Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-11-07

have common feeling with those In IVES, virginia.
Sir whatever may DO the natural passions OF men.
thing is very certain, that there il very peculiar
sympathy between slave holders ani slaves. They
will utterly oppose principle which confers this
species OF property any political power in the practical
government OF Virginia.
Sir, my portion Of the country has a very dssp
interest in this matter; and an anxious. any one
can be to have their interest secured, and their app
tensions quieted, but would fleet hi. IN very dit
ercn mode from that .uSge.tej by some Of the very
able and honora BILE with whom, in time past il has
been my pride TO act SIR do You not perceive. that II
property be your basis, you cannot extend the gh OF
SntEage? DO not gentlemen see that cxte nded
Right of Suffrage is the circle which includes all these
powors' DO they not perceive, that in impu'ing power
to make laws and to for representatives, il they
extend power beyond the Freeholders, they inst
iy get up interest in the State which is hostile to the
very foundation of their scheme, and hos lie to any Go
vcrnnent that shall, be founded upon il Sir, this is
interest I've laughed at and despised. Shat we
not still be assailed year after year. with petitions from
the north, smelorste the condition OF the slave pop
uiaton? They holding out threats, which always
have anil always shall dcspise but il get up
,his spirit at home, among people, and your
State shalt he sundcred AMI severed in affection by
those mountains. what once looked To- to tha bar
rers oil her strength snd aiety,-S,r say il they get
this spirit the oher idle of those will
it ovsr!-Aye, anil spread too, among all that
portion of tho community who not slave -holdc rs!-
if you extend the Right of Suffrage, will persons
thus DISCONTINUED aud thus made innic ii to the slave
holding interest vote for tn. inan who will lay the
highes, tax upo, slaves? How do you retain that
desert piiun of property rect safety. answer by
|
lent but Tremendous power, which resides in the free
white population of the S,ae:-thL power which de-
fends all, and without noise, apparent effort, Keeps
all things still in Virginia Aud If you adopt any other
foundation of power, then thu white peoplc OF the
State will not jeaou'ies AMI excitement exists to-
wards that species OF property which you thus
desvour project in all those who owncrs
Ii you do not extend the right of suffrage most pain
full discomfort viii ensuc, and if you do extend il, you
put into the power OF those who exercise suffrage,
AMI who not slave-owncrs. Should they ever be a
majority TO Cypress that property the relcn,lessly
because peculiar claimed for it in the govern
ment, and when in TRUTH its guardianship springs
degree from the numbers whose political power is
diminished, by making that property taxes from it,
ingredient in the representative power of the state One
would think that in free state, each would be sup
posed carry along with his person. such property his
genius, talents, industry might have obtained for him:
but this slave property is ike having the wolf by the
you do not know whether 10 hold him fast let him
CO. 1t stumbling block in way balks in all
deliberations AMI almost at stand to know
whether we shall adhere or not TO the principles vi free
dom and equal rights for which our fathers blcd.
ask whether there is any thing in this doctrine of
compound basis of representation ike those doctrines
freedom for which Virginia has always contcniedI will
not go for examples to English history: my recollection
Of it, is general and inhis,inct enable me go into
tons ofour happy country, and ask whether Their
is any thing in this principle calculated aid the repu-
aton enjoyed by this ancient Commonwealth for her
Jealous attachment TO the true principles Of Cons,i-
| tonal liberty,
| Gentlemen have perplcxcd themselves with abstract
disquisitions the rights of maorites and they point
utions, the majority is excluded from controlling pow
or: these instances we'll knew and remembered
but they are only exceptions and exceptions do but
confirm the general rule 10 which they appy-yct gem
tlemcn would make these OF particular exception,
to give the principle which TO lay the foundations of
Constitution: SIS. what would , be but in the Ian.
suagc oil an eloquent man, ito make the medicine of the
| State, itt' daily foodn
The veto of the presidcnt--thc provision requiring
naorities of two-hirls of the Legislature others
of the like kind relied on, proof we are not
TO look to majority of the people for expression OF
the public will, but must get will made up of slavery
and freedom, Of money and free wil and this is to be
protection.
had hoped gentlemen would have reserved this pro.
position for mixed basis till we came in re guar course
to consider the subject of representation in the Senate.
The Senate, it seems must be held as check the
lower iIouso ii is not to be itsefa moving active BODY
but Is TO serve curb upon the enthusiasm of the
other branch of the Legislature. But little did expect
hat was to be proposed TO TO make the first branch
oil our Legislature, unlike any other in the Union, I'M
less it be where OF the slave holding States have
copied the Federal ratio Of hroefhs of the black pop
uiation. But there is analogy between the case
which gave birth TO that ratio and the now before u.s.
lhat was treaty of one sovereignty with another-a
Constitution was then being constructed which was TO
combine different and totally distinct societies under one
general government, for their common benefit II was
government OF limited powershe residue ofpower being
retained by those sovercgntics SUCH The structure
OF the Senate OF the u S., where states large small
nave equal representation, is brought forward fur
nishing proof that majority of numbers not in
TACT rule in this Republic But the of the equali-
y of representation while numbers were so uncoual i,
nanicst--he delegates that floor do represent
numbers at all--they have nothing do with numbers
they represent sovcregntics and the sovereignty of
state, does not depend ON its Dimensions.
Gentlemen have denied the right of the majority 10
rule in part from the practical lilies i'm applying the
rueand they have pointed to the minorities in the
Districts, as often being il united sufficient contradict
me vote obtained, by admitting plurality TO de-
cldc an election. Admitting this TO be so, it does not
reach the poin FOR have not said either that the voice
OF the majority does always in practice prevail that
the majority always does what il right; but ask gentle
Sien to point ont safer depository for the ruling power
Allusions have been made 10 of the Govern
nents oil antiquity, and TO that of England, support
ing the opposite visw. But sir, what is this govern
mcnt OF England 20 which gentlemen confidently an.
peal? has il not at lcagh become Notwithstanding the
original freedom of its constitution little else than mi
aary dcsposm! the people, it is true submit but take
inc arms out OF the hands of the solery and how long
would that submission last! suspect they would soon
hnd out avery summary mode OF paying their national
debt But the raw head and bloody bones ofthe French
Revolution is and made to pass before u.s. and
proach toward greater equalization of rights, of the
political and moral earthquake that shook that ancient
empire to ts foundations Sir, I think there NAV be
drawn IRON that very Revolution salut ry lesson on our
side oil the question. The evils Of that great conyuson
dd not grow out OF the misruc of the Iajoriy alone
0't ont oil tho resistance Of minority. they refused
10 submit 10 The principle for which contend and
| rejected tho connections Offered them bv the
mid spirit OF their Kins-and il is not 10 he won.
dersd at that, in the issue the VIII Of the ma.
io'ty should prevail II il very true that there sue
bu mo the country 10 appearance dpst it wa.
not the calm OF coniehnen but OF c)erccd snbnis-
SOM the spirit OF liberty sill hrob'ng i'm Frencl,
VEINS and ihe issue has bsen tat alter c.ol itng Al,