Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-01-15

nave sonlteu that an every wise government.
regard should be had 20 The safety Of property and
the gentleman asks this what security we can
b ave. that the Convention IL otherwise organized,
viii have such regard: J ask tirl in return, by
what authority h" can demand such security
IDcer what sanction can the ,a!aoritY demand Sc
cuIty OF the people, that in any cKetcise of their
soscreign'y they will do iris or will not do that:
Inoy cannot esact the security, Sir because il re-
Iscd they have no power 10 enforce the exartion.
will tell the gentleman, however, where this Sc
curIty vii! be found; il resideS in the prudent
wisdom 81 every people, who reIard the character
nnu staohty ot their government. To demand
Nurther assurance, Nou,l imply distrust in the
PEOPLE, whic!, am sure the Eeu,ieman would be
Tile hrs, 10 ciscaiui, The safety, sir, which pro-
perry requires IL, well regulated government, win
'oe Psssided by N.u ,ieople suc,,scsnner. as 60
shetn shall Seem heal. aud cS cry argument which
Is directed 60 that object here. outDf place. I'M
'sss gentlemen believe they can substitute their
WI. Tor the will of the people N Convention. -
Sirthey may not choose 10 provide tlis safe guard
~ tLe manner that We would dictate-and they
will no, SO choose. if IN dis they follow the
ample Of other States. Iyt, the exception Of South
Carolina. In this latter, representation liz the pop
niar branch is spportoned IN reference 70 taxation
spi popuistior. IN al! ;iie other States, ;sr as
my research has extended, the safe guard consists
an 1ie property qualification necessary 20 eligibil-
i;y Ia Georges, where the 3 -5ths inrurporat-
ed,they are treated as population What policy
may foye dictated AZ there, onow moi, u pre-
sepis however, tie only instance where this iea-
ture OF our federal pact, hos Teen initiated The
State institutions. The arguments by which is
was sustained by the South in forming tha, gov
eminent, viii not hold here. were now
III Convention. indie pendent and sovereign States
can stipua'e Tor advantages, and give and take e
Guivaients III adjusting a iedsraiiye government,
and will TO so, the South did then, in The cxcr-
else OF wise and sound policy. But, sir, under
what sanction can individuals OF the same comruu-
nifty, holding peculiar species Of property, or any
particular district Of country, stpuiate in like
manner tor especial privileges or inImunities 20
fD ihpt NJ
common guverlmenp 10 make The cases paral.
lei, you must suppose that section of our State,
where unfortunately this species OF property j,
principally found. sovereign aud supreme within
Itself. grant you, then. in forming a treaty OF
Union, or even common government, they might
t,pulate in like manner, and il would be Tor Us TO
decide 20 unite .yi'h them not, the terms
they proposed.
But, sir, apart from ali these Fundamental oliec-
lions, the tendency OF tins first section, wticl
proposes the congressional districts is TO continue in
vur representation the same Inequality which with
usr the main intent OF the Convention odcsiruy
,.r, me expose, ty one or two esamples the dis
parity in population between, few OF the districts
Go which an equal representation is 10 De- given
Abe Sd Congressional! District has population Of
1854 free whiles--tiic Zlst DistTictoi dO,le3-
the 18th District has a reputation OF 40 ,i3S-
whilst the 18th has population Of IL ,323-ani so
q many others. This objection, because Of Gle dis
parity, would be insnperable, were there even
mime more deeply founded. 10 admit II, would DC
t, abandon the whole purpose Of Te;0rm-and in
eJch abandonment, 10 recognize ard establish tile
very principle we condemn.
Next sir, ia reply TO the views of lie gentlemen
from Mathews & \ ortlIaupton. who advocate an
equal representation OF counties IN this Conven-
fion. (Messrs. Braxton & Parkcr) The gentle
first named, has edeaycred 90 prove b. log
zeal deduction founded in legal principles tassyc
cannot cCIiStuNOnaliy depart III appoT,ionng re-
presentation ia Convention, iroIa the equal rights
NJ the counties, a. nov guaranteed by the const-
tlsioh j. tns be iruc. sir II places The cons'ItI
on, ~ this particular 1T least. beyond the reach OF
che people themselves. grant sir THAI we can :
rps ctatg ~ representation in this Asscmhly--l
Out hcw does the guarantee referred 20. extend be-
Tc:as IL Whence does Che gentleman derive d ,
IN 4niee 10 the counties. that in Convention they
tiIail have the same representation, which they
nov hold in the General Assembly, lie has calf |
Ell them corporations. in which vested cohs- |
trtionaI rights. and argues al interference with =.
',ose 'igi's. unless they carry into Convention. |
eantC political weight tiey hold undo the pres /
eiit form OF government.
confess. sir, cannot understand this doc,r;"e, |
which would ascrbe equal political power to the |
several counties in the commonwealth, ~ in |
desrucbe rigAt,regaEdieSs Of any disproportios ia
population. cannot understand why small sec |
lions Of the State, set apart and C'rcumsci5et iy ;
Imaginary lines Tor purposes solely OF local police,
nod domestic rule, should SET themselves W, III a
question Of Reform. as corporations polite, t9o sa-
cred 10 be transgressed.
II never could have been intended 20 give 90 |!
che territories, coInprehcnded within these imag
Siary any stVdItte IJifltd' tsi''F!'t. tpu's
IL the gentleman bn correct. and this county re
presentation, regardless Of population is 20 be en- .
tailed on us forever vii! u necessity be, il we !
concede 10 them an equal representation |
III Convention, what force IS this whole scheme ,
Of popular government, and popular iulc' In t.e
hands Of the people your government VIII be safe
aud indesiructiLlc. Ia the bands OF ihe colnties,
it will degenerate, and hasten TO decay.
In illustration. let me instance 30 you lie DC. /
generation of the popular branch, in Tie govern !
sncn,s of the Old World-WheIe is the Represen-
find il in the Parliament OF Paris, mere Commit I
tie 10 register the edicts OF their King. Where I
the Old Cortes Of Spain? Grown into neglect and /
dsuse, because il ceased 10 be a representation OF
the people. Where the Noble Old Commons OF ,
England, the boast and pride Of every In ;
glishman2 Nov, his gcorn and detestatioD.
Sir, haye we nothing III our present government, !!
that will compare with the wrecbed Borough sys- |
TEN, which even Engishmen deuounce' Can we /
not almost match their Marlborough, Newton, !
fWighD or even old 5srun's SELF ,
do not speak this, Sir % ,he fault Of the con- |
a,itution. ] do not believe with the gentleman !
from Brooke, tbatit was ever !nt0ndcd by our an !
restors to fix an ogarchy upon 10, in framing
,hc constitution, in reference 10 its representative
feature. We should remember, the constitution |
was adopted when the enemy AZ our doors |
there was time allOWed TO discuss and settle is I
various provisions 81 tho best and most approx -
manner. Vet IL was the work 81 tc most eniiGi- I
'ened intelligence happily directed &C. fix on che !
firmed foundations the great pillars OF free 20 |
veTnment-aud az The best proof, let 81 be reiucm-
tered, that its dispensstions have been uniformly
rGopted in tie major part. by those States which
che noble cdiice. and hail il the great ssnctu-
~ nrfr .ffffe al ggp pt rfa n ?