Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-11-09
VIRGINIA CONVENTION.
WEpNssp Nov. 4.


b. which it's attention had been long occupied
Mr.. MERcKR SAID, he aboured under the influence
of feelings which he had not language to convey, and
the expression of which he feared would disqualIy
Eun for the arduous task which lac had undertaken
80 perform. Inc sentiment first At his heart was,
tlln the depending question might terminate in a
snt, propitious TO the union, and happiness OF the
Whole commonwealth. WI e DESTROYS of extending
~ the peaple of the West Just participation in
the political power OF the government power pro-
pprtioned their relative mum rs, he entered upon
the present discussion with unfuendy feeling to
wards tue East Such feeling would be equally
nj with all his recoectlons and all his hopes.
lis cradle rocked by the margin OF the placid
tide, though providence had placed his dwelling by
the side OF the nountaia torrent. He had not drop
ofkndred blood flowing in the veins of any living
heing TINT did not warm the heart of some lowland
man. or lowlaud woman. lie came INFO this Conven-
ton no, to assert the power Of portion of the
State TO contro! the other but with fixed deter
animation to uphold the rights AMI interests of al
or the broad and solid basis Of those gea; principles
Of political liberty which forcatIers had. at all,
times, struggled to maintain Emphatcay might
he say this d vouch this assembly itself for his proof
Through what channel, he asked, did the resolution
ofthe Legislative Committee, now in discussion. reach
This Convention BY what hand the report Of
that Committee presented in this Hall? By that
hand, which, more than any other now IN being had
contributed the outline and lay the foundation
of the great structure Of our free institutions. BY
whom had the principles of this report been Just
taincds By his ustrious co-patrot, who, alone, Of
this assembly, had enjoyed the high honor Of
Grating those principles by his blood
We are charged with asserting new and impracti-
cable doctrines. Behold the proof of this allegation.
Are they not founded the principles, if the term
may now be allowed him, of every bill or declaration
of rights of every State in this Union, which has
famed Constitution since glorious revolution;
Ore they not sanctioned by the concurrent voice OF
the wises statesmen and the purest patriots, on both
sides of the Atantc' Are they TIE principles of
the father of English metaphysics, and champion of
British liberty-;he immortal Locke; Are they not
ed against the united power of political and eccies
astca tyranny; and for which, III still earlier age
the noble Sydney bled?
Could this question be tried without prejudice its
issue would not long be doubtful. The very process
by which our assailans seek to over-power us, uf-
fords sufficient evidence Of the strength of
Principles mus be true, which be successfully con-
troverted only by such ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS inven-
ted & most ably enforced by gentlemen inuredto the
habits of profession which, above all Others teach
its professors how to discover touch and move
all the secret springs ofhe human heart What the
preHdceS which seek 10 obstruct better judgment
gu the present OCCASION Some are too obvious TO
elude our perception, and must be disspated when
approached. The eloquent member from Chester |
field, proclams with seeming regret, that, between
thc district, which have the honor, in part to re-
present and the western counties of Virginia there
are no longer any Pyrannees From Ashby's Gap
20 the Potomac, the Blue Ridge, lie tells us has
disappeared. TINS illusion of his own imagination.
the honorable member nfers, from the sympathy,
subssting in tine present contest between the people
of Loudoun, and their fellow-citizens of the west.
70 the other districts on the eastern face of the
Blue Ridge, which espouse the same side of this
cause with my constituents and obviously for the
same reasan, he literally awards the praise of mag
nanirnity, which he denies to them.
Might he not have impartlally accounted for
the zeal of Loudoun for Convention, from the no.
torous fact that while she pays into the Public
Treasury twenty times the amount OF taxes pam by
the county of Warwick, and has than six and
twenty times the free white population Of Warwick
shc has but the same political weight in the House
Of Delegates, under the constitution of government
which this Convention has been dcputed to amend.
That twenty-six freenen of Loudoun have in this
branch Ofthe Legislature, the weight Of but one fre
man or Warwick.
But the honorable member disreaardinr this inc
quality has found the origin Of the present Conven.
ton, IN splendid schemes Of Internal Improvement
10 which the constitutional scruples, manifested By
Virginia, in the councils Of the Union, oppose bar
rier, that the distribution of political power
sought to be effected by the resolution IN debate
VIII enable the west to PROSTATE In that ardent
zeal, which had prompted so many other gentlemen
as well us the member from Chesterfield, to impu;e
to the friends Of Convention, local, selfish and
sordd motives for their present union Of council thev
have forgotten much, and in part the history Of our
legislation on tbs subject.
Internal 1mprovement--the cause Of this Conven-
lion! Who, until the ID day Of March 1917, had
ever heard objection started 10 the Constitutions
power of the General Government 10 aid, by tho
resources Of the Union the efforts Of the States 10
construct roads, canals Of general interest. 4
re" days only prior 70 this period, resolution re-
commended by the unanimous report of the Boord
Of Public Works, passed both branches Of the Cen
eIal Assembly with like unanimity 10 requost Of
the government Of the United States pccuBiary aid
~ promoting the then contemplated junction Of
the eastern and western waters Of Nirulnia by the
James and Kanawha rivers. similar resolution had
passed the House Of Delegates without opposition at
tle preceding session Of 1875 II was however, near
the close Of that session. the eth of February 1916
that bill TO take the sense Of the people the pro-
prety Of calling Convention, first received the sane
ton Of majority Of the House Of Delegates and that
minority embraced both the delegates from Londoun.
This bill was afterwards lost az its third reading.
but similar one finally passed the House Of Dele
gates with the co operation Of the Loudpun doega-
ton during. the succeeding winter, and more than
month before the Presidents nessage Of the I'd Of
March, 1917 had excited doubt in Inc public mind
VI the Constitutional authority Of Congress 90 aid the
several States in the construction Of works of inter
MAJ Improvement. State fund, los roads and ca
las had been already created aud was in successful
operation. How then can u be- cauLitlv maintained