Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-11-18

u the ckcellcncies did not outweigh the obiectiurs
there would be some reason for Il change Ijui IL, h
contrary were the fact, all changes must be INV,
and INJURIOUS. THIS consideration had opcr,ted M =,
hun to oppose the calling convention This busnce.
OF thcorcc1i perfection IN government, is not o,ri,
unattanable, but all history shows ~ be mere ;s
lfItuus, which II pursued throughout will not ouly
.cad us away from what IS good, but aseuredy lead
us into public misery aud ccnvusions He presumed
that Lycurgus, Scion and other ancient law-giye,s
who were considered amongst the wsct mon of th.i,
age, established their governments ACCORDING IN Tho
ofetical notions OF perfection. Yher. are thrse
governments now Where are these ancient rcuuL-
NHc| ihey are gone, aud II their room the mos,
!.!Shtiui despotl5InS have been esabLshei who, n
people have been in the enjoyment of practical Doo5
Inr above bali n century, true wisdom dictates that
lhey should never give up that good for the mere
notions which theory may recommend. The COY
cFinent OF Scion did last even his own f;, hu,
before he died he his visionary scheme of petfac
ton destroyed by the usurpaiion of Pis;stra;us
IL aaH been sad that many gentlemen have come
mere w'th M ntenionoi preventing any thing being
cone ~ the Convention. Such was moi his casc-
he had opposed thu cali of this Convention. bu,
when The people determined It shonid take place lie
nt with an honest determination 10 examine v,ho,
"as detective, and stick to that which was gond.-
me gentleman from Charlotte (Alr. Randclphl lad
land down wigo rule of action. Arc we about ia
fefotn the government? Ia what does II require
reform Let US see what practical cyil cxists-and
-Ae9 we nave ionni H. retIrai |, in that resp but
III no other. Mr. NICHOLAS said hc had been an
oiHceroi the COVE .nnent tor about % years-he was
placed IN the situation OF Attorney General AZ ~,
carly pernn OF ms he, when, if even Le had been
deserving, no certainly did nut deserve, h. Office
bIt tils Slluu enabled him TO have an opportuni-
~ OF examining the operations o.! the roverrincnt
DHf!hg IN" 20 year. he had renamed il that station
nc had known OF no in.tance OF oppression of no
case IA winch INJURY had been done to the rights Of
any Individuality the operations OF tn. Government.
" as II To be wondered at then, thnt he should OBJ
ct % change he had ua!G these remarks To show
the feelings which he had brought with hun TO this
'afng Rrtsf~t tlr, ii
words on tie subject of the amendment.
lie had always been Of the opin.cn tint the trr.
ground OF representation was the federal numbers
he ad been induced 20 vote for the compound basis
pucanSe nc 1Pprcncnded It nigh, be cGctual for be
sccury OF the rights Of the eastern part ofthc Suite
and not that lie preferred it 10 IL principle OF tho
federal numbers. On the coniarv his preference
had always teen for tpc latter. The basis of the
federal numbers had been adopted by the federal
Convention, and II was not adopted OF the principe
oil compromise. He referred the Con,ni, cc to the
speeches of gentlemen in that Convention and to th
language OF the Fedcralst, TO sustain his assertion
IL was not adopted III spirit OF compromise but as
ne correct basis OF representation in rcneral. Hc-
Tie happy medium was preserved. And is there any
Inference between ;he federal government and that
OF this Commonwealth? The ground taken by the
north as well as he south, al whose interests were
~ war and whose rr.judiccs were in direct o--os;
ION with each other, that as this proucrlp sf.
lordeu iare proportion OF taxes il was Important Ia
the south that II should form part of the basis Of
iVSNiIldt!t' JHii lar PRINCIPLES that
tie ayes should have an IuIu nee IN the representa-
ton in the ratio Of tlree-filts Of their numbers If
30 IL 1't1 The d"h"f"S Of tho Federal Convention
we shall fluid that this basis was not ndooei on 20
p'nc'pe ot compromise. The United Stu,cs' ~ oyern-
Ineui Is III some Of ITS features of federal charac,er
anu IN others of national character. As regard,
represenon, Is national and not general. It's rep
Tescnatnn ~ founded the princpe that n sbouid
be correct basis for all the States and mo-, non tic
consideration of Stale making conce,s jons In
another The mixed basis, as proposed by the gen
te"ah from Cuipcper. must necessarily be fuctua-
ting and very difficult reduce to practice I'm the
same district, It Will be found that the amount of
taxes Will dtter The basis must w be nuc-
tuallng, and will be occasionally readlus cd from time
o time an invarable criterion is furn she'd by the
tato OF representation OF three-fhs az the slaves
some gentlemen enormously represent this as n par
ual measure, and only suited to particular portion
OF the Commonwealth 1t is not intended that the ha
SIS OF the federal numbers, Ohree-fifhs OF the
s!avcs shall be confined 10 the Eastern part mere
ly' but II Is intended that il shall be extended tn
the whole Commonwealth. The principle cannot
apply to any district but whe there are slaves
ana II as has been very lngehously represented il
be probable that the slaves will 90 beyond the
mountains, when they do 60, tho West unQucstion.
ably Will obtain the power. This argument Of tho
gentlemen or thc opposite side. aup-p-cd e TT :,
the time TO be as fe0 de Sc, else opposition To
other arguments adduccG by them in favor of white
basis. II the slaves cmigratc to the West every
three slaves That country receives will odd TO the
representation oft The operation OF the rule is
general and Will act alike on oil.
lie said. that had arrived at an awful nrrioJ in
our delibcraions-we had arrived at the brink Of
prccPlcc, and gentlemen must no% decide for thrm-
selves; and he would appeal to them, and ask them
would be wise, Juld it he polite to submit anv
Constitution 10 The people which would be agreed TO
here by majority Of one two or even Eve or ten2
An awful responsibility would dcvolve upon them in
srch case and he said 1t less in anger than in sor-
row that whatever evils may result from it. SHOULD
fill on their heads. His dearest friends and re-
Iitivos resided beyond c Blue Ridgc; he nusi there
fore drprccatc the impending calamity US much on
Their account as is own. Much has lccn said Of
the moral influence of Virginla-shc has frequently
believe, saved tho Union, and lhounh gentlemen arc
plea ed TO say that she Is retrograiing III wealth and
influence W. have fs proud consolation, TINT If Ga"
lures aud bUous Of the General Government. have
been rejected ~ us. W preferred, instead OF be-
InF nm ~ the cujoym'n, OF them, 20 be poor cu
ptmcipe, Gnd without them Virginia insy be q vic.
tim TO her honor, bot for ic ho;c1 that she ,ay
rcngin poor Orcyer, if the condition % her ATTAINING
wealth, be- sacrifice Of her principles aud integrity
Those who impntc to me any dcsifl 10 produce con-
iusion or to make any change that may prove unpul
ajable to- the people, abour under great mistake.