Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-10-29

day having been read,
On motion of MIR. Scorr, the Convcntiosxesolv-
cd itself into Committee OF the whOle, NM y. L. |
BARBoUn in the Chair.
The question pending when the Committee rose !
Yesterday, being on the motion of Mr.. GREEN to
amead the first resolution reported by the Legis-
atiyc Committee, by striking out the word ''eXciu-
sivcly aud inserting and taxation combined" SO Us
to una Ike the resolution read,
"Rtsoicd, That in the superintendent OF representa-
ton III tue House of Delegates, regard should be had
to the ,ghi.e population. ami t1cati0s combined"
FIR. GREEN said that i. had been his object IN Of
ferng this amendment, bring before the committee
The whole OF the argument ON both sides Of the cues
tica. But he was under the impression that soITu
of the gentlemen who had supported the origin
ai resolution III the select committee, would be dso-
seal TO open the discussion with view to inform the
committee OF the Sround Un which tie Chunge con-
tempatcd u that resolution desired aud sustain
cd. he hoped, therefore, that gentleman on
that side o! the question would give his views sup
port OF the resolution reported by the committee.
: mR LEiGn (of Chestcrdeld) said that he hoped the
friends OF the proposition which had been reported
by the Legislative Coufuittee would, in The fret ia
stance ussu some reasons IN support of that rropo
stion-a proposition v.hich proposes, in effect, to
| transfer the Government from the hands OF those
who have the greatcs it; s. to uppOrtion Rep
rcsentaiion by one ratio, and apporon Taxation By
another 1t vas the object of this proposition to
tabiish Representation upon the basis OF the white
irula;ion exclusively while i'll the ratio taxation
was to be distributed among those who had prop
erty In the i5tute and who would thus be compel
TO COutioutc III DOUBLE tfeUlc, even quad
ripple proportion. Uc hoped the friends Of this Prop
osition this new Proposiliul, he regarded it
new in the history OF GOVERNMENTAL not
throughout the world, certainly TO Us, would
give the reasons by which they we're swayed TO It's
supports and that those would be found more
satisfactory in their character than those which pre-
vailed in the French School, when the D1ld views
OF the rights OF man led tn confusion. G2rchy rapine
and SCENES Of blood which were terminated by MIL
tary dcsotlsm. Such visionary deus, unless restrain
ed, ranst lead to similar consequences here. Such
were the doctrines which considered numbers only
worthy Of attention, md property uI1dcsrrvns Of
regard. Let them give some reasons, at
least, TO excuse in orr set-eseeul to
excuse us for the tame Submission which is Gx-
pected OF us, 10 tis-not as they who advocate 1t
believe, but as Ire and those who we're With lin,
think most cruel Papable ond crying injustice.
Let them give us some plausible reasons, color
OF reason to excuse US to ourSeivesct them gid the
pill, and disguise its bitterness and let them save
us from the contempt Of the present times, ind
the curse Of postcrity, If we shall thus surrcn
der their btruiEight tie called i'5v snce reasons.
He expected some practical reasons, not niataphysi
call not metaphysical subtcties not arguments found
ed 10 distractions, but such had their basis in and
are applicable TO the Circumstances OF the common
wealth, With which aoue we have here to deal, that
we may understand the grounds on which it is ex-
Pectcd that we shall submit and with patiencc to the
injustice which is offered to US. For himself.
regarding the proposition he did-and he discla1-
ed any intentoh Gust irnputaton upon anv other
gcnt-emans motives course-aS the most crying
injustice whioh had been inflicted in any country
he must call on gentlemen to assign tho reasons by
which 1t was hoped that those who were now oppo.
sed to 1t would be induced to seuiesce in this scheme
D OF representation.
Mr.. Cooke safd, that lie could not but exure,s his
unfcigped establishment the suggestion which had
just been made by the gentleman from Chesterfield
that the principle of representation recommended by
. the legislative committee Che amendment to which
was nov under consideration) entirely neo, and
heretofore unheard of.-fhc principle alluded to gas
inquest onably, Get forth in the s'1eciaraon of Tx
'Sats o. the people Of pirgiaia" And, indeed, wher
the Convention Of l776 promulgated, in that inseru
Inent, the principles Of government on which the,
= infant republic founded, they did but announce
principles which had received, centurg before the
= deliberate sanction Of the most enlightened friends
liberty throughout the woridThcy did but se.erntt
those great and sacred truths which had been illus
3 trated by the genius of Locae and Sydney unf
aLilton:-truls for which Hampden, and host q
biz coinpatTlots. had poured their blood IN vain
Driven from Europe, by kings ind priests and no
h!es, those simple truths received with favou,
! by the sturdy yeonianry who dwet on the western
shores OF the Atlantic. The love of liberty and Of
equality too, grey with tho growth and strcnt4hened
with the strength of the colonies. It declared war.
at last not only against The Porer Of the king but
against the Pr0'tee of the noble and laid the deep
foundations of our republic he socercigy nj Ire
people, and me equality Of men.
4 1he principles alluded to, contained and set
forth in the declaration the rights of the people OF
}. Virginia were, y
al power is ycs.c4 IA go So ,nseo,o,,t,v
rived from, tho pGcrc,i-.' 1''''iy "0'
''Yhat all men are, by nat,tro, eqaszY2 free" Md
" nat majority ofthe community" possessce "a
OF necessity must possess, the supreme control Of its
r ,cc.ls - It's
The circumstances under c:aiC7 ms.
yas made Werc Of the mos. solemn and irnnresvve
Character The saees and patriots who Tooda II bsS
gust before evinced their deep sense of the vital i'm
portancc, and uDdeniablc truth, OF the princinIcs
WHlch IT asserts by involving their country for the
SAKE % those principles, in all the horrors of way
cor the sake of those principles they had irnperlod
.heN Ves their fortunes, their wives their / ldren
thclF conntry-and, i'll one word, all that is dear to
man or inc sake OF those principles they spread
! havoc ana desoation over country and consiyn
ed 70 run am poverty, whole generation of the
people Of Virginia. " '"'
And yet these principles Of government yero stv.
! ed' even by those who had yesterday ,oined in an
unanimous vote, (as uDanirnous least as eune ron
Dadaceute vote con bc) affirming their correctness
these prlnclples dsnaraninnlu st,Inl -. T.