Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-12-03
REroRTEp F6R THE WHICH,
VIRGINIA CONVENTION.
Debale Of Friday. Noe. 97-Concluded

'oplnlons IN this case'
What are The great evils which led to this Con
vcntion2
: The iaegaaity of representation is the greatest,
and Is ono acknowledged by aH
p Serious evils have been felt, and which are suppo-
scd t~ no grow out of this inequality.
Tue IN 81 frgrdnt, the most unjuStfdbie, tfor Is
without parallel in outrage, 1t is without sem.
bance OF reason or justice to support ny that refusal
of tho Legislature To extend its aid TO the Courts III
which judo White lately, and so long, so honorubly
and so satisfactorily presided.
The next has arisen out of the subject of internal
improvement. This is one which there great
conflicting interests; and as may well be expected
under every system which justice may have been,
and hcrcatc or may be-, withheld from particular sec
tons.
Imiy possibly take the liberty to say something
large this subject, some time hereafter,
having heretofore taken deep interests IN and turn
ed my attention good deal 10 that sublcct-suilcc it
present that part of the country beyond the
Blue Ridge confcssedy not having its equal share III
r prcscn'ulon may well demand to have their due
weight IN the Legislature in order to promote these
great Interests, 50 far as that weight may enable
them.
There is also another evil of great ma gntude, and
winch oH acknowledge; and that is the great number
OF Representatives. and the great expcnce conSe-
qucnty attending our Legislative deliberations.
These are evils which all admit; and these evils
caused the people 10 vote for tn Convention.
HID the question been put to the people-WiIl
YOU have Il Convention to remedy these evils? l be-
there would not nave been one dissenting
the State.
Hid separate and distinct question though, been
put Them will you also have a Convention to ex-
tend the right of suffrage in the terms and to the
extent IL which this ComRtee has extended 1t, what
response would have heen given that question:
appeal this body, and to the knowledge they have of
this people, whether thousands and tens of thousands
nay, hundreds of thousands of those who voted for
this ConvenIOn-n in i0,ceT Puginia only, but in
all PrginiT, would not have voted against that dis
tinct proposition.-n other words, had the freehold
suffrage been the only evil complained of, would we
have been here celebrating on that question, We
rIy believe that, IN that caSc-no COnUentOn-would
have prevailed 100 TO In fact, but for the other
great and apparent evils Convention for This pur-
pose never would have been thought of.
The western country has much changed within
the last IL years that have been absent it, If
truth that had been the only evil they complained
Of such proposition would ha &c been supported by
one IN one hundred.
1t has been merely brought in as aurjiryy and in
the tempest of those passions which have been Ell
gendcred by real eriis
But, suppose a third question had been taken-shaH
have a Convention that Tie Governor 1tav be ekcc-
ted by The People? | will not go farther. For whc-
ther he is to have patronage that will rouse the
people from that quiet slumber in which they have
reposed for 80 years, aud unkennei tie pack who Will
be seeking for office, and who will make the welln
ring, has yet developed ITSELF will take the
"tFcd proposition presented by the amendment
What would the people have said? WHY we
never heard of this as an evil Our sleep has been
profound, that never dredmL of it.
Each man will say-how can elect q Governor
| would be very willing to make my neighbour A
Governor; but his oorth may not be known to others
How am to act, H will be told, some man will
be nominated you; you will De called on to send some
representative to q Caucus, to nominate Governor
your neighbours will send some one to this Caucus
You good Jackson man, or you are rood
Clay man, and you must take care to vote for the
man nominated by yOur Caucus, or your party will
be uverthroWn
II that is to be the case he will say had rather
the Caucus would elect him themselves, at Why
cali on me, # my Judgment IL not to be exercised,
NO-no--that wont do-that is too much like the
present Constitution which you must now 70. to
abolish. Our tried friend Mr.. Jefferson, has said
there Is danger ia lt-and although have not yet
GHu we must guard against danger.
But If there must be u Caucus, why not let the
Members of the Legislature be that Caucus, Why
ny dear sir, that is worse and worse that is stil
coming nearer 10 the present Constitution-thcy
might as well elect directly as thus to do it ndirectly
Bat suppose they will Caucus IT. The members of
Congress do so to the Presdent-and so do our
members Of Assembly; and in fact, between them.
actually elect the President. In short. they have
done little else Tor the last or 10 years, but elect
Presidents. DO you mean, sir, that shall be pIa-
cod in the same situation TO our Governor That
am to be placed IN situation, in which, so far as
can learn, knowing nothing myself, and giving du.
faith and credit to all that is said on both sides as Ia
the candates, It can only be a choice of eyllsl If
this Is what you mean, am lot for i'll must 90 TO
my wheat-sack and draw straws: and if the I,eois.
loture viii be bound to pass law to make that
Bhbh NOt' anu tHuL llty SEM the result 10 The polls
there 70 be registered as my vote, Mr. Jefferson
thought the present. Constitution dangerous, NAV
vote f1r change. But if to mix in the hue and
cry against, or IN euiogising man that know no.
thing about, beg to be excused
! would rather stay at home and attend 10 nv bu-
sncssi IN which case, the election must be abandoned
by me-, 10 those who have something in vieo.
At present, ought to vote for an oloctor Of Pres.
.dcn OF the United States, 'ghora know, and N
whom / can cOnfdc.
That was understood to be the spirit Of that Con.
stution, whom gave my sanction TO it--and il was
b practsed on for time.
now elect my members to the Legislature Of tho
State AMI by the Constitution they are my clectot.
Of Gov rnor.
] have witnessed no evil growing out Of that
have tho Witnessed the deadly sin and wicked.
ness growing out Of the change in practice which ha.
deprived me Of The power Of electing an cector o
President, who know Nay, / am told, that tho
Cong'e'"onat or State Caueusses have gone so far
that 10 man shall be elected by me, who will moi
give IN his addiction his promise 10 vote for a Ger