Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-12-15
VIRGINIA coNvENTGo n.
"WEDNESDAY. Nov. II.

cnce IL governnent--when we agree to exclude
many from the polls and require a qualification in
property, 10 give the right OF suffrage. This argu
mcni Is founded u;mistake: have never advocated
the power 81 numbers without dis, incon of persons
all that we hay" endcavored to maintain is the equal
power OF those who share the sovereignty q the con-
ssaucnt right ofther majority. The qualification of
property which we require, to give admission into
this number is with view to give power TO proper
ty, but is, like the qualification of are and
evidence only of fitness for the exercise of political
power. iii intended to give power to proper
", the richest and the poorest voter could
JOY the equal portions of power. If it were III
and the poorest voter could not9 enjoy equal
portions of power. SO far then as this illus
dcd upon it turns in favor of the equal right of every
voter without reference to property, in favor Of the
simple basis OF represent alton.
Experience and precedent have been APP
pcaed to, and the learned gentleman from
Orange, lMr. p, z. Barhour) had warned us of
'Aev'ry just DIST inc'ion between experience and eX-
pertinent, and giving wise caution against the dan
gers OF the one, has prudenty commended TO the
guidance of the other i was hardly TO have been
cxpec ed, after this salury lesson that the gentle
nan to rest rain his argument and TO enlighten the
pain OF our duty would have looked for examples in
the twilight of Roman history. When we substitute
Tor our own the experience of other nations, and 9TH
or ages. we should ut least require that should come
to us well attested by authentic history But | am
wiling 10 allow TO the argument all the aid it can de-
r!ve and avail myself Of all the light that can flow
from The example referred to. The centuries and
upn mas been caIed, the former f)r making pre-
cedent OF the representation Of property in repub-
!c ihe centuries, it Is true, which the richest
class OF society represented, furnish to nv mind
so far as the dim hight of information enables
me to Judge tar illustration OF the representation
OF property;--and ask whether this example in the
ttoman government Is seriously recommendclt 10 our
Imitation?
Here Mr.. BAaBouR in exclamation said that he
mad referred t. the Roman republic as furnishing an
example at one time OF the represen alton OF property
alonc' nv centurles-and at another time, oi the
presentation OF numbers alone, by tribes. He had
Sai that he did not approve either of these extremes
he would prefer TO combine them, as in the prupo-
sfnn OF the gentleman from Culpeper.]
Thls explanation, Mr.. Chairman, does not vary
the view have taken of the subject, can
It add force to the example which has been quoted
The centuries, and the tribes of Rome, were no, cx-
tremeS of arlstocracy aid democracy of which the
Roman people made experiment at different times
and separately They rested together and for ages
1hey were q the foundation OF tic paircion and pie
bean orders--originated during the monarchy, and
were continued III the time CT the republic. They
were the inspiring Of the angry dssentons be-
tween the different orders the people the Grind
ing expressions of the poor and the lawless inroads
upon the property of the rich. The power of the mo-
march was necessary to balance the contending fac
IONS, anu restrain the dangerous excesses of eacl-
anu In Jew short years less than twenty after the
expulsion OF the Targuins and the destruction OF the
monarchy these excuses led to the appointment of
the iirst DICTATOR the recession of the peoDc to the
sacred mount, and the first serious petition for an a.
Srarean law In the tribes tho people were not re-
presented but appeared proper person To act their
part III public affairs The scheme at caut.,rias aud
tribes dAsiaoal balance numbers and vealth
AGAINST each ether, but The history o. the republic af
lords more OF warning against nIschieis Than com
Hendaiion OF Its success I will not however claim
Ihe bcnciIt OF this example and urge it as a caution
u3a'lsC inc Danger OF giving representation proper
ty III our republic. know that our condition and
that OF the Roman people so essentially unlike our
representative republic radically different from their
mixture OF aristocracy and democracy that is not
& q n reg GD tr
government, indeed, in the opinion of Cicero its
greatest adnircr, and abcs indicator owed its chief
excellence to Its strong arIstocratic character-a
merit 10 which government surely has no claim
IL Is utterly IN vain, Mr.. Chairman, that orr an
peal TO any OF the republics for information to
goidc U.s. We know them all most imperfcctJy, and
the little do know teaches us only thai fbcv con-
tam no instruction for us.
Inc modern European republics will supply Us lit
Tie and to our deliberations. We should look in vain
10 venice or Saint Marno, Holland or Switzerland
Tor the experience Of system like ours onera,inG
upon system like CURSOR for information to Guide
US 10 the best means OF protecting the peculiar inter
eStS which arise out of the peculiar population of V
Slnia HOW would 1t avail us for example, to know,
what causes preserved so long the little Italian ro
pubic, with few thousand inhabitants ONLY OH
mountain top contehtCd and happy though poor safe
AMIDST surrounding nations, though without military
i0rce, and perfectly tranquil in the uperations al IL.
government, though without the ordinary check. aud
baanccsF-or what would 1t profit us to inquire how
IL mas happened that IN the small democratic caDtors
the liberty OF the people, with al the rlrhs of norson
ana property, We're preserved for centuries thouph
every male citizen above fifteen years OF ago was
alnltcd, III proper person TO share IN the legislation
OF the country?
Just as little useful information or salufary warn
ing Is furnished Us on this question by the experience
Of the french republic government tbat was
,hro"h up by u CONFUSION from the abyss of dcspo-
t;sm, foated for few ycars on the waves Of, L,T
resolution, and sank again, as they subadcl. into
tue botLomless deep Such experience might teach
Us the utter unhness Of any people for government
great dangers which attend violent and sudden tran
si''ohs IRON one extreme to annther;--but none of
the AZ ples of the EJropean republics can assjst ne
II! uoo,hg' whether II IS wl5est ID Virginia to base
tie representation upon numbers or uropsrf, r~
combination OF both.
The British Iouse Of Commons has been referred