Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-01-16

hlc u is ROW ass ict as fars, that large minority
ot all the trccho!tcra III the State, are IN favor of
convention. This may or may not be a fact shall
not deny that II isI it is at least matter OF doubt
and should not be assumed as the basis oil any uruu
Inept -
But, admitting, Sir. fer The sake OF arn,mont that
~ ority OF all the ireehoiders in the State are IN
favor OF conventions does follow that this majority
Is IN favor 81 The organization OF the convention up
on the BASS OF tree white populations upon any
other specified busis? 81 bal indication k;tve they
given ofsuch intentions? Whence do gentlemen de-
rive the evidence that such is ie wili Of The paioritya
not from any Official rocord-not from the tabulsr
statements derived FROM the Audtor-not from the
known principles of human nature--bt from tn cir
own i.1,og nations The9arguments that were used
among the people in favor Of the call ofa convention
arc familiar to us all. Some in the croudod forms
OF this House. evil that s'.od DC rt!no,lict-otl-
ers saw in the Executive Department excrescences
that should be Topped of-otiers saw il, the ndenerd
on: tenure OF the Judicial Office power canabe of
great abuse-whllst others, who claimed to be the
zaalous advocates Of free principles, complained of the
undue limitation Of the right OF suffrage and OF the
unequal representation in this House. The conven-
zion was Looked to, not as the remedy for one evil
only, bat as political pandcca curing All discusses
anu restoring soundnGss to the body ro:c.
Thus the opponents of The present Constitution,
tor ell the Cons that have cited, have combined
in favor of the call Of Convcntion ard have niven
naio'ity OF rather 5000 votes iii favor of .hct
measure. But how is this majority consiitutcde
Examine the documents before us end ven will SEQ
that more than 1000 Of these who voted If favor of
Convention, residents ON this side of the Blue
hioge, and III the slavefo,iing portion Of Virginia
Are VIC to presume that these persons; intended, to
abandon their essential icrestss That ti,ey wish
tic organization of u convertien without references
to their rights Of property, which iiey hold almost
as sacred as liberty itself: No, Sir, i; caurot be-.
iese persons not such dos, as to wish chanra
OF government, with utter disregard of cir inter
ests Deduct, then, these 5000 votes from the una
JoIlty, and add them to the minority, and we have
majority of more thar 5000 against he basis Of FREQ
;,SI i( 7
not hesitate to pronounce, that If the question we're
now Submitted to the frecholdcrs of the State. a
decided majority would be opposed to the basis ofrce
white population. hat then becomes of the org,,-
mont OF the gentleman from Frederick, Mr.. Raeonl
derived from the Bill of ghts' No nan more hipIi-
ly venera'es that sacred Instrument than do-no one
yields to ITS principles more irrpcable faith. I
agree with the gentleman, and with the Bill of Ripits
that ''maiority Of the community hath an rdiiyita
BILE, lraerabe, and indecasible right to liter REFORM
or abolish the government" But that majority must
prescrbe the terms upon which the government
shall be altered, reformed, abolished. Has IL done
SO? Has told us that the basis Of the convention
must be free whio population? Wond ncrtle'nen
nave Us to substitute arbitrary dscrctoH for
tie knsWn will ct the minority? Sir, We ara not
usurrc,s.--We representing the interests. pur
suing, and not defeating the wishes Of the peopIe
T he argument OF the gerterpnu from Frederick
trtn, srpt OF its ouriatoiiS tails as 'sthc buseess
fabric OF vision
Gentlemen profess TO proceed ptn clcnisutarv pri1-
cipcs. The gentleman from Frederick said, he
would 'probe these principles to their source" Let
us follow him IN this process, and see TO what
conclusions we shall be led. The Declaration ui
Independence, an Instrument surely moi less sa-
cred or imposing than the ILL Of rights, has dcc!ar-
cd THAT 'al ncn are by nature e1ilai. This is an
elementary principle follow it in It's tn extent and to
what nonsi rous conclusion We brou,1t2 Are
not slaves mon? But say gentlemen in our lazy they
arc considered not persons h;It rs property Lei
M ask them, if the doctrine OF oar law arc racog-
nlzci il the great ode of original principles l., which
n i1oroJ ~. u
though the policy of the aW nay deprive thnm O;
thar liberty it cnnot ives them Of what the God OF
nature has impressed rpon them the noble attributes
OF man Probe this principle to its source" and we
shall nd that slaves are not 0rly entitled to ro!itical
power, according TO the federal rto but are entitled
10 full ntImcrcal representation.
Bt!t why would gentlemen exclude the free blacks
from representation? Not bec.uSu they aro prorer-
ty and surely moi upon elementary principles. I'icy
are not only by the laws Of iiaGurc but BIZ the
laws Of the land. They are not ,ngafory tribr,
within our borders, but have fixed interests and ser
nancnt Limitations. They ha We 70 part in the d.
icncc Of the country, because public policy forbds it,
but the law eXacs from them their annual contrilyl-
lions for the support OF the government. Vet thes;,
persons. too, arc excluded from representation, by
those rho profess ''probe elementary PRINCIPLES TO
their source" What, Mr.. Chairman are we to infer
from the exclusion of these classes of persons
from political power? ihnt gcnilcnef have stopped
short Of elementary principles aud HAT their prudence
and good sense have suggested the propriety of form
ing the new Constitution without recurrence to
the Law Of nature
The constitution is not to br formed on the
principles Of the Law Of NatHrc and it liz irnyossble
That it can be so formed al political axous are but
an approximation TO The Truth No government that
exists has been founded upon principles purely alb
stract "All tue governments of Europe (ssvs dis
agaished British statesman have been fortuitousIy
formed And the gtvcrDncnts sc these states
though aHordiug the nearest approximation to ele-
mentary principles have not for their iasis the
CT Nature Force or concession nia+ enter into the
formation ofevery government. Force, am sure. is
not seriously contemplated by any gentleman in this
House, though some may regard it at distance rs
the ''u!.i1tr ruin" Concession then-suInc point
OF compromise upon when We nTy fairly and houon-
Tably meet, is oil that is desired That is rendered
by i" Jill upon your table. Tho friends Of the bin do
not isst npon recurrence 70 elementary principles
Pheydo not insist that the coered population ofthe
rust slond be represented as whites or that they
should be represented NJ Ill IS persons. Pie principle