Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-12-01
[REroRrEp roa TIE RICHMOND wirrc.l
VIRGINIA CONVENTION.
VIE. T'HOMPSONr,S SpEECu
SATURDAY. Nov. 81.


tins morning. having for the present waived his rp
! rise TO solicit for short time the attention OF Tn
Committee, whist enieavour, III my poor manner
to discharge an obligai ~ duty which Iowe to tn
constituents in part represented by me in this Con
v'.nlion 1t Is. as you well know from personal ex
Pereace, Mr.. Chairman, painful aud emburrassin,
DUTY. won ID TO God had been committed to otlie
anu abicr hands. When consider the time place
ana circumstances that surround me, the moment our
interests involved in deliberations, and the weigh
y responsibility thatiests each and every one O
US IN connection with the humility of my pre-
TENSIONS almost shrink from the task that lies be
tore ME: but on the other hand. whes call to mine
mat am the Representa- tive in part Of uanv thousand
reeinen, who spontaneously and without any saci-
taiio1i otmine have clothed with this high, deli
cate aat responsible trust all persona, considerations
vanish ard resolve fearlessly tn sneak their senti
IN nts on this floor, regardless ofell the snrcasn wit
Tdicuiead even dorsion with which principles they
mold dear and sacred have been assaiied in the pro-
gress of the debates of this Convention. Had NOT
imperous duty inm my humble cstnation forbidden 81.
lence, my lips had been scaled, dramatically sealed
during the session of this august assembly. But
should forever despise myself, if whilst am the re-
presen alive of frcemen could sit by in silence and
hear the sacred and unaenabe rights of man derided
and should tanaey shrink from their defence under
the influence of any unmany fear of criticism or OF
any personal Consequences whatever.
feel that sha1lneed much Of the polite attention
anu KIND ndugence OF this Commit &C. sustain IRE
IN the task have imposed on MYSELF and the won't
ed nagnannIty and courtesy of Virginia Assembly
! am sure, will always accord it to a member of its
body, so long that member shall merit it, by cour-
tesy and decorum his part Like an honorable
gentlema who addressed you former dry, OF
this Convention, too may disclam any intention OF
entering the lists TO break lsncc. with the redsubt-
able knights who have contendcd for victory on this
arena. have neither the prowess TO imp.l, the
strength to sustain the panoply to protect me in
so unequal conhic. In coinrn,in with this Com
miitee, have participated in the delight Of stennr
to the luminous and eloquent arguments of rcntle-
men that have addressed you this and other ques-
tons And after so long roting the rich banuuct
they have spread before us, but the more regret ut
have nothing bat the honellest fair 10 offer in re-
turn lament my inability to reciprocate light for
light have the consolation however, know TINT
the same spirit which prompted the offering of he
widows mite, has dictated this poor attempt of mine
and therefore trust that my offering however hum,
ble VIII meet similar fate, from the benientv Of this
Committee. Mr.. Chairnan somewhat renret that
IN the order OF debate, it my lot follow the talen-
led ana eloquent gentleman from Chesterfield have
not the vanity to suppose, unG the most ansp:cous
circumstances, that could interest this enlightened
committee by any view could prc~eat of subject
much less when preceded in the debate by that gen
tieman Believe me- sir, have not the vanity TO con
test with him the palm of victory in the fds of rheto
TIC, of eTudteu, or OF wit. Nosir. As them, 81
far as am concerned leave him the undisputed vic
| tor of the field. DO mean however, in the cours
OF my IL marks to question many of his facts, rthe
assumptions. aud the conclusions he has adduced from
| the facts assumed.
| Mr. Chairman, scrupe not an Anriuu to avow thai
am one of those visionary politicians who advocate
general sufftage what gentleman are pleased to tie,
uniuersat suffrage. And in this apowal, believe
speak the sentiments of largo majority of nv cons
| tuents What mean by general suffrage is the
extension of hat nestimabie right of voting i'm the
election of all public functonaries, made eligible b,
the people to all white freenen ofthe age of 9 wears
and upwards, who citizens by birth or residence
for certain time, and who have discharge all tho
burthens personal, including militia duties and pecu.
mary, such as taxes imposed upon them by the laws
of the land, and excluding such rendered infa
hNfb nc f
wish to establish qualification that is personal ant
respects age and residence and abosh forever the
freehold qualifications which to me has always appear
ed lnvidious and anti-republican test. Like the
gentleman from Charlotte, Mr.. Randolph did moi
come here TO vote for the disfranchsemeut ofOne hu
man being qualified TO vote under the old Consitu
ton hut to aid in tie enranchisemeDt of all who
within the foregoing description came here
to contribute my feeble aid in the great of
oidemancipation, but no: omtate example Sc
elsewhere of DISTINGUISHING the 40 shilling freehol
ders. 1 um therefore dramatically opposed to th
amendment proposed by the gentleman from Chester
field, as ! am to all amendments that 90 10 restrc
the right of suffrage, and upcn this question, ] vii
meet aud take issue with the friends offreehold quaii
cation, amongst the most strenuous of whom, the gen
tieman from Chester field, has proved himself by th
argument which lie yesterday addressed TO this Com
riiittee am willing TO this argument upon til
authority of reason and common sense, the Bill O
Rights upon the doctrine IF expedency, or upon ex
peTIeuce. which, Customary as am, consider NOR
valuable than volumes of speculation and theory
Is with perfectly Indifferent, whether this RICH; b
regarded as a natural, q social, civil, or politica
one the conclusion at which arrive, satisfactoril
at least to myself is the same.
Before proceed with my argument, must troubl
the Committee with "a few general observations sugges
ted by the OF this debate. cannot for bear t
express my surprise and regret at Of the princ
pies ed by gentlemen this floor, and the chang
which public sentiment seems to have undergone
this ancient Commonwealth. IN the opinion of som
gentlemen, government has no principles. The ide
Of patriotism aud virtue even are exploded, and sc
love and self interest the only springs of humu
tcnDnred ina gigaons and in this 5ebafn have bce
made the theme Of ridcule and derisioh, rather tina
culogy. Against this i soemny protest. Their
was time when this would not have been endured
when such language would have been offensive to re
publican ears. In tile whole progress of this debat
the name of Thomas Jefferson, the great Apostle
liberty, has never been invoked nor has al
peal been made to the author Of the Rights Of Maj