Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-02-03

dious voyage, both to the mariner and crew V.
will not attempt to travel over this !" broad
pance" oil argument; but will endeavour IN ~
hne myself 20 the real subjects Of our delibs -
tions.
by what authority, then, sir, do we propose III
organize a Conventional for understand thai -.
authority to act at all, on the subject is dsputeS
Not' sir, by the authority Of any parcu lar count,
or counties, nor by any particular section Of tsX
State, (and whether as a quasi Conyention. ~.
mere Legislature, will not stop here to enun irs'
But. sy the sanction and authority of mator;,,
OF the good people Of this Commonw ealth, act;ns
IN their great collective capacity-who in thai ~
pacity, have the undoubted right to move, throuyS
US, their agents and Legislators, the consideratta
OF all subjects affecting the rights and int,
ests Of the whole Society, Of which thu
compose such majority. l lay down the bro,i
proposition, that We are acting under the authorsJ
", and bound by the instruction Of this maioritv
Do we not acknowledge the authority of This my
jority and yield to It the right of .bv H.
very act OF engaging in this nvestg alton, and prs
posing to organize Conventions! Sir the onns
nents OF Convention were driven 10 it, or thew
never would have consented to take up this sui.
Ject mere. Ii the vote had resulted against lsl
cali OF Convention, and the fiien,:s of Reior,E
had risen on this floor, and proposed to orran;,,k
one, then, indeed, they would have been mel h.I
reiterated charges of usurpation, of attempting t
dictate, instead Of yielding TO the naioritv-Tfsr
we should have heard the true republican doctrine
the same vehemence & eoquence by those who's
interest twould have been in that case to adhere ~
principle, with which we have seen these m rim
resisted under the existing state of things. Ia,
moi manifest, that the enemies Of Reform wous
never have consented to go into this ENQUIRE !,
they could have resisted the call of the peopiss
10 what, then, Is the fact attributable that VA |
unu an parues, as II by common consent, engaged
IN this investigation, having for its common ohier.
tue organization OF a.Convention. Tits ihe deyoE
tllA nva nj ~s~sn n IL
principles OF republication. 1t is this which bs,
induced their representatives SO far 10 Weld IA
the call oil the people, not OF the counties in con-
iormity with the maxim, that majority of m.
people have the right to alter abolish their goy
ernment." Here, then, is our sa 1ction aod an.
thory,the spring of our action, and the contr Ilin,
influence over our deliberations. Yes sir AL
r,Shf 81 instruction resides with that power arSl
there alone must we look for authority to act at ali
he unequal distribution of power AMONGST tl,e
people as represented on this floor, places many
gentlemen in the delicate dilemma, Of persons act;
ing under conflicting Instructions the instruction.
OF majority OF the people Of the State on the on.
hand and oil majority Of the people of their rel
speciive counties OF the oher-Whicll hall he o.
oeyed:-Qor :" we cannot serve two IN sters ~, l
According TO the principle Tor which contend
.he hrst only can properly he oheyed Sup,oss
that TO be done, (Which ought to have been done.
the representation equazc d. this discrepanev
could not exist, and the will of the whole coinmu
la
VIII oil the counties would speak the wishes Of the
otate-and, II each member of this BODY acted M
pursuance OF instructions, the sum of those IN
stIuctons would result in that of the people of d.
whole state. Ought this inequality of represen n.
.a'loh mere, acknowledged on all hands to be a,
war win the principles of justice and republican
sm,) to countervai the vote of large maiorItv nj
the community! Most unGuesiionably. il oueh,
not. -"
have examined these principles more minute,
~ uia" shou'd otherwise have done, on account
oil ITS close connection with one of The propo,itio,s
which have been submitted 10 our cansider atcD
!, mean me mendments adopted in Committee Of
the hole: This scheme, sir, is sustained by the
sanction OF une-a powerful advocate, which
speaks IN the venerable strains Of those anctsn,
days. which reflect the highest honour anI glory
on our country-When the birth Star of our liz,
erty hrst beamed its efIulgence on our happv Land
ana all The nations Of the Earth hailed this cheer
ing harbnger OF the full emancipation of all man
kind - "' "''A
Sir, far be it from me, to wish 10 repress Tho
enuearing emotions OF retrospect 10 o,den times
ouch recollections are the pigments which bind
society 'ogether-they warm the soul of the nat.
,io'' pour contentment on Car lot-soften the cua
ikiops ana soothe the discord Of the present hour
IL Is 'hey which bind us to the home of our G..
'ners by ties so strong and indissolube, that the
golden prospects presented to us in the bouodIes,
iernity oil other lands, so eloquent, so irress,by
enucng to other people, offer TO most VirgiDians
no suihcient inducement for expatriation-whicn
.nakes me virginia emigrant, even in the full en-
joyment of his highest anticipatons. s,,rroundes
oy wealth splendor, and distinctions still sigh for
the land of his birth. Dir. Speaker. when sve in,
dulge our feelings, however we m v yenerale
these ancient land marks and revolt at the idea Of
laying our hands TO that, which, in the ardour OF
those feelings we look upon az consecrated h.
'ime-yet reason, justice, and the fair prpcin,e a
equality. claim precedence here, and uree ms %
diherept result Upon what ground has il been
attempted to sustain this amendment. II has been
urged with great ingenuity aud eIouuence, by
the able gentleman from Matthews, that, to adopt
any other than the county basis of representation
IN convention, would violate the Constitutions
mere being no other mode recognized by that in.
strument. He might have gone further, and AZ.
flrmed That the Constitution recognized no mode
Of representation IL, Contention We are act.
ing under the sanction of a majority e IN, nson,,
er necesSifdfe rel, without reference 10 that 10.
strument The gentleman who mainly relied
upon This argument in reference to This ensUs
omissns' IN The Constitution, and manifested SO
much anxiety lest ,De should violate this insru-
nenf, by adopting different basis from that which
ne advocate, does, in effect, repudiate his own
arguments, when he says al came here preparc,i
to vote for any BILL" Sir, I entertain a bipb re-
spect for the head and the heart of that pc nema,
ana make no doubt, that in the performance of his
duty to his immediate constituents be felt himself
bound TO use every argument which he could fair.
w urge, IN iurberaDte Of their views, and that 10
The difficulty OF the Task which he had 10 perfo Ut,
ne was thrown upon the exped ent which has
produced this Inconsistency. The distingui hid
genle I,, rom Northampton, in ''ihe Ii de
ground" which he LEFT his co-adjutor. took es,
peclai care to pass around this. IL we author.
ized TO act at all upon this subject, as have en-.
deayored to sbew we are, and as is acknowledged
IN tie very fact Of our entering upon this enquiry,
mere Is no constitutional restriction upon US, in
relation to the basis Misrepresentation The clause
Ct the Constitution referred to as connected with