Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-10-13
VIRGINIA CONVENTION

THURSDAY, OcT. s. he business before tht
Convention progresses. Mr.. MADISON, fro"
the Committee Of %, made report in which
was recommended the referring OF the diff'ren
d, partmen,s Of the Government 10 different
committees for their examination, and before
the subjects should be taken up by the Conven'
ton. This report was laid on the table and
printed. Mr.. farewell and Mr. MERCER Of
tered other projets, which we're printed. Mr.
TAzEwELL's was to take up the existing consul
tuition IN Committee Of the whole, and consider
il section by section: Mr.. MEncEn's was, that
the subjects Of the Right Of Suffrage, and
basis Of Representation, should be referred t"
seperate committees Mr.. MAoHAE, from the
Committee to whom had been referred the Rules
of The House Of Delegates, reported set ol
rules, differing but very slightly from those ol
the House of Delegates, for the government, ol
the Convention. 1t is not necessary to give
these in srtsaso.
FRIDAY, Der. g. Mr.. FrzHUeH offered the
following:
Resolved, That Committee be appointed. TO enquire
into and report the compensation proper to be allowed
10 the several officers appointed BY this Convention
The resolution was agreed TO, and NIessrs
Fitzhugh. Loyal, Sranatd, Barbour, Of Orange,
and Baily, were appointed said Committee.
Mr., MADI>oN's report from the COMMITTEE
Of "a then came up for consideration
The resolutions being read a, the Clerks Ia
BILE, Mr.. NERCEn rose to say, that he would
wait until The gentleman from Norfolk Mr..
Tazewe'l had offered his Substitute for The
Repori, before he himself would submit his
own two Resolutions addiuonal 10 those OF the
Report--It would be 'ime enough TO perfect
the Resolutions when the Convention had dis
Dosed of the Sub,,i,u;e.
MIR TAzEwtLL said i, would have been much
more satisfactory TO him, that he scheme to
which he had offered substitute should be
made as perfect in every respect, as its friends
could desire, before he offered that which he
was now about 10 propose. 1, was nat his
wish TO efler substitute 10 a scheme which
was Imperfect, but as soon as The frends OF The
scheme had made /, as perfect as they desired
10 make il, then between his substitute and
THEFT perfect scheme. The Hon would have
TO decide. But if gentlemen we're determin-
ed 10 Commit their schem TO the House in its
impeifec, state, he could have no objection to
redeem the pledge which he had given TO the
Hous-, and to bring forward hi, substitute a,
his moment. He would therefore move 10
amend The report, BY striking out the reso-
ls,ions, aud by substituting the resolution which
he had Yesterday offered TO the House, aud a
printed copy Of which was annexed 10 the Re-
por, Of The Commidee.
In making This motion he ,hougt il hu, fair
To prefs,e what he should say with stating
that The same motion had been made by HIM
in the select COMMITTEE, ard that IL was in
that Committee rejected. Notwi,hs' anding
this fate, however. he had thougn, it due TO
the in,eres, and importance Of the sabjec', tn
the future deliberations of this body, and to
those gentlemen who had no opportunity OF
participating in the proceedings Of the Com
mi,,ee, to submit, to the House what only the
c ,mmi,,ee had as yet had an opportunity 10
decide upon.
On examing The two schemes which were
thus brought TO the view OF The Convention, j,
mast occur 10 every gentleman, that in uei,her
Of them was there involved ANY principle. Each
Of the schemes con'empla'es The moss convent
en-, mode OF Obtaining he object which all
have equally IN view. the question, therefore
is a question, OF mere cx2edispce--a question
Of eonven,ence-the matter 10 be decided beng
simply by which Of two modes that shall be
accomplished, which all are DESTROYS may br
accomplished. The question therefore, asIrows
down TO Q mere question, which Of The Sc modes
is 20 be adopted. These methods principal
ly diff-r in this BY the scheme embraced il,
the resolution which he had the honor TO 0ffcr,
the existing form of governments is at once and
altogether referred 10 the whole body in Com>
mi'tee Of the Whole, for the purpose Of detail
ed examination and revision there. The whole
scheme therefore, is brorgh, before the whole
body a, the same time. Every sep of advance
is an advance actually made: There is noroom
to retrogsde: every step advanced in the work
would diminish wha, remains 10 be DONE
What on the contrary mus, he The eHec, Of a.
dopt,ng the report Of The Committee? FIRST
we shall have TO divide the subjec, into differ
eni parts, and % distribute all these dlfEeren,
paris among distinct Committees. VIVA, linen
becomes Of 'hr body Of The subjec,! Adop'
ths Substitute which be proposed, and IN the
spur Of the moment, the House could ,mmedi
ately go into ac,ion TIE moment his resolu-