Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-11-02

'po 10 that the people have the right. When We
ave asccrtaned who are the people, we are bound, !
inc occiaration be true, to let the people con-
roi by majority. A majority of whom Of the
eopie. we are not 10 give the control to mi |
orty, which must be the case ii we combine peo-
lie and property. by this instrument majority Of
nc people nave determined To govern the minority.
dc did not pretend that It not competent for tho
people that minority shall govern II gentlemen
can get tile Convention To agree that point. this
principie may be observed IN the Constitution. But
they Will thHs change the whole principle Oh which
Affairs IN the State have been carried for so many
years, asd which has been thus permanent, because
constitutes almost integral part of the character
oil the people. He did not say that the Convention
might not engratt this new principle in the Consttu
pon, but however ngeniousy they might disguise It,
whether they insert It In the form of combination or
any other process, he was satisfied that it would be
contrary to right, and in conflict with all those great
principles which VIC have been Taught 10 reverence
rom our earliest youth
lie would say then, that although the Convention
nave right TO insert such provision BY doing 80
thcy would violate the great maxim Of political truth.
ana Introduce into our institutions fearful innoya-
tIon. He had no fears hat even if this were done
the people would rise in their majority and demapd
their rights. He declared that he abhorrcd and rcpu
Diluted such hut he feared that if this ,nno
walton was INTRODUCED 1t would give new cause for
discomfort, and produce excitement in the publc
ninu. Instead OF trnnqulzing the people, by giving
them what they want, you would thus create new
sources OF dissatisfaction Do this, said Mr. PowEI1
4
groan beneath the weight of petitions from the peo-
pie instructng you that the majority have the power
anu demanding OF you 10 call a new Convention 10
repair the injury which this will have committed
Ii will be refused, because they who have the now
or Will not consent 10 rctrace their stems 'Phe do
ma nd Will then be reeratcI-new will
arise, and tina community will be kept IN a state of
ceaselesS common ions for to come. So far ms
nc was personally concerned he would preach TN
patience and endurance. He ould hold IN his hands
IN suPpicatioh 10 the God of mercy to avert evils
on more active character And If such should arise
ne believed whatever might be his icclinrs That he
should range himself the side of the ,niuo-
rity IN order to restore the reign of order and tran
quihty: But he inplored gentlemen unless they act
cd under the force OF some irresistible feeling of ne
oessity not to attempt the Introduction of this prnc
pie IL ITS introduction were necessary To srlf.pre
serva'ion, 1t would indeed. be a paiaiion of tho
act Let gentlemen satisfy him that IT is SD Jo.
them prove to his conviction that 1t is necessary for
the security and tranquility of tho Commonwealth
ana ne would give his atsent 10 il but not tlthon He
would do So, because he considered the obrc, OF all
government 10 secure life liberty and property, and
IL were necessary Tor the protection of either OF these
mat TINS innovation should be introduced he would
give it his sanction. N''
few words now in reference to the amendment,
lie had already announced that if The principle CON
tanned In this amendment essenti inrrcdon,
In the articles OF compact. lac would assent IN ,s in
troduclon tie had listened with pleasure to the clo
luent attempt of the gentleman from Nortbn,np,nn
III ofdcr 10 discover either That its introduction was
being covluced lie would assign the reasons WHY
he remarks Ct the gentleman had carried convic-
ION 10 his nund What was the object and effect OF
he amendment? 1t was to give representation IN
slave property. IL was not he had once believed |
place The slave through his owner side by side wi,
he white citizen, but 1t to gain him influence in
he legislative department. Not that the slave be.
cause he was human and I'M clhgent being was to
be made part OF the constituent body nor with any
reference to his will but the only prncp,e ON which
nc was TO be introduced because he is property
w ny was 1t said, that government was established
or inc projection OF property well as life aud IL |
oefy Ihe obJects OIL It's prO ection were thrcefud
ife. liberty and property True and how is this prn
ectlon OF property to be obtaincd Is to be- obtain
ed by introducing provision into the parchment
mat property shall become part of the representa-
ave SYSTEM The argument of the gentleman from |
Northampton on the bect OF guarantee mus, hcr,
forcbly upply. If you give to the minority power
you must of Necessity, place the majority in tho on
position. The gentlemen on the other side had en-
qnlred vhat guarantee we could give To tbem-,fi, -
one merely OH papcr IT Will be violated as sonn ~ tho
spirit OF rapine shall be reused. He would asl ;fl
TINS 10 not guarantee of the description: t. IN
tue parchment of the constitution give power to
tile minority, whe. that spirit of rapine comes IN
sweep away paper guarantees, this nuarap.eo ,,,,H
snare inc tatc OF the rcst and will he swept nwov
WIN theIn' But you have guarantee more stronG
IMAM any Whicn can be written on parchment. II Is
the guarantee which Is furnished i'm the vi,tuo md
honesty OF the people. That is the only nnnrnn,co
under Tree government which property cnn bsvc
so long as that uarantec lasts, 10 rapine will inst;
gate tile oosoms OF one party of men against another
IN the same commonwealth. If this be moi an aJe'
quate and tic only guarantee, then has our rcpubli
can experiment entirely failed. Then will tho nrc
dctOns OF the enemies Of all free institutions he roo
hzed for If the people of this commonwealth are M,
ut tor republican government, then is the last hone
OF tho advocates of free institutions des rovcd s
no portion OF the world is it for it, Then viii The
enemies OF the representative system say-tLorc !.
not spot on the whole universe where the ron hi
ra IN hp .f.hIt- I,cJ
its continuance. F'P' VI
lie would ask again, If there is in republican no.
vcfnmcnts any guarantee but that which il ~ he
found IN the virtue and intelligence of the peoJc
when That has left republics, then will the teppbl
can system go also. No matter when that may be
whcn ths basis s removed it viii be better at once
10 abandon the experiment Of free institutions and
whenever 1t shall be, whether nov, or fifiy years
hence, whenever 1t shall occur we rnny quit our Tc
Puo I Iorn OF government There will then be
no longer protection for freedom; but we mac n,
once give the government to the rich Give me mo
ney, said Cesar, "and ! will conquer The world -
n fhs.r -