Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-01-13

am the niese servant OF the people. Du. il IL said
this equality oil county representation is confined
10 tne House oil De!egates-that the organising of
Convention is Il 4" casus oniss,is,' AMI that the
legislature may act in reference to il without re-
gard 10 constitutional restriction. Believe me, Sir
TINS is mistake; there is strength in The posi-
ton. Ii those pure spirits who, under the direc,
inspiration OF Heaven, achieved orr liberties and
established our government, could descend from
Oh high 70 visit the ear;h you would be told, the
want OF provision for amendments, Sc. SO far
rom being the omission OF negligence, was the
Iesign oil consuinnate wisdom: wisdom which
looked to stability as the great desideraiup IN go
vernments, and designed TO prevent the surges Of
popular Glamour which are ever rolling from the
mountain to the flood, from oblera,ing the land
marks OF Constitutional authority
nenever the government, "de facto,' travels
on, Of lis legitimate orbit, to establish govern
nent de jure, confusion is the evitable reiut;
ana IL You, MI Chairman, by rejecting the pro-
position now before you, base the Convention on
principle not known 10 the existing government,
you are guilty Of usurpatou.
The ireeholders ofthis Commonwealth, whose
mere instrument you are, have not demonstrated
.he changes which the proposed Convention is to
bring abou;in the nature OF things, they could not
do il. The diversified views which have been
presented to this Committee shew clearly, That
there Is no distinct declaration by the people how
and what changes are to be made in the matter OF
representation. Then do not, beseech you, Sir,
anticipation, produce those very changes which
are desired 10 be maie by the Convention itself.
The Legislature has or has not the power TO
equaiiLe representation. Ii il has the power, then
one great argument in favor Of Convention is Of
no force; if it has not the power, there is an end
10 the argument.
Sir, there does not float on the surface OF the
most superficial mind, more dangerous fallacy
than this that because the legislators come direct
~ ifoin' and are Immediately responsible to, the
people, anu are presumed TO speak the will OF the
people, they may, therefore, do what the interests
oil the people may seem TO them to require. Let
this principle be sanctioned and You NAV bid
long farewell TO all your greatness for then the
written constitution will be as the glimmering ia
per- whose hickering light, emblematica of change,
VIII only serve to make surrounding darkness
visible. Depend on it, Mr.. Chairman, legislative
rsurpations are more cautiously TO be guarded
against than any others.
1t Is conte nded, however, that the " saus popu-
II" paramount 10 every thing else, requires an
equal basis OF representation in Conv ention--that
ex necessiate rel, 1t must be so. Let me re-
mind you, sir, that the ' salus populi'' has ever
been the usurper's preteyt necessity, the tyrants
plea The safety OF the people does not ~ quire
that the principles Of the constitution shall be
overlooked: the necessity of the thing does call for
the changes which the reiormers demand al the
hands oil the Legislature. The gentleman from
Brooke (hlr. Doddrdge,) says the east will
give TO the west black pill, which nothing but
force will carry down. He should bear in mind
that those wise doctors, who relieved us from the
incubus OF royal oppression, have agreed on the
course of treatment-we wish TO adhere most
scrupulOusly to their prescriptions but it is the
gentleman from Brooke who desires, by change
oil treatment, 10 savate the body polite. That
gentleman urges his blue pill, by the most alarm
ing forebodings. He says there is no time to be
lost Sir, there is 10 danger-the Commonwealth
oil virginia, secured by the aifec ons, and virtue
and wisdoni, and patriotism OF her citizens smiles
at the drawn dagger of civil war and deSes its
point. Pass what bill you pease-adopt what
principle you think fit and proper and the people of
the Old Dominion will use it 10 effect the refor-
nation they desire. They will try Convention
after Convention, before they will resort to the
. ultima ratio
We are told that Convention based on equal
county representation will be hooking of the
peope-for that, as we go into Convention, so shall
we come out. Now, sir, it is the most down riaht
and shameless arrogance for us, constituted as we
propose 10 constitute the Convention, 10 do what is
right and equitable, for fear they will not 10 it,
Take care, Mr.. Chairman, that you do not mock
the sovereign people when you usurp authorities
Which were never vested: Take care, that you do
not mock the sovereign people when you tear open
ms " sanctum saDctorun" OF political power
lake care that you do not mock yourself, when
you attempt to give tone to the Convention.
The tiends OF Reform, who contend for the re-
presentation OF free white population, say, that al
oil our legislative action, that we are 10 be regard
ed as the quasi Conventional Delegates OF the
People. L, for one, do unhesatingiy renounca
the character OF a "quasi Conventional Dele
gate; and l set my face against this political
chemistry, In which, by the artificial combination
OF TWO inactive agents, an effect is produced, which
neither, separate and apart, could accomplish
ny taking this ground, the friends of Reform, on
THIS principle, are involved in what the loeicians
style, &c petitio principii.
repeat, MIR. Chairman, tina. what may be right
in the people, may be wrong in us. If was a
member OF the Convention, would not hesitate
TO equaiize the representation on Just principles
adopt the substitute now in your hand and VIVA,
VIII be its practical elfcci' You bring into the
Convention, portion of the talents Of every sec
non oil the State. The views, and wishes, and in
tefesis OF the whole, are best understood by the
fullest and clearest representation OF the facts As
you enlarge the district for Election so do YOU re-
move the Election from the peop lie: the Presiden-
tia Election for an example, aud " vice versa."-
Adopt II, and you do more-you build up anotb er
monument of Virginia's devotion to the sanctitv
oil written constitu,ions-and believe me- sir there
never was a time when it was necessary for old.
proud, lofty, and devoted Virginia, TO adhere with
more scrupulous exactness TO constitutional nteg.
ry, than at the present time.
mr. DUNG AN rose and remarked, that the sub.
lect then before this Committee was one OF as
deep consequence, as any that had ever arrested
the attention OF any assemblage Of men that
had ever met in Virginia. The formation of The
present Constitution was not less consequential
than the day on which the present Constitution
was formed. The trainers Of that instrument nj
promulgated the Bill of Rights, and set ND the
present government, aud the object now was to
perpetuate their glofy. Hence the great irnpor.
lance OF the subject The movements of tiIa,
House were looked to by the whole people with
intense anxiety; both the friends and iocs OF a
Convention participated In this deep interest. The
question was should the great principles of our Co
vernmcnt be sustained or exploded. Dark as The
prospect before us was, he gloried in it. He looked
With Indifference on the obstacles that had bcena,.