Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-12-31
VIRGINIA CONVENTION.
ON BASIS OF REPRESENTATIONS
Ia Committee Of he Vhofe on The Conajtutioa
SATURDAY, Nov. Is

]" Committee Of ate Yaofe on the Coletutioa.
SATURDAY, Nov Is
SPEECH OF Mr.. RANDOLPE I-coNc11,Dr,D
In he course of what fear will be thought IN,
very wearisome observations ! spoke of the Parii
Law. When the people of the United State, threw
Cd their allegiance to Great Britain, and established
republican governments here, whether State or Fed
eral, one discovery since made in politics. had NO
yet entered into the head of any man in the Union
and which, IT not arrested by the good sense anC
patriotism OF the country will destroy all republican
government, as certainly and inevitably as tiin, will
one day destroy us.-That discovery is this that =
bare nAajority-(the majority on the Tariff was.
believe, but two-my friend behind me mr. p =.
Barbourl tells me that | am right: and on ono ,,nor
tant branch OF that law. that mean which relates
to cotton bagging, the majority but one ana that
consisted OF the casting vote of tho Speakerl that
bare majority may Cypress, harass, and plumber the
minority at pleasure, bat that 1t is their interest IN
keep up the minority TO the highest possible min,
consistent with their subjugaton because the ,arpor
that minority shall be, proportion to the majority
ny mat same proportion are the profits OF the msjor-
ity enhanced, which they have extracted and ,rtort
ted from the minority. And after all our ions
against this crying oppression after all our memorials
anu Inconsistencies, after ali irrcrar gable arn,.
Inents against 1t, refer not to the share had j,
thein-i speak OF the arguments of other gentlemen
and not OF my ownl shall In Virginia introduce
this deadly principle into own government, ana
give power to bare majority to tax US I'D Hbiiun
and that when the strongest temptation is at the 4
same time held out to them to do ?-It is row a
great while since learned from the PHILOSOPHER of
Halmesbury that state of nature is a state of war
but II we sanction this principle, shall prove that
state not OF nature but of society and of consti,u
tional government, Is state of nterminable way
And II will not stop here Instructed by this most
baneful, yes most baneful example, we shall next |
have part of a county conspirnn TO throw, flor
share Of The burden of the levy upon the other mart
Sir, If there is destructive principle in politics. it is
that which is maintained by the gentleman from
Augusta.
But we arc told that we are TO have a stay of OK
inns tho fIo-
men: "only give bond binding all your estate
secured by deed of trust all your slaves" Whv
there is not hardharted Shylock in the common
wealth, who will not on such conditions. give. Won
Inc. Are we weak. that like the spendtf1flft who
runs to the Insurer, willing to encounter this
caiamity, because is not to upon till the
year 1862 A period not SO long as some of us bayc
been in public life? Sir, would not consent to il.
If it were not to come till the year 2056. am at
war with the principle. Let me not be told, that
then am at with the bill of rights subscribe
20 every word in the bill of rights. need not sheyy
how this be. 1t has been better done already by
the gentleman from Spottsylyania (Mr. Stanard1 to
whom feel personally indebted, tobacco p!a nter
and stakeholder, for the speech he has made The
Bill Of Rights contains unmodihed principles. The
declarations contains, our ghts and guides; but
when we come to apply these great principles, we
must modify them for use, must set limitations to
their operation and the inquiry then is Quosque?
How far,
II is a question not of principle but of degr.e
The very moment 0Iis immaculate principle Of theirs
is touched, il becomes what all principles are rnoe
rails in the hands Of men of sense TO be applied the
fare OF the CONFERENCE.-THE. n Is not an incunta-
ton. It's no fasnau II is not wichcraf. Tfisnot n
torpedo to bcnumb Ifthc naked principle Of mum
bers only to be followed, the requisites the 81
man fall far below what the gentleman from Spoti5y-
van.a rated them at He needs the four rules Of
arithmetic. No, Sir, negro boy with knife and n
tuliy-stick, is statesman complete IA this school
Sir do not scott, jecF or lout, II use, think the
very words Of the gentleman from Augusta two Of
them certainly were employed by him. at tho princi-
pies Of the Bill of Rights, and, 20 help inc hcoycn
have not heard Of any who did. But hold with
one Of the greatest masters Of political philosophy,
that "no rational man ever did govern himself by
distractions and uniycrsas." DO not pat abstract
ideas wholly out OF any question, because ! know
well that under that name should dismiss principles:
aud that without the guide and light of sound well
understood principles, all reasoning IN politics. as ey-
cry thing else would be Only confused tumble OF
particular facts and details, without the means oi
drawing out any sort of theological or practical con.
Ciueion.
"a statq7n5n differs from Professor in an Tniver.
fty. The latter has only the general view Of society
tho iormor-the Statesman, has number Of cifcufn
stances to combine with these general ideas g. To take
into his consideration. - Circumstance arc iniu!tc
are infinitely combined are variable and transient
lie who does not take them into considerations is moi
erroneous, but stark Inadot operGn nj cu,a yaiioa,
tneanGt-ho Is metaphyscally mad. Statesman
never iosng sight of principles, 10 TO be guided b,
circumstance; and Judging contrary to the cxigen-
cict OF the moment he may ruin his country forever
Yes, Strand a1er that ruin has been effected
what poor consolation is derived from being told
~ had not thought it, Stuui est dixisse non pulr
ram. "Who would have thought IL Lord bless me-
never thought of such thing, or I meyer would
have yctod for a Convention