Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-03-13

All such arrangements, under the provisions of
an net of Assembly passed ut the last session. the
majority OF the free holders who appear at the polls
IN the months of April May, and June, have said that
'here shaii DC convention to alter and amend the
CONSTITUTION ofthis commonwealth. 1t was the dis
tnct IMPRESSION SO far / am informed resting ON
the mind OF every citizen, that, if minority of the
actual voters desired the call of convention the pre-
sent general assembly would devise some plan for
organization Contented / have boon with our
form of government, opposed as have uniformly been
70 oil Legislative interference, under all the circum-
stances OF the case, feel prccuded from making fur
ther opposition To conventions and deem it my du-
" now heartiy 10 cooperate IN effort to give form
and efficacy to the declared will of the voters. sill
not endcaver to thwart the wcl-known intention of
the majority by pursuing Ilimmerng doubts of the
legitimate power OF the Legislature to provide for the
eection ana assembling of convention, and to make
an appropriation to detray the expenses of its session
true 1t is. that an overwhelming majority of my i'm
mediate constituents were opposed TO reform and I'm
willing to incur the hazards of innovation. With
hearts animated By the congenul virtues of patriotism
and gratitude they declared their satisfaction with
i a government under which they enIoyed peace and
et no oppression; they expressed their profound at
tachment Tor the rich Inheritance transmitted to them
and enhanced in their estimation bv the consider.
alton that 1t was the first specimen Of the unparalleled
invention OF written constitutions. Notwithstanding
WI not do them the injustice ofsupposing wish
on their part to defeat the asccrtoined purpose oter
tallow citizens by obstinate enforcement of their
own opinions. I shall act upon the presumption of
their determination to maintain their republican char
1ty As their representative shall assent to the or
S'inizatlon OF convention upon such plan as Sill
cercy believe and hope will do equal aud impartial
justice to every section of the state without eopurdinr
the rights and interests of any. AS their representa-
tive Is my duty to resist the adoption of any plan
or the introduction OF any principle, which NAV
lead to Insecurity of the rights of property. if not
of person.
Upon what bases then, said Mr. D. ought tI,o ron.
rcsentation IN the proposed convention to be estah-
lIshcd 1t Is insisted by the jealous advocates of re-
form here that the free white population of the com
nonweath is the only correct rule of apporsjoume
1t deserves to be borne in mind SIR that they state
their proposition IN broad and general terms: that
they maintain its universal applicability This rule
OF representation IS urged principally however for
the purpose of procuring its incorporation in the new
contribution IN reference to the election of members
OF assembly, and to the future Legislation ofthe coun
! try. There are few, / know, who endeavour to
draw distinction between representation in conven-
ton and IN the ordinary Legislature who maintain
that different principles and different consdera ,ns
ought to prevail in the constitution of the two bodies
But does such distinction in fact exist? If nthe
organization CT an ordinary Legislature certain prin-
cpes are admitted be essential to the protection
OF persons and property it does seau to me- that the
same principles ought fortiori to be int reduced into
the creation ola body ntrusted with the i-her func-
.ion OF the Lex iegum the permanent unduIen-
tal lay OF the land. Fhe Senate has been entertained
% dare say somewhat amused not edited with the
elaborate arithlnetca calculations of the gentleman
! from AIonongalia, Mr.. Morgan.) he demonstrates.
10 sinsie traction the relative proportion of repre-
sentatives to which each section of the state is enti
tied Aiithese calculations are based upon the IRA
tultlous assumptions that the white population is the
true rule OF representation under all circumstances.
protest against the idea of committing the rights of
the people, and the safety of property to the rules of
arithmetic Pike and Cocker are doubtless rood au
thorltIes In the schools; but do most peremnorv
oehy tnat their treatses ogsr TO be introduced and
received here as standard works in the science of
politlcks The highest skill in abstract numbers
not establish the position upon which alone all the
statements and deductions of the gentleman rest; the
correct basis of representation Is a subject of .rc,
mont ana reason beyond the power osnple fo1res TO
determine l learned in my political hornbooI,
saying wifas thought vas admitted to be .sas true
as 1t IS witty" and had been received as an almost
unquestioned MAXIM chat in political arithmetic tc,
and two do not always make four."-IfI had enter.
tanned any previous doubts OH tiis point the surpri
sing demonstrations of the gentleman must have re-
moved them. The extraordinary results to which
he has arrived by ingenious and skilf,l combine
ton Of numbers have almost forced unon INV ,;nd ,b
convection That not only In POLITICAL but in common
arithmetic "tWo and two do not always mike S,nr
lie mas, oy the aid OF arithmetic ascertained most
satisfactorily TO himself suppose that the male non
freeholders over twenty-one wears of aoe 40 acniI
constitute the majority of this community and do in
deed sustain the greater portion of the bu1dengoftaw
auon the organization of every government, said
nr D. is radically detective which does NOT a+T,rd
complete security to persons and property: and CON
tam guards against the danger of
BY this rule the truth justice of which cannot G
pSnea' let us test the proposal to apportion repro
sentation equally according to white population. IF
the ratio OF increase shall not diminish, the west is
destined IN short space time to cain the ascend
ency. Virginia will then exhibit this curious noi;ti.
cal phonomenon:-one section ofthe state will elect
TIE MAJOR part of the representatives and will there
lore III iact possess the power to impose burdens at
PLEASURE and to appropriate the revenue without ro
StrlcioD; whilst the other section owning propertv
winch contributes three fourtlJs ofthe taxes will O.
lcc minority ofthe delegates md will therefore be
unable to connterac schemes ofrnust taxation tits
no sufficient answer to fears that the property of
the vest icing subjected to precisely the same meas
uro OF contribution with the properly of the east will
shield us from injustice. IF the power of the new lers
latuTe were to extend only to the laying aud collection
our apprehensions might DO lucd by The replv.- |
Bot grant the principle 50 vehcmently urged upon
and then even ncrOrdnrs o., H. ',--aeS..