Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-01-29

ardent as they can be in the maintenance of MANY
Of their principles, and who look with the most
painful emotions, to an entire alienation from
them, there will be no means of salvation. but TO
throw ourselves in the current as il passes, and
20 whithersoever IL may carry us. We must be
content to ride in the whirI,vind, although we
shall be allowed no agency in directing the storm;
aud il we do not aid in the destruction of all thai
we deem valuable and sacred in our present in.
situations, We must witness their humiliation with
the distressing emotions of silent and uncompain.
ing despair. Again, then, intreat my Eastern
friends 10 pause. Will the little '.brief authority
now sought to be attaned. Compensate them for
the evils that must follow in its train. Will any
Dement'S that can possibly be realized, Justify
either to themselves or others, the glaring nius.
tice inseParabiy connected with the proposed a.
mendment' Their own most important interests
certainly point them TO a different course.
beg leave now, sir, to ask the attention of the
House to the substitute l have proposed. Taking
the Senatorial districts OF 1917 as election districts
to the Convention, it gives to each, representa-
ton proportioned to its population in 1920. Ard
one hundred being the number contemplated for
the Convention, one district will have three, nine
teen four, three live, and one six representatives
The relative proportion OF the East and West will
be 81 and Al, leaving to the former majority OF
eighteen.
Il, in matter involving such important prnci-
pies, could bring myself to the conside ration of
my question OF mere expectancy, should not de.
OF being able to convince you, in opposition
IS arguments you have heard of the infinite
e. Iority OF districts over counties, in securing
TT seiecuoh OF Intelligent representatives. But
Oprefer to devote the little time vet left me m
sustaining the great principle on which INV promo
sltion rests. L have already eudeavored 10 popt
out to you the obligations created by that clause Of
your constitution, which proclains the right of the
majority Of The community to alter, reform, or
abolish their present Government NV amend
ment aims at real and faithful discharge of these
obligations Taking the white population as the
only legitimate basis Of representations it proposes
such an organization OF the Convention as will Sc.
cure 70 the representatives of majority of the
people, decided control over every question of
reform that may be agiated. This, sir. | hold IN
be IN accordance with the principles of our consti
tuton, and inseParable from those great and fun
damental principles Of republican government.
%hich we all profess to love and veDerate. Even
tended with all the dangers which some gen,e.
men nave attributed to it, should, nevertheless.
ieei myself bound to proceed Expediency ought
never to interfere with justice. But precedents
govern only IN analogous cases. And that which
i may do in execution of one compact. can never
constitute ground OF demand against me in the
formation OF another compact. There is a wild.
oinerence, sir, between the organization of Con-
vention under the present Constitution, and the
settlement OF the basis of future Constitution
AZ 'ne one case, we have been bound by the
terms that have been agreed on, whether lust or
not. In the other, we are free to consult either
the dictates oil wisdom or the suggestions of inter-
est. While, then, feel myself Constrained to dis
regard on the present OCCASION the claims that are
urged TO property representations 1 must NOT be
conSidered as committing myself to similar
course, at future period, and under different cir
cumstances So far from it, | sincerely hone. that
no constitution will hereafter be adopted by the
people OF this state, which does not provide the
most ample security for property of every descrip
ton. Whether that security Shall cons;st j., ,h
principle OF legislative representation, or be de-
rived from the restraining provisions of the Const
.nton' VIII be matter of no consequence All
that ask-and certainly shall not be satisfied
with less-is, that il shall be complete
am aware, MIR. Speaker, that nv amendment
cannot be otherwise than unpalatable to the gen
temen OF the East for; it gives to their opponents
the fullest extent OF their demand. But the repre-
eentatves OF the middle country have not been left
choice on the occasion. The hand of good fell
iowship and friendly feeling, which they have of.
.ereo 70 all, has been unceremoniously rejected
oy their iowiand friends; and thew have now no
other means OF resisting the deadly blow that has
peen aimed exclusively at their constituents, but
by throwing their entire weight into the western
scale. In doing so, they violate no principle of
justice. They only abandon the conciiiatory
ground they would have preferred to occupv. To
tne west then, they must look for a generous and
manly support. There the principle OF property,
ot, asst Is more emphatically called slave repre-
sentatien, is professed TO be held in most unouaIi
hea aohorrence. OF the two plans that are now
before them, one proposes 10 base representation
exclusively on white population; while the other
giving 10 the other 900 white inhabitants of
the eleven eastern districts, greater representa-
lion than is allowed to the thirteen remaining dis.
tricts' containing white population of $50 900
lnsures 10 property more controlling influence in
the convention, than it could derive even from
congressional districts. Should this last then pre-
and Preston, and Nicholas, call in their need On
their larger neighbors for protection and support
chey may nave willing hearts, but they will have
feeble hands: They may be giants in stature.
I 9ut they Will be pigmies in strength. Loudoun,
Frederick, and Shenandoah, will have been red,,c'
ed to precisely the same dimensions with War
wick, and York, and James CITY, They will each
DC allowed bnt single aye" for everv {" no.
that shall be pronounced against them.
lie, the representatives of the West, then.
Welgh the matter well. Let them &c look ON this
picture and on that" On the one side. thew will
perceive all that they have asked-on the other
an they nave protested to abhor Can the choice
they will make be doubted? Can it be for a mo-
.nen' oeheyed, that any portion of them will so far
forget the interests OF themselves or their
uents, as to bow their willing necks TO the verv
yoke they are seeking to avoid? /, at least. will
not give credence TO IL, till their recorded answer
shaii have vouched the fact--and then, when
theF constituents, more lynx-eyed than them.
Selves or awakened, perhaps, to their condition by
the pressure they may feel, shall Weld to The cen.
erous impulses OF their nature, let them give to
tneir resentment its proper direction-Let them
exclaim IN the spirit OF justice, though it may be
In me language OF despair: Ne, Me, adsur,,
gun Jecf-" il is we who have done the deed. II H.
we and we only who are to blame-Our Eastern.
iilends offered US permanent and substantial JUS
uce, out we preferred temporary and Legitimate
but ind myself too much exhausted to pro-
ceea. am speaking with Too much pain to my
self TO afford satisfaction 10 otbers / ,yilj con-
clude, therefore. with an aarneat annoai IN Iii