursued Il was The misfortune
clearly and fully c%Gnctsd in our isesr zion Of
rights, and that he had succeeded in proving all that
was necessary, when he bal hewn, that the PROPOSE
ton which he advocated sustained by their prin>
ciPles and that they condemned that which he oppos
ed. This opiaon and the argument founded upon It,.
had furnished the apology for di.cusive enquiry into
the natural rights Of man. Tho very eloquent gentle
man irsm Northampton, (Mr. UPsRuR,) condo mning
abstract doctrines and metaphysical reasoning mis-
applied here, has INDUCED HIMSELF in very elaborate
course OF metaphysical reasoning, and refined absrac
ton has cast his eye through all time; all
history; vainly endssvored 10 imagine unimagnable
thing; conjectured state OF nature, which he suppo-
ses never to have existed; endeavored to ascertain its
iaw'' and Ending not even light enough respecting
'hem 10 guide him in simple enumeration Of whole
numbers, or in counting majority has at last arrived
at the bold conclusion.-bold, he himself seemed to
consider h,tbat there no principles in govern
msnt We cannot, Mr.. Chairman, understand the gen.
ueman from Northampton, according 10 the literal i'm
port oil his phrase. Hi, principles are too we'll
seited-his character and talents arc too well known,
and too highly esteemed, to allow for moment to
believe that he would deny to the science Of govern
ment, those eleme ntary truths which constitute its
prnciplss,-whou which, all reasoning conc erning it,
Is destitute OF foundation, and incapable of conducting
US 10 any conclusions lie betrayed into the Ian
guage he has used, by an over-anxiety to Withdraw
from his adversaries the aid Of those settled doctrines
on which they have rested their argument persuade
us, that doctrines mere distractions; and 10 bring
the question in discussion to the Of expediency
Indeed, he has told us, that every question of gov
ment, is question OF expediency-and that every
government should be constructed. not with reference
10 original principles, but with sole view the char
acter and circumstances Of the people, for whom IL is
ordained Admit th, doctrine Of expedency-admit
the propriey OF conforming the gOyernmcn. to the
character and circumstances Of the people and no
one admits II more readily than do,yet does not
follow, that there are no principles, by which to decide
the question OF sxPedeDcy. to aid in constructing
the government, 20 as to make II suitable to the
pc opls-The plan Of every building, for the use Of
man, presents question Of expedeDcy, on which the
purposes for which is desiiped, and the circunstan-
ees Of the tenant are TO he duly consdered; no
wise man would disregard in its structure, those prn-
c'pes oil architecture, which belong to the bumblest
cottage, as well as 10 the lof,sst temple Iti.mote
"se' oy representing the principles Of our government
a. metaphysical distractions, furnishing no aid to the
deliberations OF the statesman, safe guide 10 his con-
duet, TO dsparags those principles in our estimation
endanger dsloyay 10 the government which rests up.
on them, and sonfound all political reasoning,
MS has not been the wisdom Of ancient or of odsr
times From the days Of Plato, down the period nj
the last Southern Review, wise men have labored 10
esnosb the principles Of government inculcate no.
cai truths, to recommend them TO the respect Of man
KIND and to place them 10 the hands OF statesmen az
guides to direct their measures and weapons TO de-
lend them. The author OF Pubus, who had pro-
'undly studied these principles. and understood these
truths, commences his 3ld number with the postu--
late, that " la disqusons Of every kind, there are
certain primary truths, first PRINCIPLES, which all
'unseqnent reasonings must depend"
For The primary truths, which belong 10 this Discus
son we can look no where, with much propriey az
10 that solemn act, which announces the Doctrines Of
our revolution-thM declaration OF rights" which
procloms the principles pertaining 10 the government
OF iree people, and made the basis and founda-
ton OF our own-This declaration, Mr.. Chairman
faithfully embodes the doctrines, which gave 10 AOer
non sydney his oil martfydom, aud TO John Locke
imPsrishable fame. These distinguished men insnrsd
by the spirit OF freedom, which the history of he p
glish Government had infused into the peone ana On,
bodened by the aecessions which the rivb,s n ,5e
people had gradually gained from the mower of ibs
crown openly a'silsd the slavish doctrines bv which
ihe parasites OF power had endeavotsed N defend The
yfany o the Stusrs denounced and eoplned the dog