Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-11-13
VIRGINIA CONVENTION.
N IL p..L.aa.,d E,,nniLer Mnpeu2her lO

r,,h,l;c Chur, hand the standing order be-
IN, ,ead ON Mr. Summers's motion, the Con-
v.n,;on resolved itself into d COMMITTEE Of
the Whole. on the Constitution Mr.. Powell
in the Chair.
Mr.. Giles rose 10 address the COMMITTEE.
He b. gan by rrmarkiDg that alter the discus
sion which this SUBJECT had undergone IN the
Commi,tee, il might aeem presump'u"us IN
him 10 engage in the debate. But he was I'M
PEELED by a sense OF duty, 10 address the Com
mirtre. and not with view OF shedding aay
new or interesting light upon his subject
nor with view Of obtaining lean majority.
For, he should regret 10 see lean majority
deciding upon ibis subject; as II would look
like poor triumph Of friends over 'rienas.-
He was very anxious To procure some.h'"s
like unanimi;v. An unanimi'y on this occa,
sion would be worthy Of This House, ana OF
the imp, rtaree Of the great subject 'heV were
discussing. And why should we moi approach
,his unanimity! We are not without grea'
example on this occasion. 1hls very Cohsu-
tuition viii, h hey were attempting To Improve,
obtained finally anunanimous 'oe-why shouto
we not ,llow this example !-lt has oren sa'd'
indeed, ha, his unanimty was produced by
sense "f common danger and alarm ana 'ha'
the subjec, was disposed Of in great base
He was sorry to hear this sentiment thfo"h
out. Our forefa hers were sensible, il rs true,
If their dangers; We, i, did not produce pre-
cipitation or dis urb the equenimi'y OF their
minds He had been told that nothing was
more common, than for hem o jeer eaoh 9th
err; and TO saw "1ha, they must either hang all
together, OF b. hung one By one and this Con-
sti u,,on was the proof OF heir co"lness and e.
ouanimi'y Thy had given birth 20 the very
brs, government, that had ever been produced.
W. have me, here under very differen' circnm.
s,sncrs- we ST. ooolly and delioerae ely we
are sitting here under the aG, antag IT that
state OF mind produced by the wisdom of our
fore fathers. And il became Us 10 enJov this
tranquility and show ourselves worihy OF our
for-fathers
He said. that WE were stimulated, by as
strong considerations as ever 'etua'ed our tore
ia hers We should not satrhe the repnta>
ton thew had transmitted 10 us and which we
had enjoyed. And It therefore well became
US 10 Danish all those passions. which might
swerve the Judgment Of he House He stated,
that he nd bren delighted with the spirit
which had distinguished their proceedings-
wi n the ability aud he honorable frankness,
which had been display d. They had incrras-
d he hoped, ,l,- mor4l character oil tn" State.
Gen r.,en had met each o'hrr front 10 front (,
frankly S asing all their views; and all hat was
necess nv was 10 examine all these arguments
in the state of conformation
Mr. G stated, II w.s very unfortunate that
su, differences "f sec lional interests should
exi,, as they did in Virgin,a-'his arose from
peculiar sprries ofproper'y which was so
distinct, that a, leas' Que third oil the taxes
was paid by he slaves OF The STATE. Bot what
was our duty? 10 meet hese arguments fairly,
su ,due ,nr m thoroughly, and reconcile all these
d,ffe ence>.
h- '. nerablc gentleman from Loudon (Mr.
Mon r,)rad remarked that emancipation must
AXE pl.ce, and ,aar il could no. be effected
wi,hou, Calling in the aid of the General Gov
eminent. Mr. &. confessed mat hr had heard
him touch ,hi, deloa'e subject, with graf
pain II we were conscntly TO go to The Gen
eral Government for aid, (some for internal
Improv, mtn,, and he venerable gentleman. for
aid to rmanci2a,e our s!a,es,I wherr were VIZ
- stop? II would eyrn'ua'e IN the drs ruc-
ton Of Stale Rights, in The concrn,raIou OF
prea, power in the hands OF the General Gov
rrnmph III, and n bea ing down the barriers which
pro eet the States and The people. H. ak
ed, If gentlemen were awarr OF ih- danger 1T
concentrating pnwtr in any hands VIVA ever.
He proceeded to- remark tha, uul for his
fortunate division OF sectional in erests,
should have hoped that hey would have don
much to improve our poll zeal system. II
considered poll i s, as vet only in its infancy
F,f Y Years ago this Fl Il Co"s itutio" had brrn
fo,med Ii had open d new err, in he soient c
of pol, les and the A ne,ican people oughr "a
go on TO build up ien'e Of their ow". Blu
he WIS afraid we h We rathtr retrograded han
improved, in that time. We have gonr on 10
uni are the British Government mos OF ihr
pre-, ious governments had been f,rm-d by
fraud, backed by power we know now many
pp rios have persisted in the cause Of reform
That Hampden aud Sydnty have become mar
tyrs TO it OWL to the influence Of the esia
bisned government
He laid thai ,e great improve ment made in
the S. fence Of vernmen', was, that i was d.. =
rived from the 500 ial compact, or, finn writ
en- Constitution. BIT the great difficulty S i'll
was 10 under s,and, nc elsmen S Of their social
compact. The compact presents US but two
parties: he govern or aud the governed and
whether The i'm IN exercise any con