Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-01-31

for which \ was intended, {" a majority Of tho
community hath indubiiable, inahenable and
indefeasible right to reform, alter abolish f. in
such manner, as shall be judged most CONDUCIVE
TO the public weal"-The friends of Convention
claim the exercise Of this right, not because thev
are majority, and have the " physical power Is
enforce obedience; but because, in the compact
6y which we are held together, Of wolchthe
b'ii oil Nights Is part, and to which ALI arc
presumed 10 have assented, this privilege is az
pressly given to them. They demand Of YOU. The
1ulhlment Of contract not blind submission to
the dictate OF superior power. Would the. an.
thenhci,y Of the Bill Of Rights be denied! Vas
there Virgnian prepared 10 abjure the ptiNci.
pies contained in il, TO refuse practical obedi-
ence to them? That instrument, he said, disclo-
ses the true theory Of republican government
n embodies the cardinal principles of natural and
political Justice, and il we-if the human family
will be under the auspices of those doctrines.-
| iAey have been transferred TO the codes Of our
SISTER states, and not Constitution has been form
ed IN tins Union, since 1892, which is not sub
s'antially founded on them. Virginia was tho
irst to adopt them-he had hoped she would be
The last to abandon them. II was owing to the
incongruity between this declaration Of rights.
and The present Constitution, that change has
oeen sought But, five are to yield at the thrssh-
mold the very principles for the ultimate estas-
hshment OF which we are contending, let us de-
sist at once. II, in the FIRST effort to make full
and practical application of those principles which
nave been hitherto held sacred, we are to witness
their violation, better the ate unit hadrpna
oeen made. 1t will have destroyed forever, thu 4.
brightest illusion that ever beguiied the fapcy or
cheered the heart of the phlanthropist.
ihose, he said, who nave grown wealthy .and
powerful under the present compact NAV well he
contented. 1t is natural enough that they shouN
aesire no change. But let them remember fhas
there are others to whom il has not been EQUALLY
beneficial. In the hour of their dominion, lee
mem not forget that it is part of this very com
0yvo toir Al.
should be altered under certain circumstances:
and, now, when they have reaped the fruits, let
them not refuse to comply with the conditions--
MS Is naked question Of right, and yet gentle
men reason about the expediency Of submitting 70
Convention. Power, il is said, is always stsa,-
ing from the many TO the few, and the freouene
resumption oft, by the owners is essential to lie
preservation. The reluctance with which it is
yiehied up, even at this early age of the republic
proves the far-sighted sagacity Of the maxim .
Ihat no Tree government,or the blessings of lihep-
V' can be preserved TO any people, but by FIRE
quent recurrence 10 fundamental principles"
Let rs proceed, said Mr.. b., to examine how
lar the bill in your hand, accords with these ~un-
damentai principles" 1t provides for a represen-
ta'ion In the Convention by Congressional Dis
trlcts-an equal number from each. Ii has heen
said In shis debate, that these districts not ar
ranged IN reference TO what is called the Federal
OASIS, but that they are more properly founded on
the compound basis of population and revenue.
Tie sad, he must be excused for controverlng his
poSiuon. whatever might be the declarations OF
individuals On that floor, he was satisfactorily as
sured that was the prevalent opinion there ,and
elsewhere, that they founded ON the Federal
OASIS. The scheme was introduced with an a.
VoWai 10 That effect, and although now defend
ed on a different ground, the same was insisied
upon, and if adopted, it would be recarieT
throughout the commonwealth, as a recognition
Oh The principles oil slave representation. IL
had been said that this district system suits The
compound basis Of population and revenue as rear-
hasis hio
10 assure himself of the fact, he had made smno
calculations which exhibited the following results
10 the whole number Of free persons, white AMI
co'oured, add three -fiihs OF the slaves. Divide
Inc amount into 20 equal parts and il would be
lound that 1872 districts, should be East of -fhe
Blue Ridge, IN the slave holding section and q g
districts West Of OF the districts as thew now
stand, Is are East Of this line and7 West Of it
Un tne olher hand, TO the white population, adj
the " revenue proper"-treating every dollar as =
aah'nfde the aggregate into AZ parts by the same
process 1t is ascertaine that II of these disfrcrs
should be East Of the Blue Ridge and Z s districts
mest oil IL. vi HE districts, as they are. there Is
diherence IN favour Of the East Of districts By
| an exact apporiionment on the Federal basis tha
difference would be 81 districts-a coincidence
| too accurate 10 have happened accidentally. On
! The basis OF population and revenue, the diHer.
ence In favour Of the East would be only y Sir
trcts. Now, said he, il is fair to insist that the,
superstructure rests on that basis which exactly
MS u, and moi on any basis, which may be arbIss
parily assumed as furnishing q stronger argu-
| ment Misrepresentation is 10 be fixed on the ha.
SIS oil population and revenue, new apporttor-
ment must be made and additional district civ
\ Ell to The non slayeholdng section If Congress,
sonai Districts as they stand, were to be adhered
to. he required vindeatioD Of the principle ON
which they really rest.
! MIR. Is. said he had never beard any other arg1
Inent IN favor OF slave representation, than tffSt
II is admitted and acted upon, under the Federal
constitution. And are we then, said he 10 assens
The principle merely because Ii has 5eep so admit
tel! ny parity ofreasoning, we might he reauir-,
Ell to adopt every analogous feature of that Can
stitution. In the Senate Of the u States fhe,
smallest State in the Union, has Representative,
equal TO that OF the largest but win il be SAID thar
Tor the came reasons, the smallest and Isrrass
counties Oh this Common ealtb, should have e9tta,
weight, IN the Senate Of tbs State. This NAV
serve to show that the cases are dissimilar. tba
Parties 10 the feoeraI Compact totally dife CENT
from the parties 10 the State Con,pact The for
mer were independent sovereiguties clothed ysiif,
poiilcal nights, and negotiated under the law or
nanons Tor The best terms that could be had The
'auer are individuals, IN a state Of perfect equality:
reposiDg their claims the basis of natural raj,s
ana uemanding no more than that code will give,
mem when Virginia eDsctsh.the privilege Of .,
sidVe-Tepfe sent.tOD, II was on The same ground
tna one nation spuls;ss with another for a from
,ier barrier which may secure IFS territories ior,
invasion. In return, she allowed 10 her weaker
neighbours certain political immunities whfcr,
were due 10 them only on tue score Of reciproci,v
and pledged 10 them, IN perpetual of'iance he,
powerful support. She did more. She gave :,
pecuniary equivalent by agreeing that direct lake,
shouia be appotione among the States accofdip,.
10 their representation, and thus making herselfrs
sponsibIe for larger share then wouu have a.
len upon her, had slaves been kept on, of view