Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-10-10

= to remodel it, and see, If pcrchancc, we can max.
il better?
1t was due to the feelings of large portion of,t
people--not indeed maority--who IRE attached =,
the whole government as it exists, that the Conycn
ton Should refer that whole to all the wisdom ofthe
state. Adopt the other course and what must b.,
the consequence? A Committee ofthirteen men ex-
anime and change the Legislative Department.
V'ii the other States have entire confidence in the
wisdom of that changer Committee of thirteen
examine the executive department. Will the result
OF their investigation inspire the nation with conf
dence? a Conrnittee of thirteen remodel the Judi
cinl department. W;ll sthcir reform command uni.
vcrsal appreciation?
1t was useless to say that these reports would
come before this body again. How will they Gomez
They will come aided by all the weigh, of a Com
mittee, and advocated by those who are pledged 10
carry the report through. But adopt his proposi
ton and the work viii 20 step by step, in the
Committee of the whole and cvery question will h.
determined as they proceed. But send the subject
10 select Committees, and the maiorties of those
Committees will be found pledged support their de-
cislons An organized phalanx will come into the
COMMITTEE OF the whole to sustain what those Com
f mittees will report.
lie considered the question under discussion
as one of mere form and order. He had cpnslercJ
1t Important perhaps in reference to future discus
sions to say something the subject. He had fell
TO DC his duty to give exposition of his motives but
as inc subject involved nothing beyond the form of
their proceedings, it would be treating the Convon
ton improperly, were he to consume more of thnir
1 time. - '
Mr. MERCER rose in reply, and stated that he was
aware When the gentleman from Norfolk rose
OF the ingenuity and ability with which he would
sustain MS substitute, and he also knew we'll
NOSE generous feelings Of that gentlemans breast
from which should he be found in error that error
had proceeded But, he thought he could shew nv n
reference 70 his own arguments that he had in the
course OF them departed from the ground where he
INST starte, although at the close he had returned 70
: IL again IN the commencement of his aruument Is,
mao stated That, there was no principle involved in
ths question But subsequently. the gentleman had
= traced the origin of the Constitution and had nroN
:, nonnccd an eulogy on the State, 30 which Mr. Mr.
GER SAID, his owu heart yielded. Was there M
II principle theree-Fhe gentlenan had said that if his
course was not pursued, the Committees would conp
II into the House organized into phalanxes IN CO.,
;, Through their reports. Was there no prncnlo j.,
could not but be involved where the,
: forms of proc eeding were touched Inv which ~
c Convention had been called together How tbns,.
VINO ttnk that there are defects in the Constitution
IN their attempts to reconcile them can he chnroed
with desiring to tear it pieces-be knew mol,
Inc gentleman treats the Constitution as scnsiv,,
u being but In doing he had treated the Cons,i,,
Al ton certainly with respect than thew Who
J. were disposed seriously TO set about tbe raf,rn.t
. OF lis errors The course OF those who preferred the
Report OF the Committee was first to ascertain tbo
: were tWenty-four members who of opinion tha,
II detects existed before they We're winp tn snhn;t I
queso 10 the crude notions ofarv, the purpose Of
suggesting amendments, however trivial Tbe nI,a.
'lon hao been put to twcnty-tour members embracug
/ al the senatorial Districts and thus in some degree
representing the whole State. After discover;n f+
this Committee of twenty four Members conc7,rad
s IN recommending Amendments, the Convention prn
" 10 uct w as this treating the Governments
r with eVlty! Was this tearing it asun3er and Govt
It tcring It's limbs abroad-ior the purpose ~. ev:
as this course disrespectfll to those qrcat
men VINO mad formed It?-CertFinly not. The Com
e ittee mad recommended course which in all ,o;n,
IS was respectful to the Constitution and was caIcn,
tee 10 produce an harmonious cooperation of pub,.
u opinion IA IFS result AS question of form he con-
II sidcrcd the present question II it was true that IT,
e proposition OF the gentleman from Norfolk would
save time. he argument of the gentleman woniJ
nave more weight But it be obvious that i.
n lra Tho
inltee OF twentyfour they would get tbromh th
business much sooner than ftheyplace ;henlseyesin
s!Guaoh' IN which they must take every proposi,ion
Wihch any member may offer i'll COMMITTEES of tI,
- WHole. flnln arithmetic will settle this ouos,;or
II was SAID thatthc whole ofthe Constitution csnT+
q WIN Proprety; be considered in this way He nd.
ittca that all governments were rcsolube into To
glslatNe, Executive and judicial But tho ,on.l,
Wne ne himself had said that these branches bv fbei
mlngnng together resembled the melting of the COL
. o:s OF the rainbow, ought not to have reHoc,o5 ~ d
committee appointed under the fifth rasolu,;o
: having nothing TO do The gentleman bimseIf nro %
that that Committee would have sometime ~ A.,
mere were subjects which not likely tn no ..toJ
on by either of the other Committee -
come under the cognizancc of this Comrnitten M
There are rights belonging individuals which boye
not Yet been surrendered, which NAV come 81 ~
co9iizance OF all the Committees in common for no
one mas any particular province as 10 resituarv riab
LOOK from the theoretical to the practical dia;
tLy ne impression OF the gentleman was this
that inc convention can not well frame n Co
VeFmhcnt, Legislative, Executive and Judicial H.,
th iS ION lees acting at once-because ON,
MI perform the duties which belong to another
The remedy would be this the Convention ' mus
take up the Report which was first made. Tats
= inc case put by the gentleman from Norfolk. The
Convention is called TO act the Report concernin
the veto The Report from the Legislative Comni,s
lee is made and decided upon. The Executive P',
port comes In but the question has been already do
Sloed. Does any member want a now doc;s;o,
None No loss ofmc has been sns aimed TSoro T.
no SECOND decision Why should line Convcntion t,s
called On to decide the question again2 The srrr.
t'eht then' Or the gentleman from NorGoiL no, go
I'm PoIo But he would suppose the IIo mos nor
cn"hgeo It's opinion Suppose decision had bnca
,,a uuG on nne Report and majority should aIer
, T""S oee'e mat decision 10 have been incorrec,
ne remedy was at hand, it vas only necesssrv -,