Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1829-11-26
rwo DOLLARS pnR AuMuw,
ysrgt.rta etoIoe:rsion.
. h coareni;aa. Oct a.

Ii contention, Oct 81.
The amendment Of Judge Green basiag re-
presentation in the house OF delegates unon
white population and taxation combined, be
ing under consideration,
Mr.. Scott moved to amend the amendment
by adding to it the words. ssatsd IN Ire senric
10 srbite population erctsirety" Mr. Scott
addressed the committee IN support of Lis
amendment.
Mr.. NAYLOR ofHampshire then address
ell the chair to the following effect:
Mr.. CaoisYadn:--If those gentlemen who
have been long accustomed 20 legislative de
bates, gentlemen who were well able 10 sus-
tain distinguished station here felt embar-
raised 10 attempting to address the chair be-
fore this convention, how much more ought
TO feel embarrassment on making the at
tempt, who have never been accustomed to
debate in an ordinary legislature Yes sir. |
do most sensiby feel it, and nothing but the
sohcitude | feel, arising from the subject mat
ter in debate, which is sill a stronger feeling,
would have overcome that repugnance which
| feel in arising to address this body. Bat
cast myself for few moments on its benigni-
ty and indulgence, while | occupy short
space OF tune, whist no other business mine-
diately presses.
would premise the few observations |
conflicting opinions in a mater in controyer-
sy. may appear to coincide with the interests
OF those respectively who 4-alntai.. those opn-
ions, vet they alay be held on eael side with
all the honesty and sincerity which conyic-
ton OF their worth could produce. Tbs be-
Heve TO be the case OF the present occasion.
With this convicticn, and with the highest
respect Tor the opinions Of those gentleman
from whom | am constrained 10 litter, beg
leave to state lew Q dose reasons which
thus constrain me 10 difer. IN atte.ap,iny 70
remedy that pIating defect in ths existing
constitution oil Virgins, wneI% o. the citlgeas
OF one section OF the state nave 81 much
weight on the floor OF nc legislature au.i the
citizens OF another scet:an have iittie.
(Which Is II Tie extreme as twenty 10 one J il
is contend 1 on the cae SHE tina, representa-
ton in The legislature ougi, 10 be based on
white population and taxation combined, be
cause, as it is said, property or yeil.n is ofso
much Importance in cigii soelety that it ought
TO lie protected by giving to It direct suffrage
m the legislature. Inns, on the other side, is
Resisted because ii is Inferior IN ats nature to
persons, in the same ratio that persons are
more valuable than property in a community,
and ,hat 1t would be thus substituting the IN
ferior for the superior, and usurping the
place of and taking FROM persons their natu
raj rghis-that wealth is adventurous, Incl
dental, and too tiuctuatng in It's nature for
the basis of d Fundamental law, which ought
to be founded on well aseertained and un-
chanseabie PRINCIPLES. Bat IL IS denied by
the gentlemen who contended for this mixed
basis, that there are any fixed principles to
govern us in this case--that government IS
just what yoa can make it. and therefore a
struggle in which the most powerful may
succeed, "a game in which the most skiiei
may win-that it is altogether conventional,
to be regulated entirely by oxpcdleacc: there
fore the whole effort of the gentlemen has
been TO disprove the existence Of those prin-
clples which we contend for, and indeed OF
any principles whatever to regulate us in this
case. 1t was necessary for them to do this,
as they have denied the primary right OF the
majority to rule; ana il they do not remove
this barrier out Of the way, they cannot get
on. But we need net emit anch ourselves be-
hind it, although we might do 1T with safety;
Tor we have no cause OF fear, to meet them
hand to hand, in the open field Of expediency.
But il they mad even carried this barrier,
there is another Just behind it, which think
they can never pass. that is, the public sent
mcnt and almost universally received opinson
not only OF the people of Virginia, bat OF the
whole people Of the United States. 700 may
travel any distance you please IN Virginia, and
ask the question of every man yOu meet,
whether he thought the majority have a l1Si.t
to rule in a republican government, and Il ne
did not laugh at SO simpie question:, nc
would unhcsitaiingly answer in tae a.iirnla
i've. Yes sir, Ills would be almost Universal
" the case, from lie man OF grey hans; down
10 the stripping of tender Yeas. And u mas
been truly said, by a wise and experience 90
statesman, that he was most uhwise III nam
insa government who disregarded the tiXe'4o
Y Unions and even the pfcludiees OF The peo-
T. PIE. But the gentleman from Hanover seem
ed TO think that we have gwen Il up as prin-
ciple in republican, government that 2 ma ga
joity have an inherent right 10 rule. | io
one, have not given il mp. do contena uia
there are fixed principles in the science
government, and that this Is one OF them, AM
adeading one TO stop now TO prove us
there are, would be a work Of superooa..on
especially after what the gentleman from re
derrick has said as TO that. 1t would, indeed
be attempting 10 prove aNoims, or self e'iden
Propositions But ii further proof were PC
cessarv, we have it uneontrorerilbie, anu oe
yond all dispute in the bill OF rights, "hie
positively asserts them, and recommends
frequent recurrence to first principles IN
many words. which has been received an
assentcd to by all the people OF Virginia. l.
upwards Of fifty years. And since their eAi