Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-01-08

OoJecuons 10 IL. ne principal and most odiou,K
feature OF the bill was, that the Convention wal
to be organized upon federal numbers, by which,
three fifths of the black population was 10 be rem
resented IN itj thus going greatly beyond the CD
jeetionable principle of freehold basis. The ex t.
tent Of this demand, on the part of the represents
tives OF the lower country, he acknowledged t,[<
be appalling, and he entered his solemn protesl
against il. The idea of slave representation, hs
presumed, was derived from that feature in tn
federal constitution. But, he insisted that there
was no sort OF analogy between that and the pre
sent case. In regard to the federal constitutions
Il was compact between sovereign and indepen.1
dent states-an alliance that must necessarilv hal
made upon some principle Of compromise. But as
1t regarded virginia, the same Considerations did
not apply We were separate community aciny
within ourselves, and on our own local matters
where all were equally interested in the mea.
sures OF government, and entitled 10 an euual
share in its control. He was not able to coniec.
ture why three tifths Of the slave population was
selected Would 1t not have been as correct 70
have insisted that each slave should be counted
against white man. He put il To- gentlemen 70
say, II this distinction made in the federal rovero
ment ought to apply to our own state reguiatons
Every member Of that committee, he thought
would shrink from the proposition, that in hi, own
county or section of the country, each slave MA,
to be counted against a free white man. He ac
knowiedged that on this important question there
was distinct difference between the feelings anj
interests Of the eastern and western section. -
Virginia But was il to be supposed that this az
ference in our local situations was TO varv RI.
principle! 10 the federal government, the slaves
were, 10 certain extent, to be represented in
Congress. They were to vote by proxy, by their
nas.e : inns, however was all a matter Of com.
promise and arrangement among the coutractip,
parties to the federal constitution. But. he aste
ed was 1t possible that. in this enlightened ano
such an odious feature as this could be insisted IN.
on as Just Take the slaves as property, he tho',I
that the same objection was equally appiicabis
tie could not subscribe to any principle of cn,,
promise which sacrificed principle. Why not. he
asked, II property was 10 be considered take hor-
ses, ami other property, and put in the Same claim
ior them! But the principle of any such compro.
we have heard enough Of bargain and sales ON mn
liticaI subjects; and he wished nothing more !,
that way. He believed that the principle of tha
hrst section to the bill was calculated 10 dis,nrs
me harmony and tranquility of the public mind.
and to add to the elements already exciting ana
disturbing It, IL gentlemen felt the spirit of am;
~ they protested this great subject fha,
ought not to insist upon this dscordan. principle.
IL they did not wish to rouse all the contiictin.
opinions and Earring feelings between the east sn
west of the state, ;,ey ought not to insis, o s
proposition. '' VI uie
lie then advcrtcd to the Injustice of the one,,
uoh Oh the present constitution; of the reou eats NJ
the west to redress the evil, and of their pat;enc.
T nues ~; ihey mad iaoored for years to obtain
convention At length they had obtained an . -
preston oil public opinion, and now onIv er nec,".
the facilities OF the existing government 70 40
compsh that object. The will of the peonJa IN
the great question, was omnipotent But In car
rying II into effect, he regretted thai fbe Ea.kass
right of suffrage was not only cluno IN h..
slave representation also insisted unon ~
tnought that II any man who knew the sit,,,;on
Oh "e state VINO was aware Of the conflictino In.
cal interests OF the peculiar feelings and prs;,,.
49, " ,ie people, mad endeavored to throw an
apple of discord among US, he could not have he.n
more successful, than &c have hit ,Ipon tbe rro
siiion contained in the first section of he rh;it
and whilst he deplorcd this, he hoped that tho
opponents oil the proposition would show. nv th.;r
sold. ~ oo"sa' hoE
MIR. +. insisted that il was the established ~,
c'Pie oil the age, that all free white men wers :.
quail. The act for taking the sense of che nson,.
OH tne convention Question, was an abstract nro.
position, whether there should or should mot bs ,
Convention. 1t did not involve the oi;ons 80 &c
PIE now sought to be incorporated with the o,,ss
uoh' ne restriction Of The right of SUFFRAGE h.s
oeen exploded almost entirely, except in Vireinia
anu .me principle OF property representation was
equally condemned. All governments ba 80
were founded,to say the least. on the cnnso Osa
TIE people or majority of them: and ,yhena.s,.
me government was to be changed bv maans ~ =
Convention, the whole people ought to be renrs.
, ssre h ana any Limitations and restrictions
place for their adoption and by the consent or
majority they would become binding Wv
ne thought, that, on the score OF pol;cv q,
wou'd pc improper on the part of the Legislature
70 restrict the rights OF the great majority of the
people. Ii would only rouse them into ar,;on
and then even the necessary and solitarv
might be swept away. On this bra,,cb oc a.
subject he dwelt some time. " "f0
ne thought 1t strange, that whilst the lower
county were afraid to trust the West, in the mat
'er OF taxation, they should ask as an incidenta1
matter, that which involved the whole nower .,
legislation There was nothing like comrron,;sn
In the spirit which made this demand. We =,
n re IN iact' TO count negro against white NAM
~ you rear 'hat entertainments will be made ,Ino,
'hiS sort OF property, that lis inviolahitv s; 49,
sale, the course you are pursuing must a. ~"
pun your rights TO 1t at issue. Such must he tbs
result as especially when by means of that nronD
cry, you seek to deprive large portion of cor,
ieiiow citizens Of their just rights. ''u'
MIR. K. also opposed the idea of re,res,,. ~.
according to property or taxation. For his o,Un
par, ne SAID, he was yet 10 learn that ,,,
possessed any such claim. That doctrine sd 10y
iong since exploded. 1t natural that tho 49,
ia ~ % property should think themselves emit.
!ied 10 greater consideration on acconnt 81 -, ~.
ne insisted that there was no greater our
ouc 70 tiiem, Than to those who had none IL
!eierred 70 The other States, in which ali ,haso
notions had been exploded, to show their degree 80
prosperity and liberty under system the rsyers,
OF that commended for
mf. Newton undertook the defence Of the iii,
and, particularly, Of that feature mos,v ob;ec,sd
70 oy Mr. Edgington. 1t appeared TO him tba.
tne arguments OF gentlemen were based ,,non ,,yo
, ,hsn, noh Of which were assumed: First-tba.
Convsn,;or 'SSsJoTity OF the people in favor of
G W oecondly-hst they desired the Ma
us OF the representation to be white non,,i',;o,
:, ne was disposed to controyert both If we iooi,
70 me polls at the late elections, we shall, nd ns
al sn,o tnc large counties in favor of Convention
was unusually full; whilst in the Fss,er, lo woe
me vote was far from being So Indeed n !. re