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


The n,ention then Adjourned IL O'Clock
morrow, at the old Bapis, Church.
DEBATE ON THE BASIS OF REPREsEN
TATION.
WEDNESDAY. Nov. II.
SUBSTANCE OF Mr.. CHAPMAN JOHN:
SONS SPEECH.
Mr.. Chairman: The question under consideration
has occupied much time, i'll tic discussion, and no
doubt much more, i'll the deep deliberations of the
committee It's great import pncc and exceeding de
lcacy entle 1t verify, TO all the aid, which temper
!urOedraicc cDncation, free, frank and full INFER
change of opinion aburious investigation and candid
argument can afford. II has the one hand en-.
couraged the most animated hopes, aud, the other
alarmed the most anxious fears The whole country
looks TO 1t, with intense interest convinced that OH
It's issue depends much of veal or voc.
We are engaged MIR. G. contest for power
disguise it you will,-call il discussion Of the
rights OF man, natural social,-ca 1t al enquiry
into political expedicncv.--m CINE yourso,f if yon
please, presiding school Of philosophy, discour
sing on the doctrines of political law for tie nstruc
ton or mankind, and The Improvement of all human
notwithstanding lie question TO the test OF prin-
ciplc, or OF prucical u;ility-st sir, all our meta
physical reasoning nud practical rules, all our
scholastic learning and political wisdom arc but the
arms employed in contest, which involves the great
and agltatlng question, whether the sceptre shall
pass away from Judah, law giyer from between
his fcrt.
In tits contest, feel peculiar interest ,-becausc
stand towards the parties in relation Of deli
W III 'hc ono, are llS present re5ucncc. the
land OF Ey nativity, almost all tic friends of nv
youth, and most of those whom my affections are
bound, oy the ties of affinity and bood-with the
other are my property aud my constituents,-Lhuse
VINO are endearcd to me, by residence among them
OF more than twenty years by many proof of re-
collected kindness and friendship, by gratitude for
enrty patronage and for political confidence, bcstow
ed before 1t had been earned. and continued after
every claim could have pretended to it. had been
lost by my removal from them. In this state of d
Vlned ailegancc ought perhaps 10 have taken coul-
sci IRON prudence, and have chosen the part of
neutrality. But had been long in the hobit of cua-
sdering both parties TO this controversy US children
OF the same family, constituent & nseparable parts of
the same community -someWat diversified it istr,!c
IN their possessions their pursuits their manners and
their character, having minor interests perhaps not
altogether N accordance,-ncverthelcss identified in
the leading characteristics of plain AGRICULTURAL re-
publican peoPle-having the same great interests
and one common object, the integrity freedom, hap
pncss, and glory of u common countrv-I Ind lonp
too cherished the fond perhaps the delusivc hope-
tit It was possible 10 reconcile all differences aD-
pcase all angry feelings to all causes of lea
lousy, and to unite all parts Of the community in
harmonious action, in common labor for the common
veal ;-and to realise this hope, had often exertcd
to the uttcrmost my humble power---l could not
therefore, at this most interesting crisis in public
affairs, when heated If not angry controversy was
expected by all, when serious, if not fatal di-sention
was feared, BY many, when all might be lost by mat
tention imprudence, all might be saved by care
and pans,-I could not decline the honorable call to
duty, from my old constituencies could not refuse
the trust when, well knowing my opinion they con.
fded their great interests here part to me and left
me at full liberty, without pledge and without in
struction, to profit by the experience and wisdom OF
those around me- and following the dictates of my
own judgment, to shape my course, with ginple
view to the public good.
After listening atentivclv TO every thing that has
been said-and much has been ably and elouuenly
said am satisfied, that by advocating The resolution
Of the select committee md resist i,1 The nrono.ed
amendment, | OjSrh
constituents, and 10y country.
Mr. Chuirmun; am no freud to changc,---I have
been no advocate for the call of this Convention
True, have thought the old Constitution in some
respects imperfect in theory, and defective in
tlce. have thought its principal defect that very
inequality III representation, which the resolution of
the select committee proposes in part to remedy
thought it also defect in the Constitutions that
IT contained no provision, for just apportonneEt of
taXcs, just distribution of the burens of tl. Co
ycrnmcnt among the people Of the Commonwealth
had been, Tor some years member of That branch
OF the Legislature, III which the inequality of repre-
scntatIon was most glariug. l represented in The
senate, district composed of SIX countless in the
valley. containing then perhaps about one EIGHTH of
tie white population Of the State, and with only
three others represented the whole country West of
the Blue Ridge containing about one third Of the
white population. thought perceived the iniuri
Gus opc ation Of this inequality On questions ofloca
concern, had often the interests of the East Gr
raFed again those of the West and controversies
thence urisng, attended with much excitement, and
sometimes with great asperity and angry feeling It
had occasionally been my good fortune to inlerpose
between the contcndDg purlcE, and reconcile their
diherences But | was satisfied that a settled dis
content was arising, that caIousics were daily crea
sing which threatened to otnent dscord to alternate
0'otheT from BROTH aud to countenoncc the opinion
mat icre were important differences Of interest in
the different parts of the State which the same Co
vcr"Ine"t would rot equally protect. When The
Western people complained that they had not inst
participation IN the power OF the government, they
were often rcproaclcd with their poverty and almost
always reminded, that they did not contribute their
Jbst proportion Of its revenue. The act of 1882 made
for equalzlDg the aud tax had thrown the Stale INTO
tour great districts, the counties into -four classes
ana had liked standard, III each class, the averane
value OF The land pr The first class conprised
n the tide water counties, with several of the larpe
midland countless and the standard value of It's lands
per acre was ten snlllngs; the second class com
Plscl Tie othrr midland COmmlIcs. cxccn. pitts,lra