Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-11-17

IL could not be said that full and rigid application OF the
principle was essential in giving any Government a
claim to be dencmn.ted republican. He went into
argument to shew that the principle at war with
the representation OF Va in the Federal Government
predicted that ift was adopted the extra
derived to Va ia consequence Of her Slave popula,on
would be claimed by the West, the common proper
~ OF the State. aud that would be insisted ON that Il
should be equally distributed. l.IiIICl
This brought forth explanations from Messrs. Mercer
Doddridge and Gordon in which, however they gave
no expression of their opinions to this point.
Aher dsciaming either desire for the crown OF
yrdom or an inscnsbiiy TO popular applause, Mr. s.
reached the main question in his argument, which was
whether there were not in the peculiar situation Of Vt-
ginia, considerations which ought control and modify
the application oft principle that all by
turo equal and therefore, entitled to equal portions
political power. tsf+ So .a.sr.
He again referred the limitations applied to the prin-
cpe in States, much more tavoraby crcumstanced for
Tree scope than Virginia. and then advcred to the dam
gers which envroned the possession of slave property
While he disclaimed all want OF confidence in the viru
Gus feeling OF the West he considered their very virtues
as laying them open to the influence Of enthusiasm and
thus still more enhancing the dangers Of the slave hold
ers in the East
.He compared the probabilities of an abuse of power.
possessed by the two great divisions of the Saie
gu'ng TO shew that the East could not be under the
sane temptation TO Cypress the West as the West was
TO Cypress the East.
He considered remark Of Mr.. johnson as in,ima,iop
that the Constitution not TO recog the existence
Of slaves but 10 be framed il they were not in the
State Alter some appeals to tho spirit OF harmony and
cancellation, he went into calculation TO shew that
the est had not been deprived OF all just share in
presentation and that the complaints as TO limiting the
vote on the Convention to freeholders only, were
uniounded because that Limitation had been proposed by
The friends oil Convention themselves. He replied
the statistical representations OF Mr. Johnson drawing
from them very different conclusions.
Mr. s. laid great stress the fact that wheth the
calculation OF went on the basis Of all
the qualified voters the basis Of the Federal
per- or on that proposed by Mr. Green's hav
ing respect toa compound ratio opropery aud numbers,
the result in practice would be nearly the same He drew
from this an argument in favour of harmony, inasmuch
az the two sides in the House would reach nearly the
same result whose ever plan should succeed: ends were
all. and means compar atively nothing.
lie dwc on the difficulties that would attend the a.
aopton OF numbers the standard of repre- enation
rom frauds IN the returns, the constant fiuctuaon
oil the number OF inhabitants, the expense of frequent
ennmerai'on' &c, and traced the effect Of making
small contribution Of taxes, the only requisite for the
exercise Of the right Of suage likely TO lead TO cor
ruplion, and in effect TO universal suffrage
lie proposed thai results alone should be fixed in the
constitution and not the Of arriving them
else that the Constitution should be silent the sub
ject, and leave it to the Legislature. This he held
out as peace offering, the olive branch those on
the opposite side Of the question He professsd himself
friend TO Internal Improvement If conducted ON the
principle laid down by MIR. johnson, and claimed the
same feeling for large portion Of the population in the
lie deprecated thu evils OF division which he painted
In strong colours and concluded with very feeling APP
peal IN avonr OF mutual Cancellation.
MIR. STANARD having resumed his seat, the question
was propounded from the Chair and alter pause Sc en.
eel likely TO be taken; when
Mr.. RANDOLPH rose and addressed the Committee
IN a speech OF about two hours.
Alter expressing his disappointment in not finding
gentlemen forward in defence Of the anne pdm emf
TO whom he had looked for speeches, and his strong
reluctance to attract to himself the notice Of the Com
mittee, Mr.. r. declared his early for the
existing Constitution well adapted TO the abs and
OF the people of Virginia; yet the
une ms Willingness to reform evils, il clearly shewn
and OF sufficient magnitude jusify the risk Of touch
ing the fundamental law Of the State.
lie expressed In strong terms his grief aud amaze
Inen at hnding that the proposed reform, was 10 ex
tend to every Department and Branch of the Govern
mer although no practical evil had been shewn TO
exist under It's administration for long OF
years.
In replying 10 the observations on the other side of
the question, he animadyerted with severity
the course pursued by Mr.. Johnson, after having
formerly opposed the call OF the Convention and warm
y defended the Constitutions; which he compared to the
conduct OF Dalgelty in the weilknown novel Of Scott
He insisted that it was improper and impo ssbIe 10
keep out Of sight the relation, of Virginia 10
The government OF the United States and his
belief that one ecisnt motive for the call of the Con-
venieD, and the project Of reform, a desire to
change the politics of Virginia In relation to the uurpa-
tons of that government He dwelt the results OF
the General Government. as proving that system
formed Tor end, and set la often resulted
in another, never anticipates and hence he argued
against giving new Constitution to Virginia. He adj
verified 10 the former condition OF the Commonwealth
when The ve.holdng and tobacco. growing interest
was the prevailing interest OF the State, expressed
his regret that they had ceased to be so, and
hi' profound surprise that any portion Of the country
where those interests existed, should lend it's
support TO the plan repo led by the Legislative
Committee He avowed his hope. that the people
would lake the matter into their hands, and his
Joy that Tue sitting Of the Convention likely to be
prolonged and 20 into the sson Of the Legislature
whose members might bring the freshest adpices from
the People. He stated his feelings during the Ereviou
debates-his indignation at the monstrous character
oil The claim to power set mp by the opposite sda tho
House, aud referred 10 The fate of the Duke of Orleans
In TIE French Convention, illustrative of the
INV .hnl yl.n
protestei against the doctrine that bare majority have
the power 10 tax minority, however great to any
tent they pleased for their benefits and
the introduction Of such aprincp!e by Virginia into her
own Constitution after she had warmly opposed IL in
Congress lie derided the idea, that the danger was
to be encountered because il would not work evil he.
fore the year 1856 (wheu it calculated the DOW er
would pass to the wss and conended that the danger
lay In the principle. He would by no means admit
that he was at war with any principle in the De-
cITaion oil Rights: inasmuch, they were all 10 be
received with practical restrictions On this point he
quoted the language OF Burke-and then referred to the
peculiar situation Of Virginia slave holding Com
mon wealth.
He adverted to the equipoise OF the two parties in
breaking up the existing Government, and entering on
new experiment By the vote OF majority of one or
otwo. 10 do so would be only to sound the toc.n for
civil war. lie predicted that the measure would ne.
yer be submitted 10, insisted that ought not TO be- and
compared tito proposition to cut dyke in Holland on
condition That the opening should only be ef a certain
width lie reflected with great sverity OH s.ions
Of friendship for the poor, and schemes to educate
their children calculated to cherish iieness and lead
TO prohigaeyi
lie said he had had CORES pondence with gentlemen
IN all parts oil the Union who all concurreh ia advising