Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-12-31
DEBATE ON BASIS OF REPRESENTATION
liz COMMITTEE OF THE WHoLE CoNsrIrurIox.
tn 10

MR. JoHNSONS SPEECH.-( Continued
Iproiess, however, Mr. Chairman, to pay but little
respect TO any OF the examples from the Constitutions
oil our sister states, quoted the side the
ther None Of them can be very well understood by
us all oil them have been subjected the of but
span OF time, compared with the life OF nations-and
all oil them are taken from the infancy OF institu-
TONS where our sparse population the facility of
curing property and agricultural pursuits secure
TO us more vtue and more freedom from temptation,
than, in future times, can reasonably hope to en-.
JOY,
Having disposed Of the precedents which are sup
posed to bear the question in debate let consider
the propositions with reference TO their
operation -and in approaching this subject must
press my deep regret at the appeal which has been
made to the spirit of party politics. We are told by
the gentleman from Chesterfield that of the o5iect
of this Convention is TO change the policy of this State
in reference to the measures Of the General Govern
men and he has endeavored TO alarm the party polti-
cian with the apprehension that his fvorte doctrine OF
State Rights would be endangered by transfer OF
power from the east 10 the west. Mr.. Chairman, has
not the subject under consideration intrinsic difficult
ties enough! Are there not preudces, naturally per-
haPs inseperabiy belonging to il, which present almost
nsuperable obstacles to candid discussion to Just and
wise conclusions respecting liz Shall we, by invoking
the demon oil party spirit, multiply these difficulties,
name these prejudces, bring discord into our ranks
and confusion TO nseisi Has.t come to this
that public opinion is be controlled retaining DO.
iical power in the hands Of the minortyi Do our
brethren of the deny freedom of opinion
they insist upon the privilege of thinking for u.s. well
as legisIaing for usl The generous feelings Of my
dent debate has subsidized, will dsclaim, am sure all
aid from blind party zeal;-and ,ru that this Com
mtee will not for moment submit to ITS influence.
IL has been objected to the resolution OF the Select
Committee that by transferring the power to the west
will endaDger the basis Of representation in the House
Of Representatives Of the United Sates,tha 10 say
that II the basis Of white population should be estab
i'bed for the House OF Delegates, the people Of the
west, following the precedent, will insist
the Congressional districts in this State upon the
basis, instead Of the bsss Of Federal numbers upon
which they have heretofore been arranged. do MT
believe, sir, that any such danger exiss-the propri
ely Of arranging the Congregational districts upon the
federal basis 10 obvious, and has been long prac-
sel, that do not believe the change would ever b.
attempted But IL you feat ", provide against IL in the
Constitution by an express declaration that the federal
number shall forever govern in arranging these dis
rict.. But tho gentleman from Fauquer tells ms he
does not know that such provision wouid be regarded
as obligaory-he does no, know but that the Constitu
ton Of the Une'l States would be appealed to para
mount TO the authority OF the State Constitution on
this subjsc,. Does the gentleman from Fauquier en-.
terrain the least doubt that such provision in our
Constitution would be obligatory! Can he doubt that
the State Legislature Is imperjou-iy bound by the
State Constitution, in all things not contrary TO the Fe
deral Constitution! And can he find any thing in the
Constitution OF the United States upon which rest
doubt, that IL Is lawful TO preoerbe that the districts for
elsctiDg members TO Congress, shall be formed upon
the basis which the Constitution OF the United States
itself has established for the whole representation Of the
State. II TO be driven from the path Of duty by
such scepticism, our labots at end;--for why
prescribe a qualification Of suffrage! The gentleman
from Fauauer does not know that in this age Of meta
physical abstraction IL will be held obligatory upon the
people Why prescribe any basis Of representation at
alR The gentleman from Fauquier does not know
that the Legislature will hold i, obligatory Upon them
Let not sir, deliver ourselves up the blind gui.
dance Of what do not know;-but rather let us be
governed by what wedo know, or might know, IL we
would consult our reason. We ought TO know that II
l. duty TO settle this questioned representation with
out influence from naginary dangers. We ought to
know that the Legislature Of Virginia would never in
the .sk OF losing its whole representation in Con
gress by electDg all ts members 10 direct violation Of
the State Constitution; that they would never incur