Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-01-29


The majority, and 10 the majority only Of the con-
munity, the right Of altering their CONSTITUTIONS
Sir, II this Legislature would not in its moments sI
widest phrenzy, venture TO infringe, in its minu,
est letter. On the least important OF the provision
to which have referred, on what possible grouns,
can 1t hope tojustify to intelligent and vipilan
community, the daring effort that is now maxim,
10 strip OF the most valuable right that can eye
attach TO any community.
But, we are reminded of what gentlemen g,
pleased to CALL "the vested rights of the coun,ss
and boroughs' and are gravely told, that the or.
ganzation OF Convention, in any other mode thar
the one suggested by the Committee of the Whole
would 6e gross violation Of these vested r;ob,s
1t understand the argument CORRECTLY Ar,
Speaker, It is this-that because, under the nre
sent Constitution, each county is entitled TO ty.
representatives, and each borough to one in the r.
oil Delegates; therefore, each county and borouoh
may justly Claim one representative in a Conyen
ton called to frame a new Constitution. eanno.
err, think, in pro2ouncing this to be what lov;
clans would call Is non sequitur" But. in truih
Il there be any force at all in the idea, we shah be-
. . mo most extraordinary state of confu.
sion by IT, For, if the Constitution did intend 70
vest any particular right Oh this subject il wa
that each county and borough, then erisfin
shouiu DE entitled to certain portion of political
power and no more But, understand, that thu
Legislature has, from time to time created r.,
counties and boroughs, and has at least in one in
stance, expunged from its map and statute hooL
not only the boundaries, but the very name of
county. In order, then, to show proper under.
o. ana proper regard to vested rights
as they are called, it would seem to me necessa,y
70 60 TO work at once with the sponge and tbs
welding iron; TO blot out the iIlegiiimate oprnas
OF legislative usurpaton,an to eunite those who
nave oeen, without authority, cast asunder
but, why are the counties and boroughs onIvio
De the objects OF our special care, The sam.
constitution, that assigns to them their portion n
Pohucai power, gives to each Senatorial Distric,
- vested right presume, to four represents.
ives ana whether under the authority of this
=" vested right" they ought, with the beco,n;n.
modesty OF the counties, TO claim only hall the re,
presentation in Convention, that belongs To tben,
IL the Legislature, or IN tn grasp ny .Dir,t of tba
times should go with the noroughs for the whole.
Is not for me to determine. | leave the difficnit,
to be settled by those, out of whose argument,
mas necessarily grown. But, The fact is, sir. this
whole matter is susceptible of the cIearest ana
most satisfactory explanation The Constitution
leaving to the Legislature the exclusive power ~
designating what shall constitute county, a DO.
rough, or senatorial district, gives to each, wbe,
ceslgnated, determnate portion of repra sentatim
IN the Legislature Of he Stae-dnd there onrU
whenever new body is to be created for any Dur.
pose, this clause oil the Constitution can have ~
reference to II whatever.
1t must be organized on other principles. grow
ing either out OF other parts of the Constitntion
or oil It's own peculiar nature s. design And xvher
the people ask to be assembled in Convention thru
heir representatives., for altering their Constitu.
ton, we need look for nooiher rule to guide us in
our course, than that clause of the Bill of RIGHTS
which assigns to the majority of the conunnit,,
the authority to alter, reform, or abolish tbeir
form OF Government, as to Them may seem best -
Il Convention is TO be formed at all il ought n
b. so formed as to enforce, and not TO defeat tina,
authority. ''AS'
take 1t for granted, Sir, we all concur in The
desire, that whatever bill we pass OH this subiec,
may be acceptable to the people, and NAV lead TO
the satisfactory adjustment mt of the unfortnnate d;f
ferences now dividing and distractnq the com.
munity we represent. But do you not already
perceive, that, adopt the amendment of The Com.
nittee when you will, it must rest for its support,
chiefly on those who have been and s,iii orc
opposed to Convention on any terms wbataver,
W lien the vote OF this House shall be spread he.
lore the public, they will find arrayed against
your act, tile representatives of three fourIhs of
,ne counues, and nIne-tenths Of the people, who
have have been the steady advocates of Convention,
III not this circumstance alone excite universal
olsuust VIII not the Oft repeated apprehenson
oil the ''Present-bearing Creeks here find IL,
most appropriate and certain application? But.
or, when your act shall have undergone more
thorough investigation, and il shall have been
ascertaned, that the Convention of its creation ia
SO orsahzed, as TO enable the represe natives nj
ioz,ooo OF your white population to perpetuats
against the wishes of the remaining 42O 900, the
present unequal system of county Tepresentst;on
and The representatives of 252 900 people to throw
over the reluctant necks of the other 352 O00
what has been forcibly denominated the black
yoke do you think the majority either will or
ought 10 yield TO your attempt at dictation. II ia
., on an hands, that your refusal to grant
the proposed facilities for "a Convention. cannot
take tom the majority of the community their
right and their power TO alter the government
they have pronounced ''inadeuuate and CONTRARY
70 the purposes OF its creation" The promuIga.
no" OF your law Will be the signal for action
1 he larger counties will elect and demand ad
MISSION ior representation proportioned TO their
population. You may deny them, but the inevi.
Idoie consequence OF your denial will be the or
9dhizdtion oil two Conventions, and the promnlya
.on OF Two Constitutions: One the act Of he
reehoiders OF the lower countryside other de-
living us sanction from the united voices of the
'noie white population of the upper country (
Will not attempt TO lead you farther through the
h'erininaoie scenes OF anarchy and confusion that
'pen before you. | have conducted Won IN the
'rink oil the Precipice, and leave YOU 10 the con.
empation OF the abyss below, with the awful
'ut eloquent warning of the most eloquent of
modern poets, "
thousand years scarce serpe to form, q STATE.
Ta, "um nay ray u an the dust: and tcher,
Can man ats shattered spieudor renorofs
HecdH ais virtues back, and ya,,o,tis6 t;,u.
and fa'e?" f'''' '"'e
:. Ihese, Sir, are not the idle forebodings of a
ldPPoih'ed convention man. 1t has be en- nv for
uhe 10 stand In my own country, by tn side of
very few friend, in their efforts to resist fbe etc.,
re'oiuioh, winch, Tor years, has ne ell gathering
Mound Us Admitting many of the theoretical
hu some lew oil the practical evils ascribed to the
xsunS Constitution, we have nevertheless All.
'ised our friends and Deghbors rather 10 bear
whi'e with present evils, than expose them.
eWes 10 others whose extent it was not for the
imperfect vision of man to foresee The arou
nent urged with most fleet, was that, which go
rdwn from the justice and acknowledged gone
osity OF our Eastern brethren. But Sir s,,bon
We return VIVID That bill In our hands, as the onlv