Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-03-20
DEBATE ON THE CONVENTION.
MIR. pRApER's spEEcH-ia ire Senate.

Having addressed the Chair, Mr.. DRArER said,
that he was somewhat awkWardly situated OH the
present occasion, that he not in favor of either
OF the propositions then before the Senate not That
ofthe gentleman from Orange (Gen Dade) becauseit
was based upon the census of $780, and in It's opera
t?n would be manifesty unjust to that portion OF the
state which he MIR. D. had the honor to represent,
that 1t was Ill direct opposition the principles of
the Bill of Rights and to the great principle which
he Mr. D. contendcd to be the only true and proper
one, that is that free man is equal to another: he
WIS not in favor of the principle of the amendment
OF the gentleman from Monongala (AIr. Morgan)
htcausc it looked more to the territorial position Of
the State than to the free Mr.. d. said he
thought We ought to look to the free men of Vir-
gina without regard to their property of any kind
species whatsoever, and without enqurinrr whether
these men live on this side that of any mountain
or line real or imaginary, and we ought TO do this
because the term Convention itself meant an ssscr,-
bJasn OF men th1t rere free, either in person or b.;
their proxies or agents, to form IL socul conipnci
and it was not Convention either OF property OF
ofterTitory.
Standing then as it were between two cross fires
having to choose between the two propositions Mr.
u. said thut he greatly preferred that of the gentl,
nun from Mononga'ia (ir. M } because in its general
r.i!is Il would secure to each large division of tho
Slate, representation according to the whit, non.
nlaton, although some portions ofthcse larger civis
ions would have an advantage over some Of the 9th.
or portions of the said divisions.
Although Dir. Speaker am not in the habit of nc
Containing the principles of civil liberty by the mode
dn usurer ascertains the extent of his us,,rv ty
hSIircs, stl shall, on The present OCCASION resort To-
short Cal :uatIon for the purpose of shoyinr tbe
enormous injustice which the proposed amendment
ofthe gentleman from Orange (Gen. D. if atlopted
will do to all Western Virginia.-Bv the census OF
1910 there appears to have been 550187 white per
fens IN Virginia. of these 333 o3 resided East md
ci2,e84 West of the Blue Ridge, by the census OF
1920. there appcarcdto be COB ,08l whites rvinr an
rcrcasc in ten years 1884, of this increase 1O7
were the East, and 421 on the West of the Blue
Ridge fthtn the relative Increase in the population
from 1920 until 1880, should continue in thu. same
ratio on each sidc of the ridge, there would be next
EGar 359.986 whites on the East side of the Blue
'dge, being an increase of 1l,1l2, and there would
be on the west Of The Blue Rid,, S0I 600. being an
insrease Of 50,d90. AS the present Senatorial dis
tricts we're laid of with reference to the white pon
satlo OF 1910, each of the nne western Senators &C
C?rdng to that population, represented, on an ave-
rn4t, 1855, whereas each ofc IS eastern Senators
ON un average, represented 22,5dO leaving an unre
presented fraction of1025 in cach western Senatorial
district, by the census of $780, but by the census OF
1872 each OF the nine western senators represents
E32i5 whites, and each eastern senator represents
S5,258, leaving IN each western senatorial district an
uTepresentcd fraction Of 1897 and spposinr the m
ito oincrcase to be the same between 1890 and 183h
that 1t was between 1910 and 90, then in the ncxt
ytnr, each western senator would represent 80 855
whites and each eastern senator would represent
Ae,*32 leaving an unrcprcscncd fraction in each of
$50 ,y.s.,, material districts in 1880 of i0523
Having nov shewn, Mr.. Speaker, that the propo-
s;tion Of the gentleman from Orange, (Gen Da1e)
WILL if adopted, do manifest Injustice to the whole
oF Western Virginia, that it will degrade them in
the scale of feemen, that it will violate the great
yirincplc for Which contend, that free IN is
chual 10 another free man, the ness of which
neither that gentleman any other protesting 10 be
republican, will deny in words, but still are unwilling
- observe IN practice, shall proceed to she,g
that il is in direct violation Of the principles contain
cd in the Sll Of Rights the very first clause of that
scrcI instrument declares, chat all mon are by ra-
tire equally free ana independent" MIR. Speaker is
THIS true, or Is II a mere abstraction, it has been
passing cnComiurns the revolutionary patriots and
the freedom and beauty of til cir institutions thus dis
posed to style their first text of liberty? know NJ
Speaker that some gentlemen will at once became
Sensutice this subject and say if it DO true that
it at proves that slavery ought 10 exist ano-
ther uroneItt among us.-Lct rot gentlemen be- tn-
easy; there various principles bearing this cuc-
ton; we must look at things thew are. II tic
question presented itself Tor the first time who
thrr slavery should commence among us. whether
set of human beings should capture another To-
move them from their native land and hold them
in bondage; defy any man to prove iIat il would ~.
lust right but there is anotGer principle earla!,
clears SET prcseTuatio, is truly said TO d. te first
Of natnrc: sir all history. aud if there was no
historical record common sense and all reason dedil-
Ced from knowledge of human nature would prove
that two separate and distinct races of men, who can
not amalgamate, who are entirely dissimilar III
every respect cannot live together US ecrnen on tin,
dame territory; q struggle iCr supremacy would
Instantly arise anf OF determination wo1ld cor
tniny if those enthusiastic ,natics who dc
sirc universal emancipation, would reflect one mo-
TRENT, they ought to perceive lEl destruction
would be the probable consequence yes sir these
whom necessity now con?e,s us 10 hold in boniage,
would in their turn, end to subdue Us to tl,fr
VIII, and would cndeavor TO visit US with severe
retaliation. Sclfdcfcnco and The law Of necessity
therefore requires that we maintain our sIpremacr
and no man is disposed 70 go farther than ain, 10
Inan;aiD it. But this nrgun mt doris not and cannot
apply to mer Of the complexion, WHO al admit
to be free, WHO can have 10 motive that is not
mon ~ all: IA declaration Of the bill III roils IS
i.brcio.c, NJ. Speaker, not abstraction, il is u
ros' rlorici5 truth AMI is with fcc'inrs Of the
G,op-c' regret, that SEQ ~ Virginia, v~s IN Virginia
republicans, disposition to .u?PTcss IN rIac'icc.
Dut sir, Tho ann ndFGoHt proposed Jy The gentlemen
from Orange, Gen. Dsdq) is, in further violation ri
tic prir !cs contained in tic Bill Of Rglts ihctl.rd