Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-03-20

cannot agree to vote for the first amendment oftc
gentleman from Orange. 1 know my constituents
to be free men, and cannot by my VOTE aid in de-
grading them below the level ofany other MEN,
One word more on this subject: those gentlemen who
have heretofore been opposed TO a convention now
say they willing to aid in organizing convention
because 1naIority have voted in favour of convcn-
ton; let therefore earnestly invite those uentle-
men, who, SD highly respect the soW oTtie majority,
to vote for bill that will enable that majority to be
fully heard i'll the expression CT their ,ci and to
contend for BILL the provisions of which will cna-
bic n minority to rulc the ma iorty
sur. Speaker, it affords great pleasure TO state
that the second amendment of the gentleman from
Orange, comedies with my own views, and that it
VIII receive my most cordial appreciation. had my
sell prepared a similar amendment in principle, |
dld not however, require more than the residence OF
one year. checriuy, however, yielded to my friend
from Orange, who had famed the amendment now
IN your hand. Mr. Speaker | am perfectly aware
that gentlemen will start constitutional scrupes in re-
lat Oh to this question confess tina, feel none and
hope to prove that no constitutional objection does
exist. would ask gentlemen, what has the const-
tuition to do with the whole subject now under con-
sideration? No such thing as Il convention was CON
tempated by the constitution; therefore, no p. ovision
was made IN the constitution 20 the qualcai ion
OF electors OF the members of convention. They
made a provision to the qualification of cleo
tors for members OF the General Assembly, which
admit we cannot by any enactment Change
And whenever gentlemen siew me similar pro-
vision as 1t relates to the election of members of
truth Is, sir there provision III the constitution
that looks ct all to the call of a convention; there
fore no provision made for 1t. But Mr. Speaker
the Bill OF Rights declares that Z" maiorty IF tie
community hath tndubitaJte, unaiienabie ard indie
feas'bfc 'hLfo utter, reform abolish their govern
nent.' Now If this principle be correct, the non
irecholdcrs being part of the community, have u
right to aid IN this alteration rejo1m. Will gen
tlemcn tell Inc that the word community means q
community Of freeholdcrs and not a con,nuni-
ty OF frcemcn' Surely not.-But Mr.. Speak
or, gentlemen seem to suppose that the bill in
your hands, if passed, will be law Sir, we cannot
pass law to make the people change their govern
ment; 1t will be partly law, viz so far as it reuuircs
the sherltis and other officers to open poll books and
receive the votes if they rendered bv the people
we have the snme right TO require the officers of the
present government to do this, that we have to re-
qure them to do any other But so far as il re-
lates to the people voting, we impose no penalty
on them for failure REFUSAL that is in fact moth
ing more than recommendation; and if the peopIe
act under IT. they will thereby nuke it their own act
ny adoption, rs they made the present constitution
their act by carving its provisions into effect. The
act on this subject passed at the last session was no
law farther tianit required the officers to open poll
books, DC. But the people having acted under it
adopted it as their act, but far as it required
them to vote, it was nothing than recommen-
da.ion. Now sir, if we authorize the sierihs to re.
cove the votes of the nom echuders and if the ao
pie act under tic recommendation elect members
OF convention, tn IN 1t Will be evidenc of their
'cW that they sanction recommendation but the
Very gentlemen WIN urge this objection are decided
~ opposed TO county represrn tation. Now should
like for those gentlemen to shew Inc the consti,u
tional provision, that authorizes them to chanre
the election precincts from Gou.I,ics to diet, ic.s
which will according to their own fayorite plan
exclude some counties rom representation: if
the constitution has any thing IL do with this matter
then there should be two tron each county, nav we
would have TO elect twenty -four rcyisors Of the most
numerous branch Of tho convention, twenty four
called by some other name, To supply the place Of
the senators. Surcly Mr. Speaker, gentlemen must
sec hat the constitution has nothing all to do with
this matter Having thris -.!doavorcd TO slew that
we have right to direct the serfss to roceivc and
record the votes OF the trcchodcrs, will now
ass sign the reasons why think it ought to be done
Mr.. Speaker, | will ask this plain question: from
what source does man derive his right to be ce2
Docs he derive it from casual or accidental circum-
is it the gift of that superior beiur by
whose bounty DC is authorized to b,cathe and more
and have his being? Sir, God made man TO be free
he formed after his own n1agc;-sto him was
given dominion ali earthly things but man-but
no dominion was given to him Does liber-
ty consist III the acquisition OF little property a
thing that may be acquired by fraud accident or dis.
honesty? If it does, then by losing this property no
odds how, from causes chat are accidental such as
destruction by fire; from that are vicious as
ny robbery; from that 0rc fraudulent such
'wndliug; from that indscrect as by i'm
orovidcnt dealing trading; together t all the in
Vulnerable variety of ways that may bring an honest
nan to poverty, then sir, gentlemen must admit tbat
liberty held By all those fra tcnures; that il novbe
ost by fraud accident, force indiscrcton; but the
,ill OF rights, 10 which have often rcerretlin this
iobate, says that these rights are nnacnable.
The sixth section of the bill -. rights declares that a men
avug sufficient evidence of permanent iteres, Win
d attachment c COMMUNITY have right of sufIape
IND caoi he a%ed' OK deprived o. tc property for public
cs, without their conscst that p their REPRESENTATIVES
NOR bound by my kV to soch they Lsre not IN ike mann,
"sI for the PH5tc good' Nov sir in the daily
abt of compelling the ceholters to obey orr I1,s3 d.
no; laH thcm with county lcvcs poor rates. Sc thereby
iSiis 'iefr property for public wtlou; consent or
"t o Their rePresenlave Do we not so farther and compel
hem TO attend witnesses, as Jurors, do we moi
ssae IN relation 10 their lives and eIt: and sometimes
prvc them OF botr by judicial decisions? do we not 90
ar'cT ana compel them 10 labor the pub: reads Whether
ry arr interested OF uo and, do not possess power of
og tH farther of compelling them 10 do the whole labor ON
nc publ highways? As cxem tic owner of two sIarss
rom iabourns on the roads, might the same vay
%spt The frecodcrs from doing any labor on the roads
"hch when made would have tendency 10 enhance ths
aue oi Their own lands and III which the frcodc would
probably have no interest and compel the frccole who
las no interest IN the road make it him tina, has an
tnr.s iri .,-..or H..