Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-11-03
pRIpAY, OcroBEn 90.

ntnd tine first resolution of the Report OF the Teui,;-
aitne Committee, by striking ont the word ..cHciu-
saely' and inserting the words 'and ,axaton conbi-
Mr. POWELL addressed the Chair He said that 1T
no rerod OF ias life. occasion, had he ever ri
-h W''l s"ch burden CT his Feelings this mo-
mont lie feared hat neither his physical nor his
moral strength senld DC sufficient to bear him
fe effort lie felt himself called on to u,akea WLer
u east his eyes Ground this assembly, and saw the
IQhgregated wisdom OF the State to which he was
fiOoht TO address hmsr!f; -.9hen he saw amonr the
InoHlbers those who had grown grey in political
sfence, and had successfully dispensed the know
1.fge they had obtained for he benefit of mankind
IND devoted their lives the good of their fellow
ctcaures, it could scarcely excite wonder chat he
s''anid bo borne down by embarrassment.
lie asked indugeaIcc for the imperfect and ,,ueno
t';shed style in which he was about to address the
committees He could not invoke the rich fountains
OF ncy, nor draw upon the exhaustless treasury of
sc'ence to adorn his remarks. To plain views and
simple facts be must confne himself.
We are (said Dir. PowELr.) delegated het. BY the
!lhople of Virginia. We are clothed with powers 10
eater into compact for the protection OF their lives
aiii liberties. He said, to into a compact: ana
hn said SO, in order to exclude the lea that in The
discharge OF their duty, he bound by anv di
Vine or material law to agree i'll any thing which his
Judgement ind his Conscience did not gave their assent
iin begged to correct mistake. There was
great law OF nature eHlanat!ng from God, which de,
vowed upon every man to do justice, and the pro-
s7ops OF that law would be obligatory upon him.
There We're maS!ins OF wisdom, slncfed by time
d conaecrated by the from which they spranr
tjr which he should feel the greatest respect bEt
they would not be obligatory in their operation upou
ms course, except far those great mayiu.s of
WisdouI,- could in his Judgment, have Il practical
application These InaXlms, however sanctjicd
~ tnle and approved by wisdom, not being divine.
Ii would be W!tiin the competency OF cIefy ndivi-
dai topfoposc the insertion the constitution of any
ptinciple which lie mig ut consie, us having the sane
tim of wisdom and Justice, and for others either 70
receive or reject that principle He would say that
those political maXinls only BE regarded as obl;ga-
TRY, which have those sanctions and which are also
applicable to the present character and circur5tar-
c:s Of the people of Virginia. lie should have oc-
ctson to refer to those maxi,ns, as having con-
trolling influence in reference to other matters Bat
fa would disclain any further Obligations to those
i;.aX'ins, except Us far they applicable to the
present condition OF the people. lie acknowledged
but one binding obligation, and that was to Justice
lie would not innpute any improper motive to the
gentleman from Cupeper, who moved the amendment
which is nov the subject of discussion. He WIS
satisfied that that gentleman had believed it Just
that lie should move this amendment, although he
lUnfsef would have been restrained from ofseriIIr il.
lily convlctionthat fit was founded in maxim OF Pc
it!cl wisdom, IL aas one of those rnaxius which were
no applicable to the present character and circuI.l-
eos of the people Of this Suite.
,ljthongh he had this vanity, he yet believed that
the gentleman from Culpepcr thought that his pro-
position was Just and eXpedient For himself. in
TIE performance Of MS duty lie should be soverrcr;
~ this rule of actontlat lie sent either to
iitgge about princi9le which was applicable 10 any
particular section or to obtain any advantage for one
sGgiion another Was that tie object for which
gentlemen were sent TO this Convention He an
s,McrC in the negative. There was not member on
this floor who, If such objects had been committed
to HIM and his aid demanded in obtaining them, Go
would have thrown back the he had received
10 the soruce Whencu it had been obtained, and have
f.f the ineHpressibe insult which YOU'D have been
conveyed in the demand. We came hither TO form
C0mpsct for the protection of the lives aud liberties
or the community; and it becomes keep our eve
f that cardinal object and not to direct attention
&, any sectional interests Objects bat exclusively
10 Fogard this whole community.
SYhat is the object which ought first to OCCUPY US
IN the discharge OF this duty? 1t is proposition url-
(6uabe, sanctioned by history, proved by experience
that in the Formation of government We must took
To the character and condition of the people upon
whom it's to operate. 1t would not be denied on this
floor, that or all governments which the ART OF
had DEVISED pure Representative Republic is best
Calculated to promote those great ends, the security
OF i1nantie and human happiness and for the secu-
TLy Of property, where that great essential exists
Aud VII it be denied in this day of increased inte-
s.nce that the people of this State have not the
poVrr to demand the best of all governments founded
On the elements which are nseparable from the hnl
est order of governments On the other hand, no
wise would think Of giving representative ern-
Sfseunent to Turkey; would think OF giving
gN.h d government to Russia Instead of being a
ptss:ng To those Countries 1t would prove curse
frb rejecting and observing thought that
government ola republican character vas ever suited
- France. The experiments which we're made in
ti-t country 10 establish republicanisu Under all its
piascs, was the offspring of enthusiasm and folly
The result had shcwn the impotence Of that attempt
france wanted the true basis, the only pillars upon
which republican governments rest.
'lhcse principles he must receive the
Ejnct;un Of every honorable member If the people
about to form government for themselves,
1yhat would be the first question? Do we want u
republican governments? have We those essentials with
which we can be trusted with sslf-goVernmcnt, and
With witch the esta biishmcnt of such government
sill result in orr benefit? If VIC have not those c5-
scntials let US look TO other form Of govern
nient; for a republic would be instead Of q blessing,
curse to US. lie prepared to deny repubi
can system to the people Of this commonwealth, if
they possessed of these essentials Of those
clements. But, if he believed them to be virtuous
ord intelligent, it wond be act Of gross injustice
IN refuse them that boon. While, if they we're
vithoGt these clements, modification Of any other
system, Monarchy, even dospotsm, might be better
adapted to their condition.