Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-01-15
VIRGINIA LEGISLATURES.
HOUSE OF Delegates.
CONVENTlON

opened the debate on the subject OF our present
deliberations in Committee Of the Whole, j shall
oy arrangement with the gentleman from Brooke
INT. Doddrige) open the reply, which the course
OF remarks oil gentlemen OH the other side, will
n demand from both OF us-I must ask the fndul-
gence Of the Committee for this second trespass
on their Indulgence, and can only promise, thai
Viii be as bref-5s my theme will permit.
When IIas. bad the honor of addressing this
committee, offered an Amendment to the bill
which proposed 10 distribute representation in the
Convention equally amongst the free white popu.
/ iabon az the Commonwealth. j attempted TO sns-
tam the scheme Of this amendment in the princi-
pies announced az fundamental in our Bill of
hIghts-and from It's consonance with the best the
! cry OF our institutions. As this Conven iion Vas 10
De called for the purpose OF alteration and reorm
IN the government, Iattempted to show to you that
none but the people in whom all power is declare
10 be vested,could properly be represented there
ANA That any attempt to give 10 property
representation there in contravention of their
principles, and in derogstion Of the tights Of the
People was rot unaware, sir, that in opposition
10 these views, the propositions advanced would
be denounced on the one hand, mere abstract ons
! or wonld be eva,ed the other as too refined
and critical for purposes of common use.-I have
not been misrepresentation all those who have
spoken in reply, but one, the gentleman from
Powhatan (Mr. Old has been understood broadly
TO deny them
The people so far as it has been sought apply
I In The organization Of this convention, has been
| denounced as mere useless abstraction, and by
one gentleman from Powhatan Mr.. MilleD as the
faFings oil flaming democracy.-In conducting the
argument adverted to. after reading to you the
principle from the Bill Of Rights, sought further
10 show. that this doctrine far from being mere
abstraction, was founded in the most solid preten-
sions.-l said, sir, that the right Of The people 10
rule thro' their majority, the ultima spes of popular
government, did not rest alone parchment au-
thority-"that the will of the majority had its
sanction in physical force"
| The gentleman from Westmoreland (Mr. New
tom in his answer to this, has modified the propo
stion hrst, and as modified has perhaps succeeded
in reuing II He ascribes TO me the assertion
"that all government was founded in physical
force" Now, sir, that gentlemen will excuse me-
| if forbear from entering the lists with him, in
support OF proposition that is mine-but
leave him to combat it as he may am pre- pared
sir, TO sustain to the extent ofmy poor ability every
proposition that have heretofore advanced in this
ldiscussion-for have not announced them win 4
out some reflection. And here again re assert
that the right of the majority to rule alone in
physical iorce-that to their will, which is con-
iessed supreme, can see TO other sanction. III
there be any other, am ignorant OF il aud beg
gentleman TO tell me where it will! be found
Government, sir, may or may not be founded in
this force III apprehend Alright, broad affirna-
tive, or negative in this would lie UntenabIe.
Some certainly have been founded directly in
force, and would instance TO the gentleman from
Wesimorland, the protectorate Of Cromwell, and |
the late Dynasty of Napoleon.
But the bare mention OF Physical force is ur-
derstood by gentlemen 10 convey threat and me |
mace. nd although we have expressly disclaimed |
such intent, again, and again, we are denounced
for the imputed disposition TO resort to violence and
10 revolution. 1 regret, Mr.. Chairman, if this |
phrase, physical force" is so unacce ptahle or is
esteemed to SAVIOUR so strong of revolutionary vio-
lence-that, We had not found some language Of ,
miider aspect, some nice holiday term, or silkcr
thought, that might have been less ungrateGul to |
what cannot but esteem rather fastidious taste.
fhrna fnfx
such should arise of this unfortunate controver-
sy between the people and their Government; rest
assured il will come from the people themselves |
and not from their OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES then sir,
for ALL make no threat--I am not authorised to
do so-and utterly dscaim it.
In conducting my argument on a former day ! |,
used this term, physical force, 10 prove the sound
Of the position that the majority had the right
to rule. And cannot agree, that my conclusions |
shall be impugned, by wrestling the meaning of my
propositions Ii the right Of the political commu- |
nifty TO rule finds its sanction in pa ysica force;
tainly there can be no portion OF that community,
where there does not reside some ottion Of this
orce.-In property, markedly az such, there is |
noneyou cannot therefore properly ascribe to IT, |
any those rights which pertain TO political pow
er-nei.her can you invest IFS owners by virtue of
ITS possession, with any increased RICH, mem
beTs oil that community.
Sir, This principle that the peOple have the in !
herent power, and the mdjOTity of that people, |
the exclusive right TO model, or 10 model their
government, Is too important IN my estimation, TO |
be passed lightly over, when, as 1 apprehend, il |
has met round denial in the gentleman from /
Powhatan Mr.. OId]
Let me ask that gentleman 10 trace with me
the recognition of this principle, which he denies,
by every State in the Union. Following the ez- |
ample Of our Virginia Bill Of Rights the Pioneer
in popular government, shall find the doctrines
there promuged, carefully treasured up by al
most every State, as it came into political being
with an adherence both in the spirit and in the let
ter evincive oil its confidence in their solidity and
strength n Bill OF Rights is intended to an
noGnce the great and leading principles Of gov
erDment-the constitution comes after TO fix and
to secure them. Both are the work of the people
IN their highest sovereignty, who would no, trust
any body OF men, however constituted, 10 be The !
arbiters or sole guardians Of these fundamental
rights
Our ancestors have declared " that all power ia
vested in, and consequently derived from the peo-
pie and that when government u found made
quate TO the end Of its institution, f" majority of
the community hath ndubitable, unslienable,
and indeeasihe right to reform, alter abolish it,
The first that find in order, in the volume from
which cite, is the State Of Maine In her de- |
claraon Of rights il is announced that call mus
Ti inherent in the people, all free governments
are founded in their authority, and instituted for |
their beBeht-Mey have, therefore, an ,Insliena. !
bic and indeieasbe rgh, to alter re form, or total
ly change the same, when their safety and hap
piness require IT," Take Massachusetts next, in |
her declaration OF rights" The people OF this |
commonwealth have the sole and ercIusire yiehf |
Of governing ihemselyes"--and again " oil poOey
residing originally IN the people, the several ma
gis'rates and officers are accountable" &c. &c
New Hampshire--"All governments Of right oJi-
gtndie from The people" ] quote 20 much only, |
from each, rs is necessary 10 developc the pFinc |
pie. Vermont, in her declaration Of nights, "thst |
al po,cey being originally inh,rent III, and conse !
quenty-uorived from the people, &c. &C. Rhode |