Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-12-10

Sis for the House of Delegates -"
MT. BALDWIN said he wished to state the motives
OF MS conduct In the vote he was going 10 give on
the present question. He was comnejied tn m. 10
some sacrifice of his feelings of consistency on the al
TAR OF his country He protested the greatest attach
ment 10 the existing Constitute und.r which a.,
had all so happily lived but as the people had called
convention he would not cling to the present sys
.en WIN ohhd reverenee-he would not treat all
.ne improvements which were suggested as the pro
auctions OF mad of reckless ref,rmers
lie would, IN reference to the nputa ion of vision
ary' apply the charge to those who made it. and would
ask any gentleman was the present foundation of our,
government a correct once He referred >thep5l
Y 10 the state of representation to sheyy "a inc.
quality, and said that the people whom he re-
presented, commended for representation being based
ON the white population exclusively in both Houses
The opposite party did n.t demand federal numbers
as the basis of representation until thew received an
| accession OF strengtl-federal numbers were not
'nought or and ne would appeal to gentlemen wbe
thef we could not at first have carried the question
according to the views of the gentlemen themselves
aud not as they now desire it.
| Mr. RANDOLPH said, never-never
hir u SAID the imputation of not actinr in con-
cihatory manner, ought not to be thrown OUT anainst
us when we We're willing concede sutIiccn secu-
rty In the Senate. That security in the Senate was
odious TO the people of the West not because II CON
terred powei their Eastern brethren but because
these hardy ye0neu believed that BY it they dcera-
Geu themselves III the estimation Of the people of the
Ui,so . es. and were made servants at the
maud OF their masters. He proiessed himself willing
10 compromise, although he first repupuant to
it-and he disposed to give to the peopie of the
East what he regarded as sufficient security, by
aioWins them the power in the Senate and mt the
same time, to give the Western people the control in
tho House of Delegates. The state of parties in this
committee should have its weight in inducing us to
settle this dangerous controversy, which influences
US III the consideration of all other questions Are
we to go away from this without doing any thinp,
Such course would produce great mischief, and
the people.
We are told by both sides that there is grea, danger
OF separation of the Sate--we hear tins deca ration
I made by Eastern members-mnst gently insinua,e d
"rapt up IN rhetorical language, and sunetns s as
one gentleman had said, sin the plin old English
Lhe same declarations proceeded also from the other
party; lie stated his opinion that such event
would ever occur but he said, if this Constitution as
now proposed was forced upon the people The would
speak Tor his own constituents only,l although thew
would not REBEL nor resist, yetthey would carry their
opposition to to the greatest extent they possibly
could consistent with due observance of the 10 ",
OF the land He denied the assertion that the sprl
OF conciation, proceeded only from the adverse
= ground This could not be said when the oentlerne
on the opposite did not propose such basis till the,
had acquired additional strength but only the com
pound OASIS OF population and property. He said
that the consequence of basing the Senate and the
House of Delegates would be constant warfare he
tween the two bodies He differed in opinion with
those who said that property and power were insen
arabic, and that numbers rendered proDert
AS 10 the plan OF security proposed, are told that
/; u property were represented in the Senate alone
tHdt Douy would become odlOu5 to the people and
nat me cry OF arstocracy would be raised against it.
Would not the effect be the same whether propertv
Is represented in one or in both HouseSand let the
principle be Infused, the same cry of arietocrocn
would he raised Another consideration was presen-
ted iou by the opposite party told that the
preludccs OF the people ought to be consulted as
wei! as their interests The gentleman from Ches-
terhe!d VIII agree with him that vie oupht also tn
consult their PRIDE for without it nothing was est
: rnabie. l would TO God, said Mr. b. that bv the
eNertlon OF my feeble talents, could convey to this
con,'nIItee, correct idea OF the opinions Of the
, western people OH the subject and am sure the
, committee would examine this with more culDu,ss
and attent sn He believed the principle of the fed
eral numbers, would lDflct on the western people
degradatlon-a wound of PRIDE that could not be
easily healed Mr.. b. then remarked, in very feel
) ing manner, on the consequences to Virginia if
separation of the State should take place-he depre
Gated such event to a State so oun the nride
the strength and glory of this confederacy
Ma. LEIGH said if the gentleman who lust sat
down was as hesrous OF preventing excitement he
expressed himself to be, would have been well for
him to have brought his to bear on the cues
> ton before us. But he was pleased to poss va
rious criticisms on the debate which has taken place
aud to express his disapprobaon ofsome of the sem
tlments which have been uttered, he should have
taken some pains before he undertook that office to
know something of the subject of commentary He
mistook very much if he thought that the members
who have acted with me, were ready to receive and
tolerate the ldca OF baslng representation the low
or House numbers alone.
MIR. BALDWIN said he merely expressed it as an
: opinion.
q Mr.. LEIGH said that he had maintained that such
a compromise wholly and absolutely falacious
The gentleman had advcrted to the irritating Ian
2 guage which had been used There vas some with
J out doubt, and fhe had used any it was not done
nteDtlally, but produced by the warmth of the de-
! bate. The gentleman should have Judged rather
in mercy than in justice, for he was the first ind
vidua on this floor who told that the proposition
OF mixed basis was sheer arstocracy; he Insook lie
was the first, but who used that expression and
IL has been since repeated, and we have had war Of
eptbets.
The two gentlemen from Augusta have adyerted
to the feelings Of the people Of the west. He would
ask, With what colour they ask US TO respect the
west in order to pacify them, when they gave no
thing to crafty the east Do they believe that our
opinion is less sincere than theirs is, in advoca tipr
Tie infero.ts of OILY cnr.tit-nr..a II. ~.