Virginia advocate. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1827-1860, 1829-11-27


He contended, that it was because the
minority had attempted to dictate to the
majority Of the -nstior, and, refused u"
yie,a their rights, that the coDvuls'ors OF
the French Revolution had arisen lie
commented upon the argument drawn
from the subject Of internal Improvement.
and the lear that the people in Lower
Virginia would be tremendously taxed Tor
the Improvement of the West. He bcl,cv-
cd, that it was not the West alone, which
had stimulated the spirit Of Improvement
in that direction, but it was gentlemen at
the iead Of tide water it was the James
River interest, which pressed the connec-
ton with the western waters, and demand
cd so expensive Canal. He threw no
imputatio.s, however, upon any one.
He believed, that every gentleman had
been actuated in making these improve
ments by honorable motives, but that the
Fund for Internal improvement had been
principally sunk in James River. And
unless such matters were managed better
elsewhere than they were in Virginia, he
should be forced to come to this conclu-
sioE, that this subject of Internal Improve
ment WIS better conducted by individuals,
than by either ofthe Federal or the State
Governments.-He examined the various
improvements which had beer attempted
or were contemplated, to show that they
furnished no sort of opposition to the i'm
provement Of our Constitution.
His highly respected friend from Or
ange, Mr.. p. p. Barbourl had insisted
that there was great distinction between
experiments and experience. But can
there be experience without experiments
Have not all our civil. institutions been
the fruits of experiments Was not the
American Revolution itself an exueri.
m1nt? All our Constitutions were exper-
iments-and what mischief had arisen
from such a spirit 7 He controyerted the
various positions arising from the interest
which was alleged to actuate men and the
jealousy which was supposed to be so
necessary In government. He asked
what would be the situation of the State,
if this free basis were rejected by this
Convention ? The people would be dis
contented, and new Convention would
be called. upon different principles. But
it will contain, on any calculation, at least
a9 more Representatives OH this side fthe
mountains than beyond them. He denied
fhatthe West would ever contain greater
number of white people than below the
Alleghanies.
He contended, that tho valley country
would in its feelings be an Eastern cour-
try. Are not their interests on this side OF
the mountain Is not their trade this ay!
Will not they follow the course ofthe R,y.
ers? 1t IS the interest Of the Valley coun-
try to be with US. According to the Au-
ditor's tables, there are only two white ii
thables there to one black one-and BE-
sides the slaves are more equally dffused
among them and among us, each white
owning so much fewer than i'll the Low
lands. And white tithables Oil the West
Of the Allegheny are only 5 to |, and the
slave population Is destined to Increase
there Also
He asked if they meant to extend the
Right Of Suffrage? He was anxious to
increase that right, not only because il,
was required by principle, bur from expe-
diency to invite white men To settle here
and tuke the place of slaves. Every thing
is the result OF human iabour. Architec-
ture, the Arts, every thing proceeds from
1t. The land, aud the sea, are but the
matrix to receive and employ it. He did
not therefore think The freehold of the
Commonwealth was the only basis of rep
resentation. BY adjusting the basis Of rep
resentatioh on correct grounds, and max.
ing suitable change in the Right of SUI
frage, the people vii! be completely salts
hed--and what after all, will be the effect
of the change? You only push political
power little higher up the county
nearer the middle country which has slave
population and Of course an identity Of in
terest with the lowlands.
He examined the argument drawn by
the gentleman from Orange MIR. Barbour
from the Senate of Massachusetts-and
attempted to show that there was no anal
ogy between that body aud the Senate of
Virginia. He also controverted other posi-
lions advanced by the gentleman from
Fauqnier GMr. Scotg-(Alter some con-
Yersation between Messrs. Scott and Cor
don, the latter contended,) that all these
sectional measures about Internal Improve
ment had no bearing upon the question
before the Committee, and that they could
not DO fairly attributed to the Western vo-
tiers. lie asked what had these subjects
to do with the question, with the amend
nhent Of our Constitution
lie concluded by insisting that the peo-
pie had right to govern themselves, and
that this power resided in the majority Of
the conmunity--and he called upon this
Convention to give that majority IFS proper
efficacy. He offered an apology for de-
tanning the Committee so long, and ex-
pressing the embarrassment With which
he addressed so august an assembly. But
he felt it necessary to declare his views,
and to satisfy those who had sent him here,
that he had expressed the same opinions