Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-12-24

i w. nU
eech the power IN one branch Of tie Legislatures
| 10 not understand me- ADVOCATING such distr;hn
oh OF RoweS upon principle as concel,pr that il
Is required by the peculiar condition of Virc;p;,
Al say Is that is the utmost exten, m which o
owT principles would carry YOU. You obioct iibot
such Senate would be no sufficient safe n,,ard be
oe,ns inc smaller body, and representing in
SOLE uegree the property of the country it would be
stigmatized as the arstocratc branch of the
gnu would not be able to resist tine measures of
me popular branch OF the Legislature. We are told
INA, u'oGgA u may resist for short time il must
yield to the popular voice IL the course of few voar
as all experience proves These objections i(,;nI,
are wholly unfounded. My experiences the Senate
oil virginia, induces to think that II is admr,hJ
suited to guard the Legislation of the country nron,
n9us.ice ana the influence of popular cla1nor II has
1hever,hc!esS been reprQached as the ars.ocratic
Gn, VI INC LEGISLATURE wherever it opposed itself
nilly 10 Inc popular branch, it ultct, did, TO the
almost unanimous vote of the House of Deleuat es -
Inc tour years term of service, the classification.
Whc carries out one fourth OF its members encb le,
and leaves the other three fourths to render tbe;r
count 10 Their constituents only when they have had
W. .. tnree years experience OF their measures
-, uee''o" upon thelr conduct, gives confidence
10 their opposition of injustice and of the mischiev
Gus measures which popular excitement dictates that
- very rarely subdued. II is true sir that Senate
constituted as ours Is, for series of wears re-
1ist the settled wishes oftha people Nor should thew
A.hg AZ o'ncr representative bodies thew ouch, to
ye'o, ana must yield TO the deliberate vii; OF their
W. ana so ought, and must YOU: Gem
upon the compound basis, .eil to the set
.hat II Should be otherwise. Their constituents viii
De that very minority, that very people to whom YOU
aesfe 20 give the power But they will not Weld to
the will OF the House of Deleoates nor tn tho nil IS
the constituents of the House of Deleoa,es Tho two
constituent bodies will he different and as tie mem
bers OF each House wiz look to their own copst;tn
ets Ioi renewal OF the trust coniidcd them and
ior appreciation OF their conduct so they will look to
the saic for instructions and for that settled
popular WILL which must habitually gride the ranre
sentative. cannot doubt that such Senate who'd
afford ample protection against all the dancers to
perry which have been apprehended from the power
OF the majority.
l have endeavored to shew thai no such protection
Is necessary, that no such danger have said
III another place, and will repeat here that vour ne
cnlar property does sot require Representation in mr.
der to gvcit influence and power in the government
on having more wealth--your lands being cultivat-
ed by slaves-all the mental duties in vow
being performed by slaves-your white people havey
more leisure TO devote to the cultivation of their
'has, better opportunity to prepare themselves 70
nose stations IN society which give distinction and
power Co talent, titan can possibly be eoyed by your
western brethren In answer to this Is sa;i 10 no
ridiculous mockery to speak of the wealth of tho
lower country, and have been asked whether kno,v
a single man, IN the commonwealth, whe has boon
more than half educated Stree the Revolution know,
not by what standard, gentlemen would es,roa,o
wealth or education; and have saidnothne of great
rches or finished educatlons:-But the whole arou-
tnent OF the western gentlemen, and the scheme of
representation they propose founded upon the su
perlor wealth of the east, and appeal to number
it'sS witnesses, among the LIVING and the deud
viii hear ample testimony the fact that in tine east
nave boon born and educated, almost all our dstin-
guiShcd orators jurists and statesmen. Where do
you ind the eminent men, who in former or latter
tine have ornamented your bar and your bench bayr,
enlightened and guided your Legislative Counsels
State and Federal Whence your long list Of Gov
! eTn"rs and your race of Presidents? It is the nat
ura the necessary effect of your slave population tn
give these advantages and they must give political
power. But am asked whether if superior weaItb
gives superior intelligence that intelligence does not
give superior v1rtuer-and whether would Withdraw
the power OF the government from its intelligence and
virtue?
This is ingenious catcchisrn, Mr. Chairman bnt
not sound reasoning II does not follow that when
superior numbers are side, and superior f, al
ent on the other, that the power of the government
Will be with the superior number-this conclusion
would deny the influence that talent exists over
f number. And much less does 1t follow that superb
or intelligence gives superior virtue in that con1i
ton OF life to which this argument applies. MIGHT
very safely concede, and i do concede that in the
retired walks of private life, intelligence cherishes
fit does not create virtue rebnkes and Restraints
does not repel or subdue vice. But cannot admit
that the school of politics. is the school of virtue
should not look for the most virtuous men amonp
that einss however enlightened Who have been long
dlscpled IN the arts Of electioneernr and INTRIGUE
who have been accustomed to the limitation and
DISSEMINATION pTactiscd. in the mana cement of men
< who have been drilled in the tactics of party var
are' and have become veterans in the conduct OF DO
iIilcal campaigns ] should with more confidence
look for them among the independent and intellipeut
IN the mdle class Of society, who obey call into the
public service matter Of duty, whose ambition is
satisfied that duty is faithfully performed, who find
their chief happiness in this life, in the bosom of tbr
own families and limit their principal desires To tho
boundary Of their own farms. I cannot allow then 10
your supetor intelligence any necessary super;orty OF
virtue and though willing that you should en-
tighten the path Of duty and persuade us IN fol
'ow ~ we cannot consent that you should prescribe IL
While would most cheerfully submit to the natural
influence OF your talents, while would most cordially
cooperate with you' III any reasonable measure TO
guard your property against all injustice from the
power OF the majority never to surren-
ger tne power into the hands of the minoryto give
them the complete dominion over the persons and
property of the majority You ask villa, security VIC
can give you for the protection of your property We
ask what security you give for the protection
OF our persons and property You tell us yo have
not abused your power, have been guilty Of no in
justice, no oppression for Fifty years We Tell 90,