Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-12-10
VIRGINIA CONVENTION.
SATURDAY. Dec. 6,

Y,
ConkE, PowELr, DoppnrpaE and NAyLop with res
poet to the consideration of the report of the select
conmitte appointed 10 obtain suitable accommoda-
tons for the sitting of the Convention. The sub
s.ance OF their remarks and the measures adopted
Secrencc to the report, have already been published
On the motion of MIR. PowELI, the Convention
solved itself into Committee OF the Whole, Mr.. i.
=. BARBOUR In the chair.
The proposition OF the gentleman from Northainp-
ton: (Mr. Uushur) bring before the Committee yes
terday at the hour iudjuurmnent, taken up for
q. coitSidera ION.
Mr.. GoRpoS moved an amendment thcr,o which
has been published i'll the sketch given OF the rro.
cerdings.
Mr.. PowELI said if the proposition Of the rcn,lc-
man from Aibe'nare was rejected he should propose
IN amenduicnt which he read, and which went IN
substance give to The Senate the power 10 amend
revenue bulls: with Proviso that case of a disa-
s,seement between the two Houses on such bill the
revenue as enacted tor the previous year. should
tiDue.
Mr. Moasts said, he hoped the proposition of the
}!ntlcrian from Albemarle woudprcva. al agreed
that was the inequality of representation which led
10 this Convention. This the primary consider.
ail"n for which we assembled and TO establish
rule to remedy the present and to guard against fin
tuEe inequality IN representation. He was satisfied,
that Us the Convention was now situated we coulj
not agree on any principle of satisfactory, re-
tonInebt OF representation. II we cannot apply re
rneuy 10 future tunes, We must. to existing evils
Should we not endcavnr to remove the evils wj,cl,
grow out of this Inequality lie had been ea ry TAUGHT
and he was still determined follow the lesson that
when he "as not able to do all possible good he would
cf'eaVor to do what was practicable. The rule for
Gfutufc apportloumcnt of representation could rot be
Garfield III this Committee by large majority But
since that cannot be effected let do all the rood in
oir power and try to decide upon un euu able aDDor
comment OF representation. Could this be done he
without resnrtng to generaltic:, Take the NO
propositions which gentlemen on both sides i,ay.
submitted aud there will not be found difference. of
tiree members. Take the qualified voters ON the
one side, and the compound basis on the other md
the result would not be difference two. Is it pos
sole that we cannot see how great good we have
thus achieved tor the state, without reference To fiji
Cure considerations, But it has been said that ,b,
Omission of such rule Of future upportion1nen,
would tend only to invite another Convention
Ale did not concur ia this opinion the Experience
o. the peop!= with respec to the pre- Conventions
would make them cautious how they would assen,
20 the call OF another Conventions Ii woud no,
care place III short time. But If it be necessary 10
Gill another Convention, let them settle the question
OF future apportionni"nt OF representation If the
proposition OF the gentleman from Albcmarie prc
raH, we can agroc upon RUE OF future appor:ion-
ffent. lie promised for himself to agree to any rule
which would appear satisfactory to him. relative IN
future apporti"nnent, and if no other gentleman
would propose such rule, he said he would
He protested himself tavorabla to the fed raj nu,
per as the basis of representation, as it had been
fixed upon by our forefahers the true medium he
tyecf, the ratios of population and taxation and nc
vas adapted to tranqu'iizc the country. But we
wrre told that the adoption of such u rule would IN
fuse arstocracy INTO the government of the country
lie appealed from the apprentices of the law fand
ne meant the term IN no dlSrcspec, to the princes
and virtues OF those venerable men whom he balevnd
Ind fought for the freedom of their country w.
you'd ask whether gentlemen believed that such men
would saction any propostlon the tendency of which
WAS to produc. al istocrtcy in its CONSTITUTIONS He
never could be nude To believe that thew were the
friends OF arstocracy He did not mean to maintain
the character of the gentleman from Loudouu of tho
gentleman from Orange, the gentleman from
Rcluiund, by arguing that they would not maintain
proposition to introduce aristocracy into the Gov
eEnment tie YVES willing to agree to any rule of ap-
pUroninent, and to leave it to future times to adam
it, the circumstances Of the country may direct
lie did not agree with gentlemen who stated TINT q
different organization of the Senate and of the House
Of Delegates, would produce security for U.s. He bn
iIeved 1t would afford no security tina: effectuul
SECURITY, without which the southeast of Virpnia
would not be satisfied. He was opposed to such or
Gani6ation, because it would constantly excite diy
aions III the State, and forever keep up conflicting
interests lie was not willing IN organizing the gov
eminent on one representation of the Eust, and OIL
another of the West, to prevent the vess,, Of rho
State from arriving ut the harbour of the public
good.
lie knew there were many elementary wri
tiers on the necessity of checks aud balances
IN Government like that of Great Britain where
Sne source o power was not IN the people, but i'll q
Monarch claiming 1t by divine right and hereditary
descent, they might be necessary and were certn;nl
operative; but III Government like ours none of the
arguments III their favour applied. The true check
here was the distribution of power into many hands
Tbs principle would be met by placing thu, power
of Legislation III different braDcho5-witlout
making the two Houses antagonists. The Coustitu
ton provided n Legislative, Executive and Judicial
Department, not that they might oppose each other
but act III harmony. 1t was no. the duty of the Exc.
clrtye to oppose the execution of the Lcpislntive
will, but to comply with it, nor was it the province
Of the Judiciary To give Interpretation to the laws
opposite to the purpose for winch they were enacted
but comfortable to it. In support of the general
views he had given he referred to the authority of
the late Mr.. Taylor Of Caroline He appealed also
70 what Mr. Johnson had admitted on the subject
uf want OF harmonious action between two branches
Of the Legislature constituted in so different n man
ner as was proposed aud his personal preference of
CIR Upshur's plan Of compromise to that of Mr.
Cooke. He concluded by expressing his determine
ton to vote for Mr.. Gordon's amendment, reser
wing himself Us to its Details which he had not ex
ahmed.
Mr. STANARD exPressedbis view Of tho proposition
with that just expressed, and his determination to vol