Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1829-12-14

1
very important considerations. IL is due 10
justice due 10 humanity: due 10 truth. 10
the sympathies OF our nature; M 6ne. 10 our
/ character as people, both abroad aud a,
home that they should be considered AS much
as possible, Ia the light of human brings, aud
not as mere property. As such, they are ac.
ted upon by our laws, and have an interest ia
our laws. They may be considered as making
a part though degr ded part, of the families
( TO which they belong.
II they had the complexion of the serfs in
the North Of Europe, or of the vilIrins former
ly in England, IN other terms, iftaey we're of
our own complexion, much of The difficulty
would be removed. But the mere cIr.um.
stance OF complexion cannot deprive them Of
The character OF men The Federal number
rs tits called, Is particularly recommended to
attention IN forming basis of represent alton,
ny MS simplicity, MS certainty, lis stability aud
lis permanently. Other eApcdienis forsecuriug
justice in the case ofIaxaliuu. while they n.
mount in pecuniary effect, TO the same thing,
have been found liable to great objections aud
| do not believe thai majorlt, of this Convcn.
ton Is di .pOsed 10 adopt them, If they can find
substitute they can approve. Nor is il a
small recommendation of the Federal number
IN my view thai IT'S III conformity 10 the ratio
recog nized III the Federal Constitution The
cases, II Is true, are not precisely the same
but there is more of analogy than might al first
be supposed. II The coloured population were
equally diiiused through the State, the analogy
would iaIl--but existing, rs 1t does. in large
masses, in particular parts Of IT, the distinction
between The different pats oithe State, reese IN.
bes that between tine saye.holding and non
sIave.holllug otalcs--and, if We II iect a doe
trnc. in. our Own State. whilst We claim tho
N AZ n ia 9TH (, 10,
dsagreeable consequences may be added 10 the
charge OF incou slslenCy, which will be brought a
gansl us. Ii the example OF our sister State is To
have weight, we find that in Il torgIa the Fed
erdl number Is made The basis OF rcpi esent ailon
IN both branches of their Leg i5aiure and do
moi learn that any dis aislucrlon or inronve.
nience has lowed from its adoption. Wish We
could know more oil the manner IN which par
ticu ar organizations OF Government operate In
other parts ofthe United States There would
be less danger OF being missed into error, aud
we should have the advantage oil their exper,
ence as well as our own. In the case. mention,
there can, believe. be no error,
Whethet, therefore we be fixing basis oil
representation, for tue one branch, or the Other
of our Legislature, or for both, n in d comm
nation with other principles, the federal ratio
Is iayouflie resource with me. IL Cnieieu
into my earliest views of the subject, before
this Convention was assemblrd land though
have kept my mind opcn have listened 10
every proposition which has been advanced
aud given 10 them all a candid consideration,
mus, say, that in my judgment, we shall act
wisely in pfrleIring II 10 others, which have
been brought before IA. Should the Federal
number be made TO euter into the bass of one
branch OF the Legislature aud not into the
other, such an arrangement might prove
favourable to the slaves themselves. IL may be,
and think il has been, suggested, that those
who have themselves no intefest III this species
Of property, are apt 10 sympaihyse with The
slaves, more than may be The case with III. n
master; aud would, therefore, be disposed,
when they had the asGendancy, TO protect
them from ln~s OF IN Oppressive character
whilst the masters. who have "A common inter
est with the slaves, against undue taxation,
which must he pad out OF their labour. will
be their protectors when they have the ascen-
dancy
The Convention is now arrived at a point
where We must agree on some common ground,
all sides relaxing III their opinions : not chang.
ing but mutually surrcnderlDg u part OF tnem
10 FRAMING a Constitution. great difficulties are
necessarily to be overcome aud nothing can
ever overcome them but spirit OF compto-
mise. Other nations are surprised at nothing
so much as our having been able 10 form Con
stitutions in the manner whlch has been exem-
pfed 10 this Country: Eyenih union offs mauy
States in the eyes OF the world "A wonder the
harmonious establishment OF a common govern
me,t over them all, a miracle cannot but
fatter mvspf that without a miracle, we sha Il
he allie 20 arrange all difficulties. | never have
tesnaired Notwithstanding all the threatening
appearances we have Passed through. | have
now more than a hope IA consoling conf
dence that we shall at last fnd thai our la
bours have not been III vain.