Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-11-28


question not the sincerity even oihe Ees.sman from
Loudoun, lin truth do not ~ Even WHEN shedding
tears OF anguish over the desolae fields and Wondering
mansions Of the tide water country, and be wailing them
will, patbos That Utmost rex,oried fears from others.
and looking with sp vision 10 the contamination OF his
hope, o. iuure Improvement he surrendered himself
10 the Illusion thai verjurr aud fertility could be
'ored 10 these wsses,by taking from th r por
lion OF their scany products to Improve the highlands
and torrents OF the Wet No, Sir. have not attain
ri the years which NUMBER without instru con
from experience which me how possible il is Tor
the strongest mind and the pures heart be exposed
drlu.icns OF this kiud. b.. g. Il.
l u Important in entering the before fhe
Committee. that we should have eption OF
what is the teal question before US, that we should
clearly nndes aud hat is the issue Ii is not
We Issue which The gentleman from Augusta made up
(Mr Johnsorl.l That gentleman es..ntialy changed
the issue presented by The resolution OF the Committee,
AMI the ein ndlncnt proposed To it. And here let
me say in passing, that if he right in all he said
th'n ~eiars dispung about mere form OF woris aud
nothing more. Both the resolution and the amend
ment are only means to end, that end attained,
II l. matter 81 LITTLE consequence whether the ans
be preserved mott they from tina, little
vane- What do we ieaia from the statistic. OF the gen
.man from Augusta, az applied 10 his interpretation Of
what he make, the riddle oil the Committee? The first
thing that We learn, that the ratio, ii nished by the
entire number OF the white population are different
from the ratio arising from TIA, portion OF the
nifty vhich are Catholic, which belong TO the body po-
liic and exercise the Right of Suffrage. He i. for
GLIDING all but those who have the Catholic quaiS a
ton; and appyisg this rule to the data furnished by
the Auditors statements, is -he wa that tho OF
in the toe. grand divisions OF the scarce
differ ty units from those which will be quoted to
them by The adoption OF the amendment and the app
cation OF ,hc rule il would furnish. .,,s
After this aggression, (,o which have been led by
tue strong mprcs ion his statement made my iuind)
let meturn back 10 the line OF arsumen, intended 10
pur-ue.
The first thing becoines us look at is tho erro.
neous representation oil the question before the Com
mtee, and the gratuous assumption of the principles
which TO resolve H. The question has been treat.
ed il it one be ore the sovereign power Of
he I'm liz Inhl
were called 10 give their final vote upon it, has been
treated a. II The Integers OF this assembly 10 I've
reckonsd for less, according the pop.
ulaton in their several dis,rcts it, telling the
members Of the Convention, by name, and put
ting value each, the question be de ciied,
not by the numbers present in this body but by the
numbers of the population they rcpresent:-and the
majority Of these latter numbers having been ascertain
ed those representing this major iy, should prescribe
tire terms OF the constitution. aud the mnoi ,y have
farther voice Sir, Is this correct or is not such
sumption AZ war with the very ends OF appoint
men, The very nature oil our trust; and deroga,ory 10
that intelligence we are so lavish in ascribng this
Assembly? IL this be the true question: instea of pru
dence, knowledge and virtue, the total OF the
qualities required in u, is the capacity add subtract
and strike balance, and the entire argument consists
in the force OF that balance, when struck II this be
the question, then il This Conve nton mere bed
of Justice. and lis entire function is record the pre-
tended edict Of the peopie terms Of that cdct
to be dictated by ssfsescted portion of this body.
As,. is obgaon is 10 he formed by cumming up the
quantity OF the people, young aud old, children and
men male and female, aud thus fixing the value
OF the of hose (he self selected part of this
bIy) who represent them. VIVA; is the use of oebe.
alton? Why did we resolve ourselves into special Com
mite es;n;o miniature Conventions? Why do sit here
discussing questions from day to-day, and from week
to week. Why did the people look round TO collect the
paiarchs OF the land, that they might bring their pru
dcnce and wisdom and experience berc2 Why all this
il all we have TO do is only 10 add and 10 substrac
No. St; this representation of the question. which,
believe has had more ct both here and else where
than all other arguments, IL utterly fallsciois Consid
era ions oi majority or minority do not belong II the
functions o counsel aud deberation. Aud what is
tie character OF this as emily? We were here 10
counsel and dehersr; To take broad " of th.
widely spread nation; tike the Of its inter-
ess, and its capacities; 10 weigh facts, to draw cautious
and sag aciou duciions and then submit to the peo
pie. what they have prescribed but that which we
think majority OF the rope onght 10 ra,fy. We
not 10 be iorestaed by Calculations to
the result OF wide view OF The interests Of the
state taken by the congregated wisdom OF this body
We TO carry into effect the principle of selec-
ton. We are To have the influence of the psiriarcs of
the land TO recommend the result Of nvesrig
We to have the neslnable value of the Int Of
their authority. They to stand before the people
instructors, not as the passive Instruments OF fore
gone decree.
The true question il, what in the opinion of this Com.
muee, with al its experience and all its Political p'u
dence, after all its nducons from extended ob-er-
walton OF the interests, circumstances. habits md ply
steal aptitude OF the state, majority OF the people
ought TO accept as their organic law.
Here we are on foundation where exercise
our minds: not ieered by the results Of calculations
dale, takes away from all free will and counsel and
leaves mere instruments to ascertain numbers and
to record observation-disclosures.
Hlre remarked that the argument, which if il be
frequently used is yet really the most preva
lent and irresistible, is the argument OF epthets.
shaladlress myself to that first
Let then enquire, whether the amendment and
the principles which il proceeds, merit the dsparag
ing epihets which have been given them I shall be
indicated by the Judgment Of the Committee, in adj
dressing mysersto this part of the argument because
j satisfied that there is not who has looked up
recent and passing and has anticipated Others
still developed, who will concede that the nrgu-
ment of epthe is msst potent one, IL not the most po
tent one on all political themes. beg pardon. I have
been too hasy. | agree with my friend from Chester
field that there is yet potent, and il is this
We are, shall be, the majority. Yet even this Is OF
little value unaccompanied and aided by the other.
shall offer my humble effort 10 disarm my opponents Of
this argument, by she wing that il has been gratuously
assumed, and most wantony applied. ! shall endea-
TO do this from of the case, from the
concessions of our adversarles themselves advcrsaros
hope only, they opponsnts in argument) and
from the examples of sistetates, and OF the United
States o..
As TO the meaGs Of fixing stigma on an opinion held
by many, gentlemen have assumed that that opinion
commences with the postuatc that there prnci
pies in Government. am under no need Of vindcst-
ing the gentleman from Northampton from this inpu
taton lie Is able much e5ctu3lly 10 vindicate
himscr Whether such sentiment is Justly ascrbcd
10 him. whether in fact II uttered by him.
and if it was whether il mus not in charity,
be received m 6nly strong expression Of the opinion
that single principle is a safe guide in adapting poi
cal institutions TO mature people, Qhe opinion which
shall inaintain) leave for gentlemen to determine.
Here Mr UrsHUR rose and declred, that he never
hc opinion.