Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-01-14
3KtctDmtostU ISstDtge
WEDNESDAY MORNING. JAN. "a. 1929.

CONFERENCE.-The deliberations oithc House
of Delegates in committee Of the whole, yostcr
day brougltto close. Mr.. Terrilrs plan for sui
stitutng congressional representation that three
ffths of the slaves by equal county representation.
was carried IL to 81.
We consider this vote as testing nothing. but the
preference of county over congressional representa-
ton. The debate will be resumed in the House. and
possibly, county representation will prevail there too,
over every other plan of organizing the conventions
In this state of things, anxious eyes are beginning to
be directed towards the Senate. We understand that
no such plan as that Of county representation, can
pos lilly pass hat body
Mr.. Rutherford of this city, and Mr.. Brown o.
Harrison, yesterday addressed the comm, &C Of the
whole in able manner. Mr.. Browns was ono o.
the most expanded, and beautiful arguments that it
has ever been good fortune hear any where or
OH any occasion His vindication of Western Vir-
gInia from the taunts thrown hel in dcbatc-,-and
of the great principles Unnatural RIGHT asserted IA the
immortal Bill of Rights of Virginia, drew upon him
the deep interest Of the whole audience Social in
tcress and sectional prejudice may defeat his cotclu-
sons but We disposed to think that none diI moi
admit who heard him, the unanswcrab,c siren th Of
his reasoning
The non-freeholders found in Mr. Brown -hat
they had not found before an eloquent advocate of
their rights in the great pending subject. When We
reflect that three hs Of the frecmen of this andare
on-frecholders-that they compose the majority Of
that community whom the Bill o. Rights declares IN
possess the right to amend alter or abolish the Gov
ernment-it is matter of amGzoment to perceive the
utter contempt and non-chalance with which they
have been treated by the House of Delegates. They
are expressly, in conravention of all right excluded
from voting for members OF conventiou-they are by
an amendment to the BILL deprived of the privilege Of
holding seat in that assembly-and in short they
arc no where recognized existing but for the pur
pose ofbeing stripped of the unalcnabe and idcfca
sible rights guaranteed to be theirs in the Bill oF
Rights Even Mr.. Doddridge, when he moved an
amendment permitting them to vote for members Of
convention, did not to think their natural roit
to that privilege worthy ola single word of argument
Individually, we are Indifferent to an extension of
the right Of suffrage; have been rather indsposed
TO a change; but the Legislature are taking the
course to make this change not matter Of choice
but necessity. 1t is impossible we think, for the
non freeholders to submit quietly, to the insulting
indifference with which they are elbowcd out orthcir
right to participate in the proposed alteration ofthc
form of Government. There is no power under
Heaven which has the right say to them that hcv
shall not have voice in making the Government
which is to rule them well others. 1t is mpos-
sble that they submit be classed with slaves
and told that this is a matter not for them but for
freehoders to determine