Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-01-27
SATURDAY. JAN. "a.

lSM.u' OF Gectbrcr was laid on the table
reports were made from stlriinr committees nv
! l;ices of Campbell. "'''
On MOTION OF Ear. .Voy the committee Of Roads &c.
were instructed TO enquire into the cxpcdiancy O..
amending the law in relation To thu. p,,trrshurn oni
Roanokc turnpike Company.
fnsg'ossed bills; /, establishing Il town at the Great
brihge IN tie county o. Norfolk; > concerning the.
powers Oh the trustees ofte town of Port Royal in
caroline, were passed.
/ CONVENTIONS.
YIN motion OF mr. Dodthdfge, the bill sSto crranize
a convention was again taken up
Mr. Do0.lsfd;e then moved to strik, out the 10 n
ana i1th sections of the bill declaring the time and
iorin In winch the new constitution should be submit
Tea 70 the appreciation rejection OF the people,
~htcit re Hooyht uHneccssgry and that II un,,d he
most proper for the convention TO leave it to whom
they thought proper to or reject the result of
ther iabors 1.-THE convention should be held at any
.e eaily III the summer or even III autumn, under
e provisions OF that section Of the bill 1.-THE I2thla as
It now stands, might become necessary for the Go
vernon 10 convene an extra session ofc LEG stature
Il measure Which would be productive of a considera-
aoe ana an unnecessary drain upon thetreasury and
especially improper after the heavy disbursements
vcnton. 49, w.
Mr.. FU-hm:h of Fairfax, ennuircd lift vas TN, oh
Ject ot the gentlcrnans motion To prevent the new
constitution from being submitted 10 the people for
their appreciation or reiectono
r. Uoad'7GSe explained, that by the first sections
OF the bli was required e submitted to the peo-
PEE Tut rs 10 the time when this should be done and
IL wat manner, lie would leave to The convention 10
say.
M Gorcioa begged the gentleman frc1n Brooke 10
Withdraw lis motion until he could offer an amend
tucnt 20 the frs: section, which Glossary TO make
1t connected and consist ,nt with the amendment
Which had been adopted yesterday This bcipr urreca
to, mr. o. moved TO uInnnd the first section Of the
Ri SO rs 10 declare 'tpat the several counties cities
and borougs of this commonwealth, entitled Il, re-
presentations the General ASSEMBLY are each efti
Ted to one representative iu the convention sc. &c
Tins beng agreed to by the House, mr.. Do1Rs.d.-e
renewed his motion TO strike tis l2th, 18th and
l4th sections OF the bill.
Mr. iasaa OF Frederick, concurret viii, the gentle
man from Brooke In thinking that some inconvenieu-
ccS might grow ont OF the arrangement provided I,v
the section OF tic bill which he wished to amend to
opvate "hGh as we'll Us to secure to the people the
submission OF the new constitution to them for their
TatifIcaon or rejection, he proposed to amend that
soctlo by inserting 'that should no provision be made
by said convention for the submission Of such consti-
tuition TO the people for ratification or rejection that
then the provisions OF the present bill shnl! continue
lnatorce. mir. .Aiasons alnenjment was agreed to-
! .ir Baytey OF Accomac, then addressed the HOUSE,
at length Oil the merits of the bill generally and in ia
vor OF county representation according to white popu
latior y sketch of which sl.all hereafter be Given
Mr.. .iIay followed:
lie said that, might have been perceived
from his votes the plan of equal county
was to hiiA the most Objectionable OF ali the modes
Wilch mad been proposed for the organization of the
Convention But he utterly dsclaiued ell intention.
tnei' or at any time, of ascrihing impure otiycs to
-. ",
of them were his personal friends; and l.; ;trio,is
and integrity Of purpose, they did not, IL ; estiIn
ton, yield TO any other portion o. the Hors.,.
Ii he could have obtained The floor at an earlier
period, he would have stated lis objections to this
plan and the reasons of his preference for Cour.;
slonal Districts 1t had been his wish 10 ATTEMPT to
sheW, that no people, III any part period # the
world, had ever formed themselves mo sacety and
formed government, upon the theoretical PRINCIPLES
which had been ably advocated by gentlemen from
the vest that such aplan OF society and government
had existed only IN the mag atIons OF theorists and
never had been, and never would be- adopted by prac
tlca politicians. He had wished to Inajutajn that
even Ii such principles proper III relation TO peo
pie IN asle OF nature about to form their first roy
ernmeit, they had no proper application to people
long formed into civil !ociety, and vi.r UNDER GOV
eminent differently organized, and under which, so
many various nights civil and POLITICAL were recogni-
Zed and exercised; Especially, that these PRINCIPLES
ought never to be applied to community like oirre
lii which number of persons who contributed &,
much to the wealth, strength, and revenue of tie
state, were held in slavery: That these persons ought
not 10 pc, and were not In fact regarded in our laws
as mere property only; but were protected by tos,
laws from certain injuries; and were subjected To
punishment for their violation: And therefore that
statesmen, who i'll the formation ola new government
should have regard to the actual condition of the peo-
ple and not to that III which theorists would u,arn,
'hel' uShnever TO 60 INTO convention, without ref
erencc to this state OF things. He would have been
disposed to exhibit more at large these views; but
II was his lot often to trouble the House about its
ordinary business! that lie had felt that on question,
! so interesting, and which so many gentlemen, ADLER
than he, had wished to discuss, he ought to tres
pass OH the indulgence which 50 freruentIy cx-
| tended to him
1t was however proper that these general Jews Of
his course should be presented--He rad voted for
! the ainendmcnt which bad been adopted because he
preferred it TO The substitute Ut the member from Al
leghany, but he should now against the amend
ment Ill order to retain the original blk or some ote
district systematic earnestly to promote lar-
lnony and cancellations and in that spirit he promised
Ii the amendment were rejected, that ne would pro-
pose to amend the BILL so as to allow six members to
each Of the sven districts west of the mountain lcav
ing five only to the Is eastern disricts.-his would
give to the west ~, and to the east "a members in
convention; and it was within three Of the number
to which they would be entitled ifgenatoral districts
were adopted-By this plan the concession would DO
l Ii min IL. L..