Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-03-11
DEBATE on THE CONVENTIONS.

roe oc71tt ~ trfytrtJ on Ue SuCJctt ~ II
orsasirsn< Cosecstion 10 a,sead the Constitution
of the Stale II
Mr.. DRONGooLE said. i, had been his fixed
purpose to have obruded himself upon the notice
Of the Senate during the discussion of the Convention
question. aid that 1t only since the debate had
comm cnccd this floor that he had felt inclined to
f,rcSo h,s frs, Inclination. Thc magnitude of the
subject which cfcroSscs deliberations, said he,
an the high responsibility attach ID this peculiar
occasion. to the character of representatives have
fled GOV mind With perpleXing doubts the course
most proper to be adopted. Conscious. deeply and
sincerely conscious OF ms total want of Intellectual
strength to grasp this mighty topic. and unfold all its
VARIOUS relations and delicate connexions, had 70
solved content myself With voting in silence for The
particular measure which my judgment might prefer.
was not inscnsblc TO the influence ofan app Shen
sio that the weakness Of tho advocate might impair
the justice Of his cause; and that my feeble effort
might in sonic degree deiract from the strong claim
Of my constituents to fair and equitable participation
IN the revision of the existing government. found
powerful additional reason in support of my wish 10
remain silent, in the consideration that it wasprudont,
aud therefore advisable to avoid discussion and COLI
Son, calculated to encender an unpleasant excite
ncnt hero, which would in all probability, in an ag
CTavated form, infect the whole community.
During the agitation of this question in the two
branches Of the Legislature, doctrines have been ad-
vance faGght With and full of mischief Lead
Ing in my humble Judgment toa abandonment OF VIM
gina principles paving the way 10 loss of the rela
tive weight of Virginia and the South i'll the federal
governmcnt-tending to destroy the safe defcnces
which guard the property ofthc citizen from onerous
cxactions; producing gross inequality i'll the appor-
tonmcnt Of taxes and representatives. aud ultimately
rendering, fear, the tenure Of certain species OF
property Insecure, and useless to the proprietor I
have the honor said Mr.. D. to in this body
asiave-hodng people; but they nrc not degraded by
the seryitude which surrounds them and which they
impose ON others. No sir, they patriotic and
civalrous and SIN the midst Of servitude they keep
alive the spirit of exateffreedom." TO such consti-
tueuts, who have viewed my errors With Indulgence,
unA
ungrateful unfaithfnl. In my zeal TO vindcatc
their rights my own weakness is forgotten, and am
cpfstraIHel from solemn sense Of duty TO protest
against the novel and pernicious doctrines which hare
grown out of this struggle for fundamental reform.
qhe advocates of reform. said he, have referred to
cpstniu declarations in bill Of rights and with
afr oftriuuph have adiucrd them support Of the
positions which they have assumed. Repeated
that "an met are By nature, equally free
and independent" This is an abstract truth
which Illl question. Yet sir, the in
fefcncps attempted TO be dcdnced by gentlemen,
apd the points desret be established by the quota
ton Of the phrasS, according my poor compre
h,nsion, prrversion Of lis plain import. Each
IN etate Of nature r. c1ually free anA independent
I'D can pTsz,zk9 claim superiority his fl-
fov-mar- But Vhen society energies from The ch1-
os Of nature, when government is instituted. vhm
tue actions of subjected to the sautarv To-
straints of municipal laS, and when for the common
cool sorna invested With powers which others do
not possess tn nGtur7 equality Of man is then ncces
sarily dcstroycFhs dissolution Of native cqusiitr
IS effected by voluntary association and mutual
sent. Phe exercise of power under any government,
cnnnot be riqhfnly traced TO any natural claim; II
finds its origin and sanction III the express or implied
assent Of those Who have united in the formation Of
the civil community. Fin the distribution Of author
Try under the terms of the social compact, larger
share IS allotted to nna man than to another this
stitutcs violation fnatarul equality Ifthc com.
ntlnity have established representative government
and if for the better security Of property, or from
yet;ard to local Convenience smaller number of IN
bpbtants IN ono scCon Of country arc permitted e
elect delegate, and u larger number fFanrerncnt
ton enjoy similar permission SIC natural ccualitv
surely is not inconsseT OF this great universal and
ofIuan. W truth stands gariugiy opposed, and
Sns intended TO stand opposed to thCsr who youli
uiprudenty claim the Authority govern b. natural
succession or by divine right. Tlc God Of nature
did create NIL men equally free and independent Of
each other, and therefore OF his whole cred
tioD can den1nd superior political power from the cir
tunntance of bis birth, and from pretended con.
forulity With divine Intention. The king of Great
Britain had no natural or divine right 70 hold the
american Colonies in bondage
The effjrt, Mr.. Speaker, (sail Mr.. Q 10 incorno
rite and preserve tho natural equality Of man in tho
social state, and to make it the standard of conven
tional rights and privileges is evidently rnisappca
Ton and abuse OF the declaration in bill Of rights
Mistaken ideas OF this natural equality and lnso5ed
cu5eagors 10 enforce IT. must lead TO absurd TnruIa
tons in society and may produce the most disastrous
consequences. 1t n desire to conform with this
principle Whicn gave rS9 10 htnc OF the curious laws
n Boiou aud Dycurg0s, With an account Of which
tv gentleman from MonoDgalia mr.. Norgun) on
Yesterday entertained ns.f had entertained the be-
lf that mast ofthe doctrines OF those uacien, a,c-
gveps for the introduction AMI parpcuaton ofcqual-
ity lnrd brcn discarded from Ire creed OF modern
statesmen us wholly tnpEac.cable, until heard that
gntleDan refer 70 t5a govGr0monts Of Sparta and
Atheos With evident marks Of pleasure and upproba
ton. Whst he vas quoting and recommending
etch regulations were designed 10 continue everv
CITIZEN upon an equality confess that was uitcry
surprised that he shouid hive omitted remind Us
Of Solors INV ahofshna debts fR Nr. Speaker, the
ah'ltrin OF debt, and TN exact DIVISION oforo2ort-
i tho vSry cuHsumnati0n ofcquali'y
Ii w1s u7f'r the dsor4 in!z1g influence o. She idea
[hat Ito naturnl con 'lity OF tn. hum rrcc shou3
D. respected ~ ia political community that the ma r.
Ret woneh 0; Pans collect ID toqcthar the J.h dqy
OF October l7iJ. TIcv could not pnrcriVe how. M
on prncip o. equality. thoy werc cxc.tdcd from ali
Participation n tha councils of The Republic. Like
da AmazOmio band, with Grns in their hanJ. finy
Il. H. 81