Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-01-31

last century, ought 60 apply the rule O con-
vention also No man, said MIR. Is. reveres the
memory Of those men more than do, or holds in
higher estimation their wisdom and virtues. But
perfection belongs not to mortais, much less could
1t be expected under the circumstances which at
tended the formation Of present constitution.
The regal government dissolved, and the
bands of society broken. A few gallant spirits,
tuated by selfish motives or lust Of power, lift
ed the fallen reins Of empire s established govern
inent which received the assent Of all. They found
the ship Of state, wreck OF the ocean. They ga
tbered up the fragments as thew floated and re
built the barque, on the bosom Of the pillows
There was no time for full aud peaceful assem-
b!age OF the people. There war without and
disaiection within. Virginia stood alone, ainds,
the multitude Of her foes, and her warriors DIRE
togcther their little force, and armed for the
fict, they could not stay TO determine the exact
share OF potrs! power due TO each. They adopt
ed Tor Che present. the system with which they
had been familiar aud reserved for more peaceful
times, the task oil reducing il to pure democracy.
Unwilling, however, that the constitution should
be regarded. as the evidence of their principles,
they LEFT the Bill OF Rights an imperishabe re-
cord oil them. That the COM ttution does not con-
form to 1t, only proves that they were compelled
TO leave undone what they would gladly have con-
summarized. Others may euiogisc the constitution
The Bali of Rights is the object OF my adoration;
and grant that tyranny pardon which forced
! such holy truths from the lips Of suffering peo-
pie. -
No mat,er. then. said Mr.. d, what the char.
aeter OF our constitution may be. The Bill of
Rights tells the people, that they, and they alone
have the right 20 alter the government. For the
i'eeholdcrs TO do il. is usurpa,ion Will the nom
,recho'ders submit to il. You arc passing law
denying Their the right of suffrage and directing
your officers not TO receive their votes. Suppose
they present themselves at the poiis-prociairu
the freeholdcrs usurpers and demand TO be heard
IN ~. genton--how viii you enforce your law
WiN5ou turn the power Of the government
against them and poiut your bayonets to their
Breasts Sir, l will pursue the theme no farther.
Imagination sickcns at the thought Of what must
ensue.
MIR. B. said. he should now examine briefly the
substitute which proposes representation by
countles02nf IT might be readily inferred FROM
what Nd alyeady said, that he did not approve
O. II. That t6tscounties, he said, have the right
OF equal representation, in the House of Dele
gates, vested in them, by the present constitution
Is rnSeniab!e; and yori do nothing to impair
tha ht. But does it follow, that when de-
Lucrative body, Tor totally different purpose, is
10 be conyened dehesat I've instance of tAe-go-
refrigerator tie people, that tffe counties are TO
have the same rights in that body also, The con-
s'!tutloD provides, that there shall be Senate
ana that the counties shall be arranged into Pa
cistr;cis--each TO send one representative. 1t
does not say whether these districts shall be COM
posed OF al: equa! number OF counties or equal
number OF people. Why not contend, that every
counties shall have Senator, II, in organizing
convention, you have no right 10 deprive tie
counties OF all equal representation there, met
because they entitled 20 il, in the Hous !Uf
peiega'es, 40" can you say, that in the Senate
'ne people Shall lie represented per capita and not
per stripes, or hy counties. And yet, in Ike for
NATION oil the Senate, gou have used the coun-
ueS' merely as the means of designating equa!
masses oil people 10 the total disregard of what
are called their CONSTITUTIONAL rested rights Sir
SAID he, Ncy have but oae ycsSG right, and that
-. - an eqns! representation in the House Of
delegates. Tho counties, said Mr. H., owe their
es'stence TO the psesen. government. They are
IN i-''"ra mt feature Of IS; ant Il the convention
DC composed Of SIC representatives Ct countess il
val be body, emana,ing, not from the people,
Pun rom the goyernment-bearns its impress
htlei Tor Is pOscs-caculated to protect /. |
against the people, and 10 perpetuate the grieyan-
ces OF which they complain.
nut SAID he. the strong argument against coun- |
W representation, is t;s that thew are UNEQUAL in
population, and, if equally represented, the mi
hoTity may control the majority. The representa-
yves OF Counties containing PIE, 600 whites out
number the representatives. Of counties, contain
ing 10000 whites; and il assembled in conven-
ton, might change the government, contrary to
The "iii OF this immense majority.
Mr.. B. said notwithstanding his objections 10
the substitute, he should vote for H. in preference
to the original bill. The Congres sonal districts
constituted stu more unequal representation,
and embraced. besides, a principle to which HI
conid never give his assent But, ne would
frankly say 20 the advocates OF county reprcsen-
tation, that he should vote for it as the lesser OF
two evils. lie was willing 10 use il as the means
OF defeating still more obnoxious proposition
but must, in turn, abandon.it! lie could not vote
ultimately Tor any bill, which did not provide for
representation on the basis Of white population,
according 10 the last census: He cared not by
what means it was effected-whether by districts
OF classification OF counties, but the principle !
must be recognized. He could not but hope tina |
all his friends from the West, those who rep
resented small counties, would go with him and
sacrifice their gera interests to
the general good A powerful appeal had been
made TO the pride and prejudces Of the small
counties ID the West. and they had been adrnon-
Ished, al they surrendered the right oil repre.en
tation IN the convention, that they had nothiug ,
TO expect but consoda,ion--nay, political annihi-
iaii0n. lie was satisfied that no such result was
to be SPprehended. IL representation should be
equa!ized by the convention, il would probably be
effected by classification of the saunes and a
graduated apportonment. If BOG thites were
taken as the ratio, not Western county would be
excluded after new census.
/. MIR Is said, If all other propositions should be
rejected, aud representation by Congressional
districts or By Counties adhered to, he should be
compelled, however reluctantly, 10 vote against
the passage Of the bill. The people whom he
represented, desired convention, but they were
not willing to take any thing that might be arbi
traTliy called g convention and palmed upon
them. The friends Of reform, generally, would
not go into convention on such terms. The Gen
eTa Assembly, he said, had neither the right nor
the power to compel them. They act OH the
question, only by the suferanCe OF Tie people aud
II the law should not respond TO their wishes, il
would be nulity. Il vas possible they might
disregard the Iaw and proceed TO amend the con.
sitution IN their own way. OF one thing he en-
tertained no doubt, that they would not permit
minority, even when clothed with legislative
sanction, to amend 1t. They have constitution