Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-10-17
RTCHMOND, SATURDAY, OCTOBER II.
THE CONVENTION

fhn course aUu y tnc SonNcDtt0n. Out u q Too
eariy in the day 10 venture any decided prediction Of the
result Of their labours. He must be a rash prophet who
would undertake to say, positively, what particular pro.
visions will be engraf,ei into the new Constitution, and
what provisions will be discarded.-ltis probable indeed
that the Bill Of Rights will be retained with no. or We.
nv little modi6cation-tha the Council will be abolish.
al: and the powers Of the Governor reduced, instea d OF
beins enlarged /: thatthe county courts will be recoy-
= nixcd by the Constituiion-the Judges made liable to
Xremovai for reasons, (Which would not subject them to
vimpeachment) by a vote OF the Legislature; and the
commissions Of the present Judges vacated:-that the
number Of The House Of Dele gate, be increased; and no
change made in the numbers and classification of the
Senate. II is probable, that these features may obtain
the sanction Of tho Conventions; but no man can under
take 10 predict such a result with any degree Of precis-
ion. They may prevail without strong struggle in the
main body-But, as IL was in the Committees, so il may
probably be in the Convention; every inch Of the ground
will be probably contested, and no important PROPOSE
ton adopted, without much deliberation and much de-
bate.
treat questions of the basis Of Representation and
the right of suffrage. There is great variety of
views, and it is generally supposed, a great con.
trariety Of interests, on these great subjects. and no
projet is likely to be adopted without a considerable
struggle. The right of suffrage presents a less serious
impediment than the other; for, IL is not a sectional
question. IL is a struggle between the freeIo!ders and
Hou-freehoIders-bu it is diffused over the whole Of the
State. Whereas, the basis Of representation is unfor,u-
nateiy a geographical problem, which Is supposed TO in
volve, moi only various but opposite interests. There is lit
tie hesitation in predicting. from the general conversa-
zion among the members, "a well as the moiiI6- I'd propo
sitions formally submitted to the Committees, that there
will be an extension Of the right of suffrage beyond the
freehold; how far and in what precise shape, it will be
carried, Il is impossible to predict.
The other great question IL still more difficult Of solu.
fion. II is supposed unfortunately TO array two interest
In opposition; the East and the West Of Virginia sgains,
each other. But who can undertake to say positively
from the signs Of the times. which have been exhibited,
fince the meeting OF the Convention, what will be
the final issue Of the contest! We see at once the ,iifi
guilty which operates on the minds of members-we al.
low for their force-we admit the conscientious convic
ions, which opposite views o. this question are calcula.-
ed to produce. But we have no hesitation in express.
ing our own views. We think that the Representation
IA the State Legislature should be founded on the basis
of white popula,ion-but that the lovlands are entitled
TO a complete Guarantee against any attempt al exces.
Give taxation. The West should say to the East, "Sa.
sify yourselves on this point-What Constitutional Pro.
vision do you require? What security, that this provi.
sion shall never be violated, never rescinied by an a.
amendment OF the Constitntion-You respect the rights
al perfons; the right of the freeman only to administer the
governments; and We will respect in the utmost latitude
and with the most inviolable fidelity, the rights Of pro
perty."-We should hope, that these mutual rights will
be respectively protected; and that some arrangement,
will he made, that will satisfy the claims Of both par.
ties.
There never was a time, when the public shirt OF
Virginia, had SO ample an opportunity for displaying it.
self, or when il is more essentially necessary. We are
laying the foundations of a Constitution for ourselves.
for our Children, and our Children's Children. The
eyes OF the world are upon ne. Never, but in enc bo.
dy, has there been combined together, so much Of the
talent and reputation Of the State. Will not these men
display a nobieness of soul, that is commemorate with the
mighty purpose which has brought them togeiherl Will
they not discard, as much as possible, all private feel
Ing, looking only TO the great principles of Republicans
Government, and the permanent interests of their
Country! When was the time, when all contracted
ambition; all rivalry of talents; all ancien feuds: the
whole host OF miserable passions, should so much give
way before the great interests of the Coun,ry!-It
would be a circumst nee, the most deeply to he regret
ted. II on any occasion of This description, the private
Interests OF the members, and their pnny passion. should
triumph over the great interests of a whole people, and
Of generations yet unborn. Men, who come for such
a purpose as this, should leave all their Ii.rie. groyel-
ling teelin0 rs behind them-anl when thev en,ar ,ha
HALL Of the Convention, as when they enter the Tenn
pies OF the Almighty, they should place behind them
every thing that is vile, and corrupt. (Hinc, procui
este profaniD -No scheme Of higgling and log rolling;
nothing of this description, should be permitted 10 de-
hle their walls. No expressions Of resentment; no
threat OF any dark hereafter; no allusion 10 the division
Of the State, will, we trust, he sufr- red TO ning'e in
their deiiberations.-We are all Virginian.; bound to-
gether by sense Of common interests AMI a common
glory-We have mingled our blood in the field OF bat
tle-We have 81 hired together the laurel and the Olive
branch. The glories of York Town and Of Kings
Mountain, have belonged to ALTO us, as a join, pro.
pcrty, have belonged the rich names Of Washington and
Jefferson, and Henry,-the Masons and the Rini1lphs,
the Lees and the Pendieions, and the Wy;hes; the glo.
rious men who have achieved our liberties in the Geld
and shed a deathleSs lusire on the councils of our coun-
try. Can there be any man, who would seriou sy de
sire a division Of this good Old Dominion, or would not
DO every thing in his power, TO prevent go eplorable a
Catastrophe,
We pray the reader to excuse us even these express
sions. Our feelings have perhaps carried us too arr
We certainly do not apprchend any such catastrophe
Hitherto there has not been any thing like the most dis
tant illusions TO il in the Proceedings of the Convention OF
its Committees. They have been conducted with the
most perfect calmneSs AMI decorum. We have never
seen a deliberatvc body, whose proceedings have been
characterised by so much di entity and ordcr-none which
Is more calculated TO impress every SPECTATOR, with
respect and admiration.
The Convention have now been in session, nearly two
weeks.-Butit isutterly impossible to forcsee the length
OF their labours. No man undertakes 10 calculate the
duration or the rcsult.-Hihcrto, theyhave lost no time
Their business has been prosecuted with as much cx.
petition as possible. 1t is one which requires, Of course
the greatest deliberation. While nothing has been hasti-
~ determined, nothing has ianguished in inaction.
In laying these few reflections before our read
ders, we are actuatcd by az little desire to propi.
tiatc others as to dictate 10 them. We express our own
opinions and wishes only-We speak as freemen at the
mead oil a Tree press ought TO speak-Ifwe err, il is mo-
because we are misled by our interests, or eur feelings (foI
wedthcr on this occasion, with friends whom we mos
dearly love, and politicians whom we most highly re specr
but we are misIed by the opinions which we have Ion Z
entertained, aud respectfully expressed. If we err, we
have erred Tor along time: II is not for a day, but for years
We have ever beenth friends ofs convention. II has uni
Iormiy been our wish 10 equalize The representation OF the
otaie-and in 1917, when tbs Senatorial bill was pass
eh, we thought IL our duty 20 protest against the inea-
sure,as reinedying the Ge'e;t N enc branch Of the lie
gisia'ure only; instead of cqualizing the representation
IN Doth oranches-We discJimed this temporary palIia
uon-and we declared in favor Of call Of a Conven-
I'VE, on the very day when the question came ~ for
decision in the Senate Of Vireinis-And uop. when tho
convention has been called, shall 1t pass away withou
remedying the defects, which have grown Up within
me Fifty years since our Nutritious forelathers laid
me foundations OF the present Constitution VIA! the rea.
hefs excuse us for rep ;ating some Of the opinions we ex.
pressed a long time ago; when we publi.hed an elaborate
series OF papers, recommending the call OF Tho vnry