Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-12-12


mn OF the government Il
o-e whom in tie sixth article the right OF suffrage is
c|,d To beims-hoe to whom the Constitution itself
submitted be carried effect the qualified voters 70
hose then enjoying the right of suffrage submitted,
ns refusing elect the mcers General Assembly.
To them tine Convention held in ecc, this langusse"We
declared tive rights which pertain you your pos,eriy
as the basis which that constitution have de-
when shall be found inadequate this purpose majority
o you have indubitahle, unaenabie ndeeasb right
adjudged most conducive the public wea;we believe it
well suited to condorwel calculated
obect;-but If experience shall you that
ke the correction rs IN the power of majority Of you, who
. ae Ison OF abolish as you may judge most cond-
accep reiectfhus submitted il was accepted by the
feehoder the quallfei voters whon, hcr
ACT oy winch they elected the members of the first General
Assembly was as eHectua! if solemn adoption tine
constitution and Declaration of Rgus unanimous
vote of appreciation had given on formal call OF the
ayes and noes never entertained any doubt of the validity
of constitution, for formal If
doubts that subcc, impressed on my youthful
mind such friend fronr Chesterfield felt
and must have been dissbuse of hc think by the lectures
the distinguished under whom studied our potcs.
sIons aud whose memory both The constitution
oens u accepted by the qualified they became the
parties TO the social compact, they sovereignty
constituted tire communtfy to the majority OF whom the RICH,
1t does necessarily follow right of the majority
To- reform the that the Powerso ordinary Legislation
OF eSpedcncy which belongs the majority
III deciding At, they hound look the great object Of
governments the common ocici and to enquire by what
ganNaon, will be capable producing tie greatest degree
ddngcr ~ decentralization Upon the result, this
ing enquiry depends, whether the maiority should hold in
minnry But this doctrine OF expectancy MIR Chairman
yell understood, of dangerous tcnde:y and calculated
grossly 10 nlS.cad In adopting Guide our deli
berauonS here, may become bosiow monct's after
ton its character Enlightened liberal expeiiercy
which looks To consequences immediate and calculates
effects temporary and enduring and regards ali interests par
ai and general which IN short has the lasting public good
MS OBJECT and truth anc Justice for ills guides, lies the
ddiion OF moral aud political law and the
aud political prolmietyuie that blind and narrow expe,l
effects aud partial interests. who has for object the present
guidance suhsy-is The parent of ali that Is fas.
and rccrous, morals and politics. the schools
modern philosophy uphods the pernclous theories OF Con-
dereit Roseau and Goodwin juses usuepation and tyran
ny and recommends the most visionary and Needless schemes
of reform the wise man. wlen he ejoins rigid observance
OF i''h strict performance OF ols c, when enfoces fa
duty and parental love- and coneds 10 do no murder
aud temporary good obtained violating your faith dsrc
sardmg your PROMISE failing duty your parent forgetting
your affection for your son. and even by ilbrng your hands
III human bOodbu looking beyond the narrow circle which
I"um me Tson OF Modern philosophy he tells you that all
Ing peace and happiness of society mperouy require
moral duties he has taught should be held constant reve-
renee so the wise statesman looking beyond the partial evils
aud temporary DEMENT'S which gudc the expedens political
qackery walking IN the light eff experience and governing
TO the great and enduring interests of the community II such
sht aud such guidance shall conduct the conclusion
the great and permanent interests OF this community cnuire
that the power OF the cove should he innsted to the
cray their clain 10 yield the power and their confidence
10 the minority whether that minority thousands or
|
ie,t snail continue republic become oigacfy an
sri:1ocracy or monarchy All that require is that the
evidence OF this duty Should be clear in
government Instituted for the benefit of The people and ac
.n9%'ensg ther WIZ TO be soveregnin country where
under the most favorable auspices world the pters,ing
Is yet In progress, which solve problem Of
mans capacity for self should very careful
10 consult our Judgment rather than fears-e shoud he
quite sure mat III protecting Obvious though subordinate
unsuarded that srrenderng power to the minority
we aie not abandoning tile principle that the the peppie
is sovereign, aud acknowledging that the question Of sec
government must be decided against the liberties ofianknd
WIN these views Of e rights the majority aud OF the
St oil expectancy TO which every must be
subjected let US proceed to the question the COMMITTEE
ne people who adopted the present Constitution with deca
iao on lis FACE OF their right 10 reform having under
Tor more than nifty years. have thought required alteration
amendments any, ought TO be made The Select Committee
have reported resolution, declaring, shat in the apuoon
n'ent OF representation in the House of Delegates regard
snouIo Oe mad TO the white population exclusvely"-The
gentleman from CuPeper has proposed amend this res
population simply but the white popuaton and
cononedand the question upon the adoption of the po
De deceived by the literal import of the propositions and
! beg permission TO explain my understanding ofeach
white population ercnsiry" do understand that in the
practical application OF this rule there to he rigid adh
wealth to be LAID off election districts contain
else equality Of white inhabitants entitled To- an edal
number Of delegates understand this word .scrclper n,
that sense which would refer the white population in
exclusion OF the black population of property and
taSeSnot in exclusion Of all regard county Ii,sf Ali
regard to the interests the convenience the anen, habits and
customs OF the people My object i'll applying rule would
be TO lay Off the State into given OF districts
posed of contiguous countless having interests as den
cal as po's0eo give to each of these districts number of
delegates III proportion white population and 10 d;s
butte the delegates each district among the several
TIES therein SO as to give TO each county the district, at
least one member, # the number of members were ca IN
the number of the counties To Observation-Disclosures the Stale
oiyded INTO four districts by the lines OF the Allegany the Blue
NJ anu 'e Ie'n OF 'iao "ate-and suppose the House of
Delegates to be composed of one hundred and ttyen
y members. Then upon the basis of the white
population according to the auditors estimate of it's
pres Ut numbers the SAeghany district would
De eAt-tled TO about 80 members tho VaIloy ,I;.
tnct' 10 24-the middle district to .35-and the
eastern to 90 The 80 trans-Alleghany members.
would be distributed among It's IS counties, so as to
give one 10 EACH and assign the surplus six to the
SIX larger counties. In Ike manner the 81 v,iI
members would be distributed, among It's counties
ana the 80 members for the midland district auong
It's " counties The % members for the eastern
~ %op'a not supply one to each of its thirty