Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-01-22

of white population, and to prove this, certain
3 proceedings and journals had been introduced
4 Why not also introduce the suggestions that had
been made Of the enormous abuses Of the govern.
a ment. But did the Staunton Cow ention or any
report that had been made in.that House, show
that majority OF the people desired to
y our present system OF Representations: ouch evi'
Jence, he contended, could not be relied on WIKI
I the certainty OF truth. If the voters tor Con.
vention looked TO this result, was II not paipab!e
= that many OF them must have voted Tor their own
U annihilaon from the body polite. lie insisted,
X that IL the main object of reform had been known
Ito he change in Representation, the vote on
1.-THE Convention subject would have been different.
IA gentleman from Western county had told US,
tthat in such a case, the vote in his county would
'Thave been essentially different. 1t was known,
that in the West particularly, there was much ex
element, and the polls were uncommonly full
In the East, on the contrary, there was no excite
ment. and the polls were not full. The majority,
after all, was only about 5000. That number OF
& votes given in the lower country, and was it
Y fair 10 presume, If a change in the principle
of representation was the object that these votes
would have been given He was willing to vote
for bill organizing Convention, in obedience TO
the will Of the people, but not upon any given
principle as having been dictated by an expression
of that will. l.
n 1t had been urged, he said, that all men were
equal, SIC. He did not intend to deny the gene
raj proposition but asked il gentlemen would be
8 consistent, pursue their own principles and adopt
! the results to which they lead Had they not
4 been called on, and did they not repudiate their
own principles Had they not refused 10 admit
every free to vote, and declared that the right
should be alone exercised by freeholders Ii was
not for him to controvert the proprety Of this de-
tcision. But did it not shew, that majority of the
{ counties were opposed to the extension of the
sright OF suffrage. With what face then, could
thesc gentlemen contend, that all men were equal!
Only one gentleman had spoken in favor of uni
versai suffrage (Mr. Willlams) and TO him he had
a listened with pleasure Mr.. q. thought we ought
20 tn # IL \
been said, that when we go into Convention, all
the elements of society were dissolved. If So
: would not the bands of Slavery be also melted
Z down! and, upon the principle that all men are
equal, what would exclude them from a full re.
presentation in Convention! Were gentlemen
prepared for this The truth was, a convention
did not necessarily dissolve the elements OF socie-
ty, or even abolish the institutions of the State.
But gentlemen, he insisted, must abandon their
beautiful theories, holding them, declare a
whole race of men to be Slaves; deny ali potica
rights TO free men of colour because OF their base
birth, and even cut off from participation in polti-
4 cal power, the numerous body of non-freeholders
among u.s. He did not urge this az a complaint
He too, would leave il to the majority of the free.
holders to dispose of the political power of the
q State. His only object was to shew the inconsis.
4 tency OF gentlemen; and of gentlemen too, who
undertook to .denonnce others aristocratg.
BY the laws of the land, the natural rights Of
slaves belonged to their owners. IL this doctrine
\ Of equality did not overturn the laws, but could
exist with them, then the master might set up
claim to full representation for himself and his
slave. But he did not insist on this proposition
Environed, the subject was with conflicting
interests and principles, he was prepared to take
Mr.. Terrills scheme of county representation, az
calculated to produce less excitement than any
D other He was aware, that the principle of fede-
i raj numbers would infrriate the, West, and he
would adopt the county plan 10 avoid il. To a.
: dept the basis of white population alone, would
produce equal excitement i'm the East He could
al he Fast
not submit to the domination of party they
would not act without some security to property
But how are we to reconcile these conflicting in
forests and feelings! Any plan that approached
white population federal numbers, seemed
equally odious. In this state of things, he hat
selected the county plan presented by Mr. Ter
rflI, as securing every thing desirable. Ii wa.
true, that, on principle, Warwick should not be
given the same influence with Frederick. Blu
this inequality was counter balanced by the con
sideration that the state divided into three
great sections, each Of which possessed a common
interest within itself. but distinct interest from
the others. They were most fortinatel,
balanced; and any inequality that exists does no
affect the whole state but only tie district in whicl
q il is found. For these reasons, he preferred The
& county system. The number of low land, of mid
n country, and western members, would be rela
81 lively correct; and approach The nearest point o
equality and justice. He could never consent
that the East West, middle section should have
the power TO tyrannze over the rest. The estab
wants and necessities of the pcopIe--expcrienc
had proven them TO be admirably adapted to al
the contemplated ends. Why abandon a count,
system thus recommended 10 US. The country
in the West had been cut up into counties for The
accommodation and convenience of the people
whilst acting in their political character. And he
did not think that 10000 souls residing on the
plains of Frederick, within a small space were
entitled TO much political weight as the same
number residing over a more extended country
The representative OF very sparse population
could not know well the people, nor so well re-
present their opinions, and advocate their rights
rs the representative of dense population.
But it is objected, MIR. G. said that the arsu
men,s urged here are such as would be better
suited TO the Convention itself. Was this so' If
was. to which party il most applicabIei--
Surely gentlemen who insisted upon organizing
fhe Convention none but their otCji plan
could not make this objection. They went solely
for their own interest; and did they not suppose
that others had the sagacty TO this, and the
3 hrmness to act on the dcfensve'
County influence, county representation, &c
had been established by the Constitution, and hi
insisted that the Legislature hid no right to de
stroy It.. AS Legislature, deriving their power
under the Constitution, they bound TO exer
else all their official functions in reference TO In.
divisions Of power, and upon the principles fixet
by the instrument which creates them, and au
thorises them TO act at all.
II Mr.. GORDON said, he threw himself upon the at
tention Of the House, at that late period with grea
reIuctance. Indeed, he shonld not have risen, bu
for the emotions produced by the eloquent remark
Of the gentleman who had just taken his seat. I
was not his wish TO rouse any other feelings, bu
those of the utmost good will and kindness. Ia
be IL from him TO encourage state Of excitemen
adverse to the most calm and deliberate consdera
ton of SO momcntous subject. Some principle
1 had hcpu ,rhiri, ha did pot III