Virginia advocate. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1827-1860, 1829-12-11
FRO BIZ cONTIGUED.l
From the Virginia Literary Museum.
CONVENTION,


followed in the debate. lie went int" history al
the present constitution Of Virginia, TO show that
from the manner in which it was formed, il had
not the legitimate sanction and authority of tn,
people, but was the act of frechodcrs, for the be-
neht Of freeholders That the trainers Of tina,
instrument hnd acted wisely in not altering the
right OF suffrage, in the emergency Of the times
but that discomfort towards the constitution soon
man'festcd'itself, on account of the inequality of
representation it had sanctioned lie noticed
the application that had been made for a revision
OF the constitution. and gave history of the law
OF lol7, which had made new distribution OF
senatorial districts, upon the basis Of white po-
pulation. ~ -
He admitted that what was called q; state OF
nature never had actual existence, but he =" deni.
cd that men were to enjoy power in society, in
proportion to the property they brought into it,
lie agreed ihat the protection of property was
one of the chief ends ofgovernment, but insisted
that 1t furnished no proper basis for representa-
ton. He maintained that there was no analogy
between the dispute between Great Britain and
her colonies, and the controversy here The
complaint of the colonies being not :. that they
did not enjoy representation. IN proportion TO
taration, but that they had no representation at
ALL"
lie said if the right of the majority to govern
was not n naturai right, it was certainly con
rentionai right, according to the declaration a
rights, which had received the sanction of tina
body. He vchcmently repealed the suppositio
that the east would be more exposed to injustiq
from succeeding generations than from the pre-
ent. " He noticed the rapid increase of populatid
in the west stated that in thirty years MOI
half the population'of the state would be beyo
the mountain, and yet it was insisted that it
their duty to surrender up all political pow,
and bind themselse s to the car of a POPULATED
which scarcely increases at ALL
He cOmbates the position that, the major
mentioned in the "bill of rights meant ma
r'ty compounded of persons and property, ms
ing that its fair meaning was a majority of d
sons, of the free ,ohite population. He
stress on the fact that no apprehensions w
felt by the districts Immediately east of the "a
Ridge, for their slave property, though it
rapidly increasing in those districts. He d
added that an extensive market tor slaves wa
soon be found on the waters of the west, in
sequence Of the policy lately adopted in Obi
'.-i-',... =" ---s~~-- -~i ..~i.,,--~-, .=a al
similar change was taking place in Indiana
Illinois, by reason Of whiclp slaves could nov
held In safety in the frontier counties
MIR. Philip p Barbour of Orange followed
Doddridge. He said that in interpreting
bill of rights, which SO much stress
been laid, it would be necessary ~ 'rs,pnrd
cir ms of of - %
act. Without this prccauton, the first art
concerning the equality Of men } might be h
to clnim emancipation for our slaves He de
ed that an equality of political power was q
cessary inference from the natural liberty
mankind, as rights which are consequence
government. cannot be controlled by "prir
Piles. depending on state of things, anteeed
tn government q" He said those who rely on
tnIal right virtually abandoned it, when they
nit tliat female, minors. paupcrs &c, ose TO
excluded from it's exercise.
lie then examined the grounds on which
above exclusions were maintained /" be- iusii
BILE on principles of natural right, such MS
want OF free agency. or of capacity, and shev
that these grounds mad not the definite and a
form character Of natural laws Without
nying the right of majority 10 alter their e
OF government. he rema Ikc, rat this right
not aniecedent to government. Iie then refer
!" examples {" shew that tho right of the n.a
Iity to rule. had been controlled or greatly, ID
dihed. as In these provisions whah reauire 4,
thirds ~ admits mere piuraiiy Of votes Il, d
eide elections, or in the unaainiiiy rrquired
juries, ar Ia tho elections by Districts In which
may easily happen that the party which has I'll
tanned miaOyiiyoi the districts, may eonsiitpte
a majority Of the rioters
These Inconsistencies an thc part rftli,.sc uh
rely en HaaETai Tigkt siowrd be said iI.ss ., NJ
n'ns' ad"p, "dh'ng "n the grouad of ,nrre 81, Gu.
la'i"n' bat proceed Ia neD spd lhiaes o. they
are. Aim az " n0l the beet yassiLis Lu, tbo
best pfaoiiesbls g"veTnnsm lie aid that
when men enlorrd inio saeiriy they sugrsn.ls,ed
H"f "nly their psysgaai rights bui sls, ,hr,s
Ff0P'Hg' snd here ihsif iaequably commences
We arnisd that liir Pf'tseiinA g. a. peg, gas
aB eqo'Falspl . iis ssgSspdsg uulsss q s.s 80
els sfruf'iy ihai d "ald "a b., u.sGr o. ,.,...
Hhs's urHs ihsu vac nsfssslIl irils pfaifri.. q
40 ,ps.sird thai ihr pfue,lls b. 81. ..,ss..a NJ,
"ss fssi .f'i.asi' o. 'iT e'ainsrs asrHtias, i, g.,
'hs sh'gs 'a lHsiaad 'aa - o. sni-sa 10 u.
veal = iifs sisits iu AHlb CO Iaa g. fs...
AFs iiaai.si.ifs sss bisl.ssLa..ts .t4 ~
tbsss faampsss Sen ssiii,a g.. ....ss &c.,
nee ih' - eises 'i..H ass sss staiss. ias a.
hs''ns ihg sshfi.as - sieafirses 81. l..i
eFisE - 30 e.sse stFsHafpis
~ 's-~sa iisi 'i.s ssgsais,..s - e. s-s..
See 80 80 fssiasrHT a.ag &C. aae.
f'' sffffHf ssslts ssl8a tsssi.as 81 49,.
f,Rs'sffff ies' saHF rieif 81 81 80 81, ~.
'sssf go e. ~ 30" Fti ihsf f.s.as ia. r..s,,
1913 q go sists NHt 81 .ss.s .iss a.. y.
1855 Hississes 4 isa go ~ ss.a ~, u.
fsff e. a.s fess e ffssailsi 4. !. ..f.s.. -,
~ % atsifs issl So sasass.s.s ssss 49,
F'e'sifssF ga si.a efsf - go 81 A..
EisstsF tffasfs efH a. - t...t -.