Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-02-06

| h.
DEBATE on THE CONVENTION.
! In the Houscof Delegates, January ~.
! SPEECH OF MR.. MOORE OF ROCKBRIDGE.
lcoHcIuDED.I
Our own government was founded upon the great
fundamental principles declared iii bill of rights
and was estabsedby force, and by tho general con-
sent OF our ancestors. Compromise had nothing to
do with its establishment because difference had
arisen between the people who created it, and there
was nothing about which compromise could take
place. They had all acted together in asserting and
maintaining their natural rights, and they intended to
| establish government purely upon principle. The
defects in constitution be ascribed entirely
to accident and the situation OF the country at the
time of its adoption These defects were seen and &C.
knowedged by our ancestors, and they intended to
correct them so convenient time should ar
ve; for proof OF this assertion refer TO the Notes on
Vir ,nia written by Mr.. Jefferson before the close
of the revolution. II fraud had any thing to do in
creating the existing territorial divisions Of the state
1t must have been before the revolution for am very
sure, it could not have had any influence upon the
government at that day, or at any time since. en-
disposed to believe that the small counties in the
East laid Off suit the convenience of the poo
pie at the time, and with view TO what was then the
size and situation Of the colony, without looking for
ward to the existence O! great commonwealth, such
rs Virginia Is at the present day. IF the small conn
ties shall now attempt to take advantage ofthc large
ones by returning il their hands, power which they
have attained purely by accident then SIR for The first
time, will one portion of this community be found
attempting to practice gross and dctestable fraud,
upon another: a fraud sir which trust the large
counties will nevor submit to, unless compelled to do
| it by actual force.
We have been asked, Mr.. Chairman by'the nentlc
man from Westmorelaud, how it is asccrtained that
there is majority of the people in favor of calling
convention? answer, by the vote which they have
given upon the subject. But the gentleman tells u.s.
that there great number of voters no did not
go to the polls, who to be presumed to be against
the call of convention Sir, tell the e,.cmap he
has no right to presume any such thing, and that /!
kno'o, that he Nao,os, and every other member i'll the
House kno,os, that all those who did not vote were
not opposed to convention. And will moreover
tell the gentleman, that if all those who had RIGHT
to vote upon tina, question Il mean the nonfr eold-
ers) had been permitted to vote, the majority would
have been ten times greater than it was. Sir the
gentleman attempted at the last session 10 introduce
clause into the bill directing the sense of the peoplc
to be taken upon the subject Of convention prov-
ding that all those who did not vote should be coun-
ted rs galIst convention which clause was very
properly rejected by the House, rs being wholly un
just.
We have been asked sir, how is it known on what
principles the people wish the convention organized
can only answer for my constituents and saw
that they wish i. organized upon the great republican
principles for which conterdng, and that thew
will not have upon any other.And if every other
gentleman will answer Candidy for his constituents
have no fear of the result; the people always mean
to do what is right.
The Gentleman from Powhatan (hir. Old) has AT.
frmcd, that the majority has 10 right to govern the
minority, except by the consent of fhe minority; anil
has supposed case in which majority Of the people
of this commonwealth living upon the west and n
minority the east of the Blue Ridge; in which he
insists that the majority would lave no right to com
pei the minority to live under any power of govern
mcnt, which they the majority might think proper to
adopt contrary TO the wishes of such ninority and
so far the example goes the gentleman ig correct.
IF the state Of Georgia had not thought proper TO
acccde to the General Government when it was Gs-
tablisheG, the other states would have had no rj0h
TO compel her to do But the case is different
when the majority and the minority nhabit the same
territory, and are nerspersed throughout the coun
try, as Is now the with the friends and oppo-
ncnts Of convention in this Commemorative in snch
case, the minority must submit to my government
which the majority choose to establish or quit the
country. There is no other alternative left If sir
the tories in any of the states at the close Of the re-
ment whfhthc majority chose to establish they ought
and certainly would, have been forced into submis-
sion, or to fly the country.
viii now SIR. reply to such Of the remarks Of the
gentleman from Northampton, (mr. Parker) as can
recollcct. That gentleman dweltTnuch upon the pe-
nerosity Of the eastern people, to the people of the
west. and Inns mentioned several instances in which
their lberality had been very conspicuous. lie told
us of the Lunatic Hospital at Staunton MS a great
honor bestowed upon the west. Permit me sir to re-
mind the gentleman, that the funds ont of which
that Hospital built furnished by the whole
state. and not by the people alonc and that
there is Lnnatic Hospital at Williamsburg support
cd a the expense Of the state, of which the eastern
people reap the whole of the benefits, which aDpear
TO be cstiDated so highly by the gentleman.
The gentleman has told us of an Arsenal which has
been erected at Lexington, which to be sure was a
very great honor done to the western people The
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