Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-11-19

1
tion lie could not pretend to say that our govern
ent Is theoretically perfect, that there NAV not be
aeiec's, but every wise statesman when called to
ahe changes IN the Constitution. viii not nsk ifthere
Is any th"oFctcai objection To single part but esti-
mating the whole OF the government and takinu eve
~ part In une view will decide to take it as it is proyi
fcd the good out-balances the evil He would revert
To the operation Of the government md would saw
that ii The balance of good did not preponterate.
!' the eXcelences did not outweigh the objections
'herc Would be some reason for change But ifthc
contrary were the fact, oil changes mus, be unise
AND injurious This consideration had operated ,lpon
nm to oppose The calling conva'ioa This business
OF thcoreNca perfection in government is not only
nnaftamahie but oil history shows it be mere iuis
iaa.ias, wn,ch pursued throughout will not only
'cha Us away from What is goad, but assurcdly lead
Us INTO puohc misery and commissions lie presumed
that l.ycnrgus, Scion and other uncient law-giyers
VINO "e'c considered amongst the wisest men Of their
oreticai motions Of perfection Where uTc these
gorornIpents now? Where are these ancient repub--
lies, They are gone, end in their room the most
tighttu d.~potisnls have been established When n
people have been in the enjoyment of praciicaI Good
Tor above half century tine wisdom d:catcs that
thcy shontt never give up that good for the mere
notions WHICH theory may recommend. The gov
crTrrT,eEt CT Slons last even his ou, life bn,
before he died he saw hi, visionary scheme of nertac
ton destroyed by the usurpaiion of Pisstra:,is.
IL hah been said that many gentlemen have conc
mere T'h an intention OF preventing any thing being
done by the Convention. Such wns not his case.S
he had opposed tho call Of this Convention but
when the people determined it should take place he
came with an honest determination to examine what
vas detective, and stick to that which was GOOD
The gentleman from Charlotte (ar. Randoiph) had
lad down wise ruAe of artion. Are We about to
reform the government? In what does it require
rso1'G Lex US see Whit practical evil c,iists-and
ictl we nave found IT. reform in that respect but
III no other. Ny. NICHOLAS said !lc had been an
officer " the government CIR about 20 yearshe uas
placed IN the situation OF Attorney Gcneral at On
early period Of his life when if even he had hoen
AZ! NOT a. st..
But this situation embed him TO have On opportun-
ty OF examining the operations OF tile poveru.nnnt
During! the 20 years lie had remained IN that station
he had known OF no instance of opnYcssion- Of 70
case IN which injury had been done to the RIGHTS NJ
any ndiVIdua! by the operations OF the government
Was Il 10 be wondered at then, that lie should OBJ
lct 10 change. ne hal made these remarks show
the feelings which he had brouh' with him 10 this
ConTenton. He would now beg leave to say u few
words on the subject NJ .hc amendment.
lie had always been OF the opinion that the true
ground OF representation was the federal nuBbers.-
lie had been induced vote for The compound hasis
because he unprecedented mi et be .e:ct,,ai for the
security fhe rights Of the ers,cr; mart ofthe State
and not that he preferred it to the principle OF the
le;!ei Al NUMBERS. On the CONTRARY, his preference,
had always hecn for the Inter. The basis of tbf.
federal numbers had been adopted By the federal
ConF eton, ana IL not adopted on the princnle
OF compromise He referred the Committee to the
speeches OF gcnilcuen in that Convention and To the
language of the Fedc:ast, to sustain his assertion
II was not adopted IN spirit of Compromise BUT as
the correct basis of representation in general Here
the happy medium was preserved And s thnre any
difference between the federal governments end that
Of this Copmoawcalthl The ground taken BY the
north as well as The south. all whose interests We're
at war, and whose preudices in direct opposi-
hon with each Other that this property aG-
t0rded iare proportion of taxes H vas important TO
the south that it should form part Of the basis of
representations and that Iir principles required that
The slaves should have influence the representa-
ton in the rato of three-fifts of their numbers If
we look into the debates Of the Federal Convention
we shall find that this basis not adopted on the
principle of compromise. The United States govern
nent is Ill some of features, OF federal chara
and in others OF a national character. AS regards
represEDon, il is national and no, general Its rep
reseItaon is founded The principle that it should
i've correct basis for g., the States and not upon tho
consideration of one State making concession to
another. The mixed basis, proposed by the gen.
t.emaa from Cupeper, mist necessarily be fluctua-
ting and very difficult to reduce practice. In the
same district, it Will be found that the amount of
taxes wder The basis must necessarily be still fIuc
tuag, aud will he occasionally rcadusi ed from time
to time. An invarablc criterion is furnished by the
ratio OF representation of hree-iths Of the slaves
Sumo gentlemen enormously represent this as q uar
tia measure, and only suited to particular portion
OF the Commonwealth. 1t is not intended that the bo
SIS of the federal numbers, lthree-f of the
savcs) shall be Confined to the Eastern part mere
~, but II is intended that it shall be extended to
jIhe whole Commonwealth. The principle cannot
apply to any district but where there are slaves,
and If as has been very ingenously represented it
be probable that the slaves will 60 beyond the
mouDtaiis, when they do 70, the West unquestion-
ably will obtain the power This argument of the
gentlemen on the opposite side appeared to ME at
the tine 10 be eio de Sc, else in opposition TO
other arguments adduccd by them in favor of white
basis If the slaves cmigrate to the West, every
three slaves that country receives, will add to the
representation oft. The operation of the rule is
general and Will ecteko ON all.
He said, that We had arrived at an awful period in
our dcliboratons-Ige had arrived at the Brink of
prccpice and gentlemen must nov decide for them
selves; and he would appeal TO them, Bpd ask them
would it be wise, would be polite submit a1Iy
Constitution to the people which would be agreed to
here by majority OF two even FIVE or ten!
An awful responsibility would devolve upon them in
such case and he said it less in anger than in
fall their heads. His dearest friends and re-
etives resided beyond the Blue Ridges he must there
fore dePrecate the impending calamity os much on