Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-11-02

ERrpAY, OcToBER 80.

The question being on Mr.. GRZxs's motion TO a.
mend the first resolution OF the Report of the Lers-
iat,c COMMITTEE, by striking out the word ''excl-
sively, and inserting the words land taxation combi
ned"
Mr.. POWELL addressed the Chair. He said thu, n,
no pcriod OF his life, occasion, had he ever ri.
sen with such burden on his feelings az al this mo-
ment. He feared that neither his physical nor his
moral strength would be- sufficient TO bear him through
the effort he felt himself called on to make. When
ne cast his eyes around this assembly, and saw the
congregated wisdom OF the State to which he VA,
about TO address hiu,sef-wben he saw. amonp the
members those who had grown grey i'm potca
SCIENCE and had SO successfully dispensed the know
ledge they had obtained for the benefit of mankind
and devoted their lives to the good of their fellow
Creatures, 1t could scarcely wonder that he
should bs worn down by embarrassment.
he asked Indulgence for the imperfect and unero.
beiilshed style IN which he about address the
committee lie could not invoke the rich fountains
OF nncy nor draw upon the exhsustless treasury OF
science, To adorn his remarks. To plain views and
simple facts he must confine himself
we are lsaid Mr.. PowELL) delegated here by the
people of Virginia We are clothed with powers TO
enter INTO compact tor the protection of their lives
and liberties He said, to enter a compact; and
he said so, IN order to exclude the idea that i'm the
discharge of their duty, he was bound by anv Il;
vine or natural law to agree thing which his
Judgment and his conscience did give their assent
he begged to correct one mistake. There vas
great law OF nature, emanating from God which de-
VOWED upon every man to do Justice, and the PROV
sions OF that law would be obioa,orv unon h,,
There were maxims of wisdom sanctiiied nv ti,e
and consecrated by the from which thew spranc
for which he should feel the greatest respect bTt
tney would not be obligatory in their operation upon
MS course. except far those great rnaxims of
wisdom, could IN his judgment, have q practical
spPncauon' these maxms, however samctiied
oy time and approved by wisdom, not being divine
IL would be within the competency of every iudv;
dual to propose the insertion the constitution of on
principle, which he might consider as havnp tho sane
ION OF wisdom and justice and for others either 10
receive or reject that principle. lie would say that
he rda
tory, which have those sanctions, and which are also
applicable to the present character and cf,cun,st,n
ces OF the people OF Virgsia He should have &C.
caslon tn refer to the those maximS, hnvin1 con-
trolling influence, In reference to other Mates Rut
he would disclaim any further Obligations to those
maxlms except as far as they are applicable to tho
but one binding obligation, and that was TO Justice
lie would not impute any improper motive TO the
gentleman from Cupcper, who moved the amendment
winch IS now the subject of discussion. He was
satisfed that that gentleman had believed il lust
that ne should move thls amendment, ulthouDh no
himself would have been raned from Offering II
by aconvlctonthdt If 1T was founded in maxim ofpo-
htical wisdom was of those maxims which w.re
not applicable to the present character and circnr
Geo of the people of this State.
Although he had this vanity, he vet believed Tint
the gentleman from Culpcper thought that his pro
position was just and eXpedient. For himself in
the performance of his duty, he should be 1overned
by this rule OF actIon-hat he not sent hith,r 10
mgge about a principle which was applcnbo Ia anu
particular section, or to obtain any advantage for one
section over another Was that the object for which
gentlemen were sent TO this Convention He an
swered in the negative There not member on
this lsor, who VI such objects had been con,nt,oI
TO him, and his aid demanded obtaining them ,vbo
would mol have thrown back the he had received
TO the soruce whence it had been obtained and have
1ch the indispensable insult which would have hoen
conveyed IN the demand. We came hther 10 e.. -
compact for the protection of the lives and liberties
OF the community; and it becomes rs To keen onr 90.
on tha cardinal object and not to direct our attention
uf0 II.
TO regard this whole commuDifv
What ~ the object which ought first to occupv IN
IN the discharge Of this duy' 1t is proposition nm
dcnabe, sanctioned by history proved bv exncrionco
that in the formation or government v,;e - iL
To the character and condition of the peonle unon
whom IL 10 TO operate IL would not be denied on this
so1', that OF All governments which the art Of man
mad devised pure Representative Republic is boa,
calculated to promote those great ends the secrtu
of human life and human happiness and for the sa
rity OF property whore that great essential exists
Ana VIII II be- DENIED IN this day of increased intel
gence that the people of this State have not a.
power to- demand the best Of all governments founded
on the elements which Inscpnrable from tho Ii
cs' oroeI OF governments On the other hand no
wise man would THINK OF giving representative 90.
verument TO Turkey; no man would thnk oe oySs
slch government to Russia. Instead of being
gIessing to those Countries it would prove cufss
No TehectIDg aud observing man ever tbou,,L, a..
government Of republican cha racter was co.
n FRIDGE Inc experiments which were ,nsde a.
that country 10 establish republcanison under ali 80
n n was INC offspring Of enthusiasm and foy.
De result hod shewn the impotence of that atteIont
France wanted the true basis the only piJ,rs unnn
which republican governments rest oP'"
These principles he was sure mnst yeco;-o H.
sanction Of every honorable member If the pconIe
were now about 70 form government for thornseyc.
what would be the first question: Do we want n
republican government? hive we tho q
which We can be trusted with seE-governmsnt. and
wnh which the esta bisIineDt Of such a government,
VII result in our benefit II we have not those es
s ntia's let US look 10 some other form of goyetn-
Inehti io' ePlblic would be instead of a blessing
u curse 10 US lie was prepared 20 deny a ropubjI
Can system TO the people Of this commonwealth nj
ney were not possessed Of these Essentials Of those
aud intelligent, 1t wonld be- an ACT of crr ;,rs,i
% refuse them that boon. While, n thew we,s
without these clements, a modification IF am ILL.,
sys,e'u; monarchy even despotsm, might be better
INC hrSt enquiry then to be made is--whut Is the