Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-02-20
Debate in tie Senate on the Conventions

usnt p.'o,2,sed5y al, fior-aa
MIR DADE sji--l approach the discussion OF this
question:. greatly distrusting my ability to say much,
that will sc e,th$ ncw Interesting. shall make .
no effort at brilancy of display but i'll sustaining
the amendment have offered, shall endeavoc
10 regard what say more than is order or en- |
belisiiiacnt--if shall he Fortunate enough 20 ad- ,
vance any thing yo7hy the consideration OF thc Sc
maze Snail icyk To Others the trua0lc ut ARRANGING,
i; to the bost ad,tn;agc.
In opening thedco0te, l iuean not to u&sort any
preference 10 be hoard, well knowing there other
nenl GERS who cai with propriety claim the ear
OF ine Se2a.o; believing, however, that the bill
Should be anendG in the m0tner proposed feel it
my duty 10 attempt to show wherefore ii should.
Mr.. Hielker itappears to me, that the wide rrHc-c
oil GtGatr. winch las been !niilged lii elsewhere,
was premature AMI out OF place.
Gentleinsn scenic have anced them elves AREA
d mi.loers or Convention, and endowed with nil the
powers appertaining to such body-i3rgettng they
are y't ncinberaotan ordinary Legislatures a5ou: to do
tNoSt thngs, which by the expressed lriH of their
co;sti' neEts, they have been called upon to 10.
I" h't, 1t may be asked, is expected at our hands,
It history o: this matter, ami tie act Of the last
Legislature, clearly indicate our duty. Fer many
yeas the trciits Of reform i'll the existing consitu-
ton, haze N an orderly, peaceful and decorous man
acr, pa'iioncd the Legislature, that the sense ofthe
people might be taken by the officers of the govern-
mcHt, whether convention TO alter the const int ion
should be called or not.
Tins was asked Of the Legislature. nc; because the
peopl,: did not know, that the SOVEREIGN mower resi-
d@d III them not because they were not sensible
"Sy c"hh nHcct their object, without Legislative
aSS't; Il because tor the sake OF tyaoL order they
were unwilling to exercise their powar unless dri
ven thereto, by denialof aid on ha part of the ex-
stIng government. The General Assembly of Viz
gina Yielded 10 their just Demands and passed Law
directing that the sense Of the rrocle i,1I1 he Tn,
Ken submitting the question, however, to Freehold
ers Only. The treeholCers with magnaninity and
d Confluence, which eatitlc them to the admru don
ana gratitude OF every votary of free government
ov large majority, declared tlat they wished IL CON
Echtion called, so alter the present consi tltn and
10 organize that convention according to the will of
me people, is now the plain and simple duty we have
to perform.
The friends Of reform, III yelling the submission
OF me question of convention Or no convention tn
fre2holders only, did not thereby admit that t5.y
alone were the community, nho he'd the RIGHT to al
ter, reform or abolish the governments ana therefore
should alone be consulted. hut con6d nr in the ms
ice OF their cause, they willing 20 adopt tina.
Aoce OF testing public opinion, as the result has JUS
TO give effect to the viii of,ie minority. as de-
clared IL the Bill Of Rights should eyer be cousi
oe'co, the sacred and pLuus duty of every Republi-
can' and which | am happy to believe, will not be
questioned by any member Ill either branch of the
General Assembly OF virginia IL hehoves oentlo
ien, then, (slthough they nay have been opposed to
revision or the constitution, and may on former oc-
casions, have strcnuousy eyerted themselves TO de-
ieat call OF eonventlo.) 10 unite now in good faith
10 organize It upon just equal and liberal principles;
consulting as lar as practfabe the nterests and opi
mons 81 the people of evtry section of the State
II Is wrong tor members to suppose, that because
inel- constituents may iiRe voted a0ainst The cal,
OF convention, that thelr Delegates are bound to
ACT now ma way to ohSruct or defeat every Change in
Iiie provisions OF the existing constitutional n no
eve and act, would Be Sigma upon the ius,ico and
iudghaALnty OF their constituents, not warranted nv
thelr character Gentlemen slandar them when
taey imagine Tor moment thet they wished or ex-
ptcIc" 10 go INTO convention, upon any other than
Terms OF practical Justice and eGuaiitr The people
OF virginia may lay clam TO be considered. not
o,"y Just, pit generous and magnaInous This
character they have earned, by their open and
ui9lhoereS'ef conflict on all trying occasons-t is
oo"ceTed 10 them wherever they known--aud
even those who differ with them in political opinons
are constrained u admit and have in public speeches
oeIl hfiri &c say, although virginia NAV b. IN NO.
Iic'cs sometimes wrong Yet she is ever disinfare
anu chlVa! ronS" low can this exalted rep,,fotio
OF ld'alea II alter the viii Of the majority upon
an important question IS ascertane tie r3i3or;t,,
persist IN Efforts TO defeat that will
IaA gentlemen believe, that the people would hive
Voted lo' Convention to reform the Consti;ution
unless They were sensible Of it's great and radical do
octS Is II ho"rai ls it iolr, then, to endcaynr 81 ia
Sahile t'ie convention, to denat the pyncir,l
objects o. the friends VI reform and produce the Of
tGct OF retaining the prominent TEXTURES OF the present
constitution, Yet the fat cannot be d;spui
Sso' tat such IS the tendency OF the efforts of Sne
gentlemen. ''''
am aware tat the substitute offered bv p,rso,f q
the original Bill does nct do complete n1stice; and
caadour requires me TO say IT does not. c1tirnjr
meet my appreciation; but consider it the nearest
approach practicable, after tie DEVELOPMENTS in tb
other branch ofthc Legislature, and under tho evis.
ing state OF things. Ny amendment recognizes anil
the great principles asserted and sought 10 be-
maintained ny the original friends Of Convention.
. 1t PROVIDES i9T representation based alone uDor
free white population. 'r''
tprovfts for elections by districts arranged, accor
1ng TO equal portons of free white population in
each district 1t repudates the odious feature in the
present Constitution, which allows lby counticsl the
same number of representatives from the small
counties as from the LARGEST And provides that Ger
lam n'n-ireehoders shat vote common with free
holders, Tor members Of Convention Il renljres the
Convention TO consist o. 96 members THE smallest
number yat proposcd) four Of which to be chosen far
each district of ne present Senatorial Districsoi
pc citizens q years old and residents of the districts
Tor which chosen. | hive said that my, NO, I |