Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1829-11-19
NFDNEslIAY Nov. II.

y
he kev. Mr.. Horner OF The Rumaa Catholic
Church--and the President took the Chair.
On motion Of Mr. 7 L Barbour, the Con
venlion resolved itself INTO the Committee of
The Whole on the CoGsttulionAlr. Powell in
the Chair.
Mr. johnson addressed the Committee in
substance as follows -
The subject undor consideration has already
occupied much time in discussion, and will DC.
cupy much more during the declarations o.
tuis Committee. lis great Importance, liz ex
IRENE delicacy, entite II 10 all the aid we can
derive from talent, from temper, from iorbesf
anee, from con alIIatIUn, from that free 'nteI
change of opinion which the most aborious in
vestigalion oil the subject can afford On the
Que hand We are encouraged by the mos anS
ious hopes aud by the anticipated benefits 10
result from success, on the other hand We are
alarmed by the most anx Gus fears the whole
country exhibits the most intense interest corr
WINGED as they ara that upon your deliberations
depends much Of veal or woe.
We are engaged in contest Conceal II MS
you will, for power-Dsguisc ii as you may
call 10y wha, namo you choose, call II dis
cusslon OF thu rights OF man IN his natural OF
in his social state, still II is nothing more nor
less tban a cOntes' for power. Imagine your
SET sir, presiding over "A school OF philo ophels,
deysing political systems Tor all relations oil
man, metaphysical abstract systems, or II you
please, systems Of practical utility, but whe-
ther they be meiaphys cal reasoning or prac
teal rules. they are slll the arms employed to
decide the contest whether the sceptre shall
pass from Judah or the lawglver from Israel
feel peculiar interest on this occasion
because with one party its my present resi-
dence, il is the land Of my nativity. TO many oi
whose ciZens hm bound by the strong ties
of affinity aud blood with the other party
is my property aud Constituents, 10 whom am
bound by every act ol kindness, and hy the
endearmenis OF lrlendship--by the confidence
extended To me before | had earned IL, and
which has been since continued, though !
thought il well might have been losl by my lie
moYal. Under these circumstances, had Ia
ken counsel rom prudence, ! should have held
a strict neutrality but. Sir. have looked
upon both parties, as component phfis ui tue
same community having some minor interests
not exactly IN accordance, but Idenlihed by the
same g1vernment--hayIng the same leading
interests having one common oblcct--ihe
integrity, the happiness, the G DRY OF Que con-
mon country - had INDUCED IN the fond per
maps delusve hope, that II was not impossible
TO appease all anlmosites, to quiet every angry
feeling, and unite ~ common concert, Tor the
common veal and have not failed still To
believe thai may yet realize tbs hope.
could not preserve this neutrality at this ia
terosling crisis of aff,us, when any discussions
we're anticipated by all, when dircinl dSsen-
sions were feared by many-at this period
when every thing may be lost by negligence,
OF every Thing saved by care. could not re
fuse the tiust which my constituents have so
confidently placed IN my integrity, which they
had conldcd to me without pledge, aud without
inu lHu he Inv left m.
to follow the dictates Of my own Judgment,
aud 10 shape my course with a single eye
10 what believe Wiil conduCe 10 the public
good.
have listened to all that has been said, and
much has been ably said have considered II
With candour, and AN fully satisfied, that BY
advocating the resoitf ~ OF the Committee
and by opposing the amendment, shall best
advance the Interests OF my constituents. | am
not fond Of change. was no advocate for the
call of a Convention. | have thought the pre-
sent Constitution impsrleCt IN theory AID de-
fectve in practice. | have thought that the
ineauaity ia The representation which the reso-
luton of the Committee is intended to remedy
a. well as the inequality IN taxaiIon, were eyils
which reo tired correction for some years |
was a member ofthat branch Of the Legib lature
where the inequality was the most garlng, aud
had an opportunity of observing It's effects.
represented district Of six counties ia the VAL
ley, conlaininga very large proportion Of The
white population Of The Western section. My
self and three others were the representatives
Of one third part of the white population ofthe
State. | thought had seen the injurious ct.
| feet OF this striking inequality. Tor beheld the
| interests Of the East often arrayed against the
interests OF the West. had seen the conse
aaences, had Witnessed the heat aud anger en-
genaered by the agitation Of these conflicting
! interests, and ii had fallen to my lot TO be a
mediator between both parties. had seen
these contentious tomenling and increasing
the evils OF the system. separating brethren
from brethren, and producing dscord, where
in truth there existed nothing but a diversity o
views.
This npqualit, of representation, especial,
in the Senate, has always been one Of the chic
objects offeiorm, and the inequality IN the tax