Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-02-07
CONvENTION-Fa,p.y. Fen. 6

J. D.
wv. Taylor called up the bill TO organize con-
venton.
The question was on agreeing to amendment
10 Mr.. Dades amendment, striking out the extension
Of suffrage to non-frecholdcrs.
Dir. Slaughter addressed the Senate in fayor of
extending TO nonfrechoders the privilege of voting
for members of convention-contending that their
right was inahcnable, which they never had ron-
pushed nor were capable of re'inqushng-that
their prvation of suffrage by the present constitution
referred only to the election of members ofthe Gen
cral Assembly, and of Congress, and could not be
applied to the formation of government. 1--WE
hope at an early day. to present Mr.. Slanghtor's
lucid argument, IN more extended form)
Mr.. DTofngo0ie succeeded in an elaborate aru,,-
nent against the basis of white population which he
commended never had been recognized by the lcrisa
ton or the people of Virginia, in any manner as the
proper basis; but on the other hand by Mr. Madison
IN the Federast by the Southern Delegation in the
convention that formed the constitution and by the
Legislature of Virginia, had been denied to be the
true basis OF repres entation which Mr. u. argued
was formed Of combination of taxation and popula-
ton He admitted the npossibilty of an accurate
valuation of the whole property Of the country but
insisted that the result was produced by taking
the whole population, black and white as the foun-
dation of representation. If Virginia Welded the
question: hat slaves not entitled to representa-
ton (which Dir. Madison had conclusively disprnved
IN the Federai5 how could she insist uDon retaininr
House OF Representatives That right was not sec-
red to her had been asserted as one to which prin
ciple did not entitlc hcr-she entitled to repre-
sentnton OF ali her slaves Congress- but had wit
the other slave holding states accepted representa-
ton OF threeffths in consideration of the renaininp
two-hftIs being exempted from direct taxation Mr.
D. referred to the constitutions of Massachusetts ~
kfGmpshTe, It. Island, n. York, PENNSYLVANIA, Mary-
land, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky s. Carolina and
Georgia. to prove that majority of the states had in
some form or other-in the person Of the eecor or
elected'or IN the apportlonment of representation
recognized the principle that taxa on and population
united, formed the true basis Of representation.
sMT. ~ passed severe philippe upon the doctrine
oftbe natural equality Of man, which however true
II the abstract had led wherever attepted 70 be mt
IN practice, to anarchy and desoaton; and DENYING
the power and the policy If the power were admit
OF extending suffrage to tho non freeholders or that
the right OF the majority to govern resided in physical
force or their power Of enforcing their will. The
right resulted from utility and the fitness of things
1--WE have merely given the principal heads of Mr.
promgoole's argument. II was "a strong as the bad
ness of his cause could well permit, and we hope 20
presentt more fully hereafter
When Dir. d. had concluded, tho question was
taken on extending the right Of suffrage and 1t was
Carried in the affirmative.
AYEs- Messrs. Paitcson, IIauon Ueiheyed, T5.rIcy.
Dade, Bernard Saunders, OSBORNE Smith, DyapeT
Morgan, .4Hen, Slaughter and FnlfOn--1d
NoEs-Messrs Hot (Speqt1r) Tiayloy. Dromooo,e
Mason, Wyatt, CaJeH, Martin, Carter Jones and
CIOTlton-1o.
The question recurring on the adoption Of Mr..
uades amendment, (estobi!hing senatorial dis trics
OF 1910, and the right ofsnrrage)
MIR. Dude earnestly called upo tho western rocr,,
bers TO pause before they voted and look at the con-
sequences of their vote What principle he asked
was secured by the bill that came from the House O,
q Delegates, The friends Of Convention sought two
primary objects, TO equalize representation and OK.
tend the right OF suffrage. Were either Of these Sc
cured by IT. Does it establish white population as
the basis II docs nOty Does it repudate federal
numbers or property the basis, IL docs not The
only principle recognized that the most odious OF
any, county representation. lie ADMITTED that his
amendment did not perfect epuaty; bat il re-.
cognized white population the basis, and repuda-
ted county representation, and property basis. By
u indeed the wost would not secure quite as much
representation in Convention as by the original In
but he cOniured the west not 70 hazard the greai pr.
cipes which the convon'ionists sought TO ostabif
by EickDg for Tow Representatives ui5ro ~ les.
iTaCouycntion.
Mr.. Drago sali The gcpncmaoiiom Orange cou-
tionedthe Wesi no. ~ ro;c against ld' amenImen.