Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-12-30
VIRGTNIA CONVENTION.
DEBATE ON BASIS OF REPRESENTATION,
In Commitfee NJ Me Yhofe on The CoBstsfutios,.
O.. NJ, a

mittce as folows:-
Mr. Chairman: II has been with great disappoiut
ment, and yet deeper regret that I have perceive,
On invincible repugnancc on the part of gentlemcr
representing here-a large portion of the Common
wealth, extending from Cape Henry to the Noun
tains along the, whole length of the N. Carolina
line, that portion of it in which my own district
situated, to take a-sare in this Debatea repuRnance
not resuting-I say from my personal knowledge
of many of them--not resulting from any want oil
ability,aor from the want Of nst modest, and man.
w confidence in the abilities they possess l have
looked b Norfolk; have looked to Southampton;
have looked to Dnwiddie have looked to Bruins
wick for the display of talent which knew TO exist;
but. sir, have looked IN vain.
Aud il is this circumstance only; speak it with a
einccriiy have too much selfrespect to vouch for
which has induced me to overcome the insuperable
aversio,-insuperable until now,-that have felt 10
a.ract towards myself the attention OF the Commit
tee.
As long as have had any fixed opinions, have
been tho habit of considering the Constitution OF
Virginia, under which / have lived for than
half century, with all its faults and failings, and
with oil The objections which practical men mot the
orsts aud visionary speculators-have urged or can
urge against 1t, the very best Constr, uton-not
for Japun;-not for China;--not for New England
or for old England;--bu for this, ancient Com.
monweath of Virginia.
But am not such bigot as to be unwilling, I'M
der any circumstances however npe -ious to cha npe
she Constu ion under which | was born. I may
saw certainly under which was brought up, and uu.
der which, hai hoped to be carried TO my grave.
Ny principles on that subject these: the griev-
ance must first be clearly specified, and fully proved;
it must be VITAL or rather, deadly in Its effect s
magnitude must be such will justify prudent and
reasonable men III ;aklns the always delicate, often
dangerous step, of making Innovations in their fun
damental law; and the remedy proposed must be
reasonable and adequate to the end III view. When
the grievance shall have been thus made out: | hold
him to be not loyal subject, but political bigot
who would refuse to apply the suit able remedy.
But, will not submit my to political ply
slcian,-come his diploma from whence il may
who would at once prescribe all the medicines
in the Pha-mOcopDia not only for the disease now
blve but for all the diseases of every possible kind
ever might have in future. These my principles
and l am willing to carry them out; for | will no;
hold any principles which may not f.rly carry out
in practice.
Judge, then, with what surprise and vain L found
that not one Department Of thss Goyeransiii-S-56s
not one-Legislatiye, Execrtir6 o. Ju5iciai nor
one branch OF eitkegs---Fas icH untouched by the
spirit Of Attse1tPN for cannot call it reform
~ LAD even the Senate, yes, sir, the Senatc-which
bad lately been swept by the besom of innovation
--oven the Senate had not gone untouched or unsca
tiled. Many Innovations are proposed to be made
without any practical grievance having been
even suggested much less shewn.
Take that branch Of the Government which was
50 thoroughly reformed in 1916 and even that is not
untouched. Sir, whoever heard whisper
tI6e eondita this day. that the Senators Of Vrpn
Ia were too youhfuR Incver heardsuch sentiment
IN my life And in the House Of Delegates, wha,
HaR ever heard that the mcm6ers---I speak of them
OF course, IN the aggregate--that the members
were too youngl Yet, even thereto ia tn he do
cared that all men who might be elected to that
body between the ages of 21 and 81 are to be dsan-
ciIised--and as regards che Senate all between the
ages OF 81 and 30. Yes, Sir---not only the spring
and seed time, but the and harvest of Hf--
that delightful season which neither you sir nor
can ever recalthe dearest and the best portion of
car ives-during this period of nine years. the very
prime OF human lte---men are 10 be DISTINGUISHED.
And for what? For political meagrn: a freak
No evil Is suggested. The case is certainly very
rare that q man under thirty is elected member of
the Senate = viii then be said. there is no priva
son, and, therefore, no injury. But, Sir, there is
vide Inference between mans being not elected.
and fundamental law stamping a stigma UPON hun
by which he Is excluded from the noblest privilege
TO winch no merit or eXerton his part can restore
nm But all this, l suppose is IN obedience to the
all prevailing principle that populi por Del ave.
sr---the all prevailing principle that Numbers and
Numbers alone TO regulate ali things in political
society, in the very teeth Of those abstract natural
rights OF man, which constitute the only shadow of
claim to exercise this moDstrous tyranny.
With these gcne6al remarks, permit re to at
tempt----i am afraid II viii prove an abortive at
tempt TO say something on the observations Of 9TH
eI gentlemen; TO which have given the .Iost pro.
found attention | am capable OF Sir, haze nc
other preparation for this task THAI most patient
attention to what has been said here and la thu
COMMITTEE, OF which / was a member, and deep
Intense and almost annibilating thought on the sub
1ects before This is all the preparation that
have made ! cannot follow the example which
las been set me. cannot 90 into the history Q
my past ie, OF defend my political consistency her
or elsewhere. Will not do THE for this reason.
have always heidi unwise 10 plssdti I am arraign
eI---aHd arrslgned before a tribunal having come
tent and ample jurisdiction. Ny political con.istei
cy requires 40 such defence Ny claim TO rcpubll
sanism rests on no patent taken out yesterday or L
b taken out tomorrow. Ny life itsclf is my onl,
voucher, life spent for thirty years in the service
the most grateful OF constituents.
The gentleman from Augusta, who occupies sr
m fho .uI in IL r.
House. has told as that he fought gaIlantly BY N,
SIDE OF his noble friend from Chesteseld so long n,
victory was possible, and that u was not until nc
was conquered that he grounded his arms Tn.
Rohtlemah farther told Us that, finding his nrtys
country and hrs early friends this side tie noun
TAM on whose behalf he had waged that gallant war
--he FOUND he hestated ~bat part TO take n0o unit
ns toend h's constituents aye sir land more thar
hat ms property were on the other ldo-.--and hs
has taken ne course accordingly. Well sir-.-an,
wan ne not allow, on our part, that come condera
ton u due TO our constituents, although they hap
pen 70 be our neigbbors, 10 our propeT altbougl
we reside upon W Are either or hath lcss a., ~