Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-01-20


to propose amendment of the Federal CONSTITUTIONS
and formally renquish it, But, Sir, is there anv thing
unjust in the principle? Ifthere s it consists in ba
wing fixed the proportion of this population, for
which we should be entitled to representation too low.
for it adds to the wealth, and consequently TO the
strength of the United States precisely in die same
way that the lower labosng classes do in the other
States In time OF peace--and is to be hoped that
peace will continue to cover much the larger portion of
tinae-thcy fill the place. and answer fbe snme
purposes OF helower classes of laborers in every
community under the In time of war they are
to-besure but not therefore, useless
tor In time OF war; all not to be expected to be I'M
der arms some must necessarily be employed in labor
for the purpose of paying and subsistinp those
that are Nor is this the least important for in all
the wars that have been wagcd in the word-of long
communicating difficulty of procuring, all the
various means of subsisting armies, has been found
much greater, believe, than procuring men to com,
pose the armies: And, sir these noe the only nom
com.aants; women and children and oldmen are a.
qualy on-combutants yet they are enttled-and
properly entitlei-to full representation.
However, therefore, this principle of our represcn-
tation IN Congress may be sneered at by our Nor
be preserved, and be as lasting as the Federal rn;
itself-But the gentleman from Brooke saws that he
cannot submit to the degradation of taking seat bv
the side OF those who in part the
OF slaves. The gentleman has not ALWAYS been co
fastidous. He has, believe made at least o,e Of
1ort TO obtain such seat, and only saved fion,
this degradation, by the guardian care of his district
which refused to elect him. But. Sir, this principle
of misrepresentation has nothing to do with The me-
sent question: But the basis of representation f,r
which contcnd-that of White population and taxa
ton combned--is suited to all communities
and nIp III favor ofthe Congr ssional District, be-
cause they would produce nearly the same result hut
will not pertlacously insist upon these divisions
although there lsone strong favour of them
-riat the people within these divisions are in habits
OF acng together Tor other purposes. Yet, if other
dvlsions--in more exact accordance with the prpci
pie for which contcnd-would be more satisfactory
to Others have no objection to adopt them.
Mr. CRAIG said he was anxious for the preserya-
ton OF the best good feeling among the members
He should vote for striking out Congressional Dis
trcts. He saw that Federal numbers would be most
unwilingly given up by Eastern members, and he
was sure that the West would yield any part of
tae principle OF representation by white population
Hence the necessity of compromise upon some fair
middle ground And If the section was stricken out
he suggested the propriety of filing it with Senate
ria this he would do upon the ground
Of compromise and not Of principle. The Convention
would then be composed ofInembers in the ratio of
10 below the mountains and beyond-He coufd ne.
yer consent that slaves should be put upon the same
pohtical footing as white men. They we're in fact
ho.mhg o9t property and by the laws of our state
were declared to be property only of a secondary
character Horses and all other property were equal
y entitled to representation if you take any one class
OF 1t. 1t was well known that Congressional Dis
trlcts were lad OF wit reference to slave populatgB
and you adopt those districts it follows as matter
OF course that you adopt the principle upon which
they were arrange. Virgnin, as sovereign indie
pendent state, was ustifable, In entering into the fed
eral association to insist upon this praepe it was her
duty to make the best barg she could as single
and undivided political community. But the same tls-
LITIGATION could not be urged for insisting upon such
principle among ourselves, in making the social com
pact Tor our local government. Ii we have not conf
dence in the justice and magnanmity of one another
and found II necessary from dstrtls to guard AGAINST
the raPaeity ofthetwo great sections in question then
state ofthlngs which would Indicate that
N tIuoy IL
munlty. The argument of Mr.. Old, he considered.
as implying this want of confidence. He here dvyclt
upon the injustice of such sentiment and spoke with
leeng OF the attachment OF our whole people to our
common country; of their proud participation in the
same character, the ancestry and the same go
ry IL Is true that the people beyond the mountains
dIo not possess as much wealth their fellow-citi
zehs On this SIDE But what little they did possess of
the common stock was equally dear to them and
would be equally the object of protection i'm the Con
stltution and laws.
On the subject of the principle of force in ssta-
ing the VIII OF the majority, this much Mr.. G. said
might he afhrmed-From the very nature and char
acter of property could hold much if any be-
yond what his physical strength would enable him tn
retan All the rest was held under the protection of
the llws'-and these laws rested upon tho nbv
seal force OF the majority for their final execution
The VIII OF the majority made the laws and
consequently on that will rested the security of
property 1t was not fair TO presume that the rnaio-
rty would resort to acts of oppression robbery
some conhdelice must be reposed in them by the mi
norlty, and there no Just ground to apprebend
that that confidence would ever be abused in anv
manner similar to that to which reference had ,ust
been made If man could not meet man upon primer
pies OF lar equality, then the connection which
bound them together ought to be broken I'D. The
idea that the majority ought not to rule was anti
republican He had never expected to hear it adj
yanced in this land which had been cousecrated by
me blood of our fathers to equal anu rational liberty
such doctrine might well become despot and
those who think that Crowns and the right to rule
were derived from divine authority, and descended
like ordinary property. 1t was unquestionaby true,
however that Consent, and not force, the foun-
dation of government with this qualifications thut il
extended only to what was just and rational
MI u commended that property ought not to be bal
anced against liberty, or give particle of power