Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-11-28

RIcnMoNp, Nov. %, 1899.
StR:-A domestic occurrence which threatens the
most serious family affections, demands nv immediate
presence at home In obeyng this call nv first Oh
lect is tn provide, IN the eRecual manner for
the future execution of the important trust with which
am now charged; and as do not under existing
circumstances consider it safe and rropcr that the
district in whose delegation am associated should
he left by me -:thout it's entire representatior-mv
decision Is tn resign therefore beg leave through
vou tn announce to the Convention that nv rirht
10 seat IN that assembly is hereby vacatad My col
leagues will proceed al once TO execute their func-
tionwhch the act of assembly in such case devolves
on thein.. May DE allowed to say that many cors
cerations combine to excite in feelings of deep
regret at the necessity ain un'lc- withdraw NY
fei from ths convention. and to add that consih
eratlonS, certainly personal 10 myself, could
prevail ;,n to do so unless the power existed to
supply my place without possible embarrassment TO
ruy constituents from my resignation. / cannot
Justice to my feelings close this communication, and
not express the cordial hope that the result OF the
work in which You engaged may unite in har-
r1onous accord the affections and interests of all
the citizens of this Comnonwealth--an that with
sentiments of the most profoundest respect for YOU
and for the bod in which you preside, ] am your
friend and fellow-citizen.
JOHN TALIAFERRo.
To the Hon. JAMES MoNRoE,
President of the Convention, Rctmond.
On motion of Mr.. NEALE, the letter ordered
to be lid on the table.
Mr.. NEALE tIen informed the frcSuent mat the
delegation from that district had provided 10 ill the
vacancy created by the resignation of Mr.. ITALIA
FERRo, and had appointed the Hon. john CoALyER
of Stafford county "a his successor.
The Convention then resolved itself into Com
mttee of the Whole, MIR PowELI in the Chair.
The question penling being the second PROPOSE
ton of che amendment moved BY MIR. SrANARD, TO
add to the amendment of NIr. LEre1 the following
words
.sAud every srlcr citizen who shall within one year
h,fora hor ,,offia -, bayn tn
the amount OF assessed property,
whether real or personal, owned by him, and shall
have actually paid such tax taxes at least three
months befhre nc shall SO offer to vote"
Mr.. MONROE said that he had on Saturday enga-
ged the attention of the Committee for short time
in explaining mis- views with regard to the extension
OF the right of suffrage. He would ask the
indulgence of the committee to go more fully in o
these explanations He stated his idea that the
right of suffrage should be connected in some form
or other with the soil. He stated that those who
possessed it, ought to have interest in the SOIL
and he wished to see that interest limited and mod
Grated, as much as could well be done Pine rra-
sons for connecting that privilege with an interest
in the SOIL are obvious. and suggested themselves
to the mind of every gentleman. to render 1t un-
necessary to repeat them. He had explained his
reasons for limiting this privilege. to certain
extent, and he now wished to explain them more
fully.
He observed that in establishing new constitu-
ton for the State, we should profit by the examples
which other governments, and especially the ancient
republics furnished us-to from exposing
ourselves to the dangers which the of
their destruction: and that although none Of them
present with any example which would be wor-
thy of our imitation yet it was advisable to keep
their history in view With us the sovereignty is
exclusively vested in the people-ours is n system OF
self government, and it his great object to pre-
serve it in their hands forever Let look to the
dangers which have overthrown other governments.
He remarked that there were three great epochs IN
the history of governments. The first commenced
with the ancient republics and terminated with their
overthrow. The second was the overthrow of the
Roman Empire, and the third commenced with the
discovery Of America-the emigration of our ances-
tors-the establishment of the colonial government
the resolution, and the governments which were
established on its principles. These were the
three periods. He gave illustrations of the
dangers of the first periodic the second he
did not then advert. What are the warnings-what
are the examples here held out to US? These people
we're IN rude state OF soclety-they were barba-
rous. The governments were almost all monarch
ies-in some Of them despotism prevailed. With
the exception of England all the great powers were
despotic, and even there they enjoyed but partial
liberty. The most that the friends of liberty aspi
red to was, avoid dnspotisn-to preserve the peo-
pie from. saveryand the result of their most yea
lous efforts, was to obtain representation in one
branch of the Legislature. 1t was in the midst of
their struggles that our ancestors flying from per-
secuon were driven TO this country, and under char
tnrS from the bTtlSn CroWD settled on tnlS continent
These charters formed the connection which subssted
between the government here and the parent coun-
try. Phe government, of the colonies was in the
hands Of The people. The governor appointed
by the King, but his powers were limited. Every
proposition originated with the people, and the only
check which was their authority, was mega
tive in the Crown, We had no nobility, nc
Prince here The governor the agent Of the
King. The people a Stunning the power when the
revolution commenced and took effect, it went tc
the body Of the people We had nothing of an
hereditary character here-no privileged orders what
ever. The government consisted of House of Bur
gesses, Council, and Governor. The government wa
on the basis that all propositions originated with th
people, and there was check Whatever but VIVA
he had mentioned. The revolution contributed t,
establish these principles of government more firmly
and TO give them more permanent foundation. Gu
government is now in the stuctest sense Of thos
words, of popular character. This is shown by thu
Constitution ofour Senate and House of Delegates
the checks and balances of which tend to give great