Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-01-13
Debate on THE CONVENTION

I - MoHDAI. 5lri. ), 1920.
Mr Mason of Frederick. il Offering an amendment,
to the amendment offered by Ir. Doddridge, to the
rst section OF the bid proposing organize the con-
Vention upon %tnte population and that it shall be
composed OF 100 members chosen from AZ districts
! addressed the chair as follows:
In presenting (said Mr.. Moson) an amendment ia
that offered by the gentleman from Brooke (Ir bod
drldge as eubatite for the first section ofthe hill
IND myself thrust into the foreground of this debate
regret that 1t is So because the lot that s uo,
NINE might otherwise have fallen into ADLER hands:
but sir, IN this or any other instance when am call
cd to discharge public duty my country shall mover
ma me shrinking from the task.
Let me remark here that by some error in pr,ntier
the several amendments now on your table that nre
pared by the gentleman from Brooke ias been ascri-
bed to ne, and mine by the printer to that gentle
h'an' 1ne principle is the Same in both-they differ
only IN their detailhe first dividing the stale into
districts, the last into 49, each having exclusive ~
terence to the free white population
mine discussion, snail confne myself to the prin
clpe' regardless OF this detail for in truth should
III that prefer the gehtemans amendment to NV own
nor should have offGd it at all but in Difference IA
other counscls. ~
Phe bill sought to be amended, provides in the first
seco Tor representation from the present Congress
SIonal districts, which includes not the free White
alone, but with them three 6hhs of the slavea
couted sir, that those only to meet THROUGH thnir
representatives in this convention in whom fhe noIi
!ca power resides. Fiat it an act Of the people
In their highest sovcrpirnty-sn exercise Of ta, r.
lrlcal power, which resides only u the political com
munty; aud IN which none but the members Of chat
community can Of right participate, What has been
asked OF the General Assembly That it would bv
legislative provision, enable the political cotn,nnitg
10 meet III convention for the pCTpose of reformno
theiF social compact. The bill in your hand docs
not CoIupy with this dcmand--on the ContraYv de-
nouncing the true political community 40 recoTized
by every principle Of our Institutions IL reeuires MS
pre- mary to tbetr compliance, tho admission oo
those who iorn no part OF that community and with
whom there is not one common attrbhte.
Slr, the political community Of which speak is tftc
free white people of this CurDlnonvealth 3,be peo
pie OF Virginia, and not the slaves Of that peonle are
those who Weld the political power and fnc6terpep
arenot prepared TO desert tho true Drpcipcs of our M
ilty they must unite with me n tc endcavor TO ex
pungo this odious feature from tue bill How is il
sought TO be sustained is this extraordinary demand
MADE Tor representation Of so much property? or
OF SO much population On the one or the OTHER tn
proposition must rest lit be ofso Jarch population
let the discussion there involved come from the Other
side | VIII not invite anticipate so delicate n
question. fit benade, an rot unprcuared TO meet
IT. but If it must min ecn this dcJatc be the respunsi
bIlty with those who adyanceit.
W arc told however that representation md fax
aT!on ought TO 20 together And that slaves heinz
peculiar SUBJECT OF tax regard should be had to them
VI representation In other words, that property ma
edly as such, Ought ofrht to be represented in con-
Ventlon maintain sir, that The reverse of this pro-
position not only iruc in principle bu is dCInonstra
Die III argument. Ihe Convention sir is called 70 RI
wise and remodel our fundamental laws. rcsumn-
uoh ny inc people OF their political power for the
purpose OF new distribution. What SAYS vour bill
H'TghlF nat ntp nj JY:sr IS regtd js ;nd c1,nse-