Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-01-19

aud fyou adopt those districts it follows az a matter
of course that you adopt the principle upon which
they were arranged. Virginia, a sovereign indie
pendent state Unsuitable, in entering into the fed
era association insist upon this principles It was her
duty to make the best bargain she could IA a SINGLE
and undivided political community But the same JUS
LITIGATION could not be urged for insisting upon such
principle among ourselves in making the social con-
pact for our local government II we have not conf
dence in the Justice and na9nanimty of one auo, herr
and found 1t necessary from disrust 10 guard against
the rapacty othetwo great sections in question: then
there cxsteda state ofthings which would Indicate that
we ought not longer to live III the political
munlty ThS argument OF hlr. Old, hc considered,
implying ths wan. OF confidence. lie here d~ult
upon the injustice of such sentiment, and spoke with
feeling of the attachment of our whole people our
common country; of their proud participation ia the
same character the saI9S ancestry and the go-
~. IL is true that the people beyond the mountains
did not possess much wealth their felow-citi-
this side. But what little 1hcy did possess of
the common stock was equally dear to them aud
would be equally the object of protection in the Con
stitution and laws.
On the subject of the principle of force in sustain
ing the will of the ma orty tins much nir. g. said
might be afirmed-From the very nature and char
ucter OF property no one cOlld hold much if any, be-
yond what his physc Al strength would enable him To
retain All the rest held under the protection OF
the aws-and these laws rested upon the ply
steal force ofthe majority Tor their final execution
The will of the majority made the laws, and
consequently on that will rested the security of
property. 1t was not fair to presume that the malo-
rity would resort to acts of oppression robbery
confidence must be reposed IN them by che mi
nority, and there Just ground TO apprehcnd
that that confidence would ever be abused in any
manner similar to that 20 which reference had lust
been made. Ii man could not meet man upon primer
pies of fair equality, then the connection which
bound them together ought TO be broken up. The
idea that the mljOri'y ought not To rule was anti-
republican, He had never expected to hear II id
vanced in this land which had been consecratcl by
flapb Infr IN
Such doctrine might well become a dcspot, and
those who think that Crowns and the right to rude
We're derived from divine authority, and descended
like ordinary property. II unqucstionably truc,
however, thut consent. and force was tn, iorn-
dation of government. with this qualification. that il
extended only to wha; Just and rational.
Mr. G.. commended that property ought not % be bal
anccd against liberty, give Il particle of power
over These remarks. he said, were on tine ab-
s.ract principles. For las part he had no want
ofconflencc in the p2Iri' ofany portion OF Virginia:
his respect for, ana attachment to hcm did not per-
Init II. On whatever basis the convention might be
formed. he could not doub; but that that body would
frame wise and Just constitution. But far the sac
riicc of the principle OF the thing, lac would be will
ing, individual, that 100 virtuous and Intelligent
from this side of the mountains should make q
new constitution. He hud no doubt it would be a
good one and that should live rs happily under H.
we had done under the present ono. 1t was not u
parchment constitution winch made the people iapDy
and quiet. The source OF that happiness was to be
found in the temperament of the people; their muiu
al respect and confidence in each ether in those
noble characteristics that had always so peculiarly
marked the Virginia character At present there
was general confidence and attachment among our
people BIT e YOU make this concession rs 10 the
slave principle, future day, when the bonds
of attachment might be weaker, whom more design
and corruption existed. other concessions might be
demanded; the power to be acquired by this might
be felt to the dissatisfaction Of those who made the
concession. The power had heretofore resided on
this side of the Ridge. The people had submit, cd
10 the taxation You had imposed, without the least
complaint-they did not dstrust you.It ought to be
remembered too, that there many slaves also
beyond the mount aims aud that they too, were held
by the persons most prominent in public affairs. So
that there could be danger OF cicIoachnents rpcn
that property by unjust taxation any other way