Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-12-03
(nEPonrEp r6R THE WHICH,
VIRGINIA CONVENTION.
Dsbgte q Friday. Mop a7-Conetudea. =

opinions Inl9 " ~ tbs eases- $500
Nhft are the great evils which led to this Con
vcntiou' :
HM--i,nsgualitv ut' representation is the rreo,ss
and is one acknowledged by a1l
Serious evils lave been felt, and which arc suppo.
sed to go grow out of this inequality. -. 81
The most frgrdn the most u,ijustifabfe ffprit is
without parallel III outrage, it is without sen,-
oance OF reasonor justice to support W is that refusal
OF the Legislature to extend aid to the Courts
which Jude White lately, and so long, so honoraby
aud SO satisfactorily presided.
The next has arisen out Of the subject Of Internal
Improvement. This is one in which there great
conflicting interests and, may well be expected
under every system in which justice may have bceu
and hereafter may be, withheld from particular Sec
tlonS.
may possibly take the liberty to say something
more at large on this subject, at time hereafter,
having heretofore taken deep interests III and turn
cd my attention good deal that subiect-s,lfficc it
T. say ut present. that part of the country beyond the
Buc Ridge. contGssedly having its equal share in
representation, may well demand to have their due
weight III the Legislature in order promote these
great interests, so far that weight may enable
them.
There is also another evil of great magnitude, and
winch an acknowledge; and that is the great number
OF Representatives, and the great expence conse-
quently attending our Legislative deliberations.
These are evils which all admit; and these evils
caused the people TO vote for TN Convention.
Had the question been put to the people-Will
YOU have Convention to remedy these evils? be
love there would not have been dissenting voice
~ the Stutc
iiad separate aud distinct question though, been
PIT 10 them; will you also huve Convention ex-
tend the right of suffrage in the terms and to the
extent IL which this ComHittee has extended it. VIVA,
,csponsc would have heen given TO that question?
ypoa this bod ;apd to the knowledge they have Of
ls people, whether thousands and tens of thousands
nay hundreds of thousands Of those who voted for
this COMMENCEMENT Ill totcer pi,iria only, but in
all p,gni1, would not have voted against that dis
tnct proposition.-ln other words. had the freehold
suffrage been the only evil complained Of would we
hntn hOnn ,nr, I,l,b
riy believe that, IN that caseno Convention-would
have prevailed 100 to In fact but for the other
great and apparent evils, Convention for Ms yur-
pose never would have been thought of.
The western country has much changed within
the last Is years. that have been absent it, if
III truth that had been the only evil they complained
OF, such proposition would ha We been suDnorte cd Inv
one in one hundred.
1t has been merely brought in as auxiliary, aud in
the tempest of those passions which have been eli
gendered by real eriis
But, suppose third question had been takcn-shall
we have Convention that The Governor 7,nv be cleo
ted by The People, will not go further. For whe-
Their lie Is to have patronage that will rouse the
people from that quiet slumber in which thew have
reposed for SO years, and unkennei the pack who will
be seeking for Office, and who will make the welkin
ring, has not yet developed ITSELF will take the
NAKED proposition as presented by the amendment
What would the people have said? WHY we
never heard of this as an evil. Our sleep has been
so Profound that we never dreamt of it.
Zach man will say--how can I elect Governor,
A
Governor; but his 'corth may not be known to others
How am to act lie will be told some man will
benom'naedto youi you will be called on to send some
represent alive to q Caucus to nominate n Go,,o.no
your neighbours will send some one to this Cnucus
Rou are good Jackson man, you are GOOD
Clay man, and you must take care to vote for the
man nominated by yom Caucus, your party will
DO overthroWn. - -.
If that is to be the case, he will say had rather
the Caucus would elect him themselves at once WHY
call on me, If my Judgment is not to be exercised?
NJ. gL,t, IL la.
present Constitution, which you must now voe to
abolish. Our tried friend, Mr.. Jefferson, has said
there is danger Ill it-and although we have not vet
feHH, must guard against danger.
But if there must be Caucus, why not LET tho
Members of the Legislature be that Caucus? Nhy,
my dear sir, that is worse and that is still
coming nearer to the present Constitution-they
might as well elect directly thus to do it indirect
But suppose they will Caucus it? The members of
Congress do so to the PresiGent-and so do orr
members of Assembly; and in fact between them
actually elect the President. In short, they have
done little else for the last 10 years but elect
Presidents. DO you mean, SIR that we shall be pln
ced in the situation as to our Governor That
am to be PlacedIn situation, in which, so far as
can learn knowing nothing myself, and irving due
faith and credit to all that said, both sides as TO
the candidates, it can only be choice of evils! IF
this Is what you mean am not for 1T must po IN
my wheat,stack and draw straws: and if the Legs
ioture will be bound to pass law to make thai
good vote, and that may send the result to the polls
there to be registered my vote, as Mr. Jefferson
thought the present. Constitution dangerous, NAV
vote for change. But if am mix in the hue and
cry against, or in euogising a man that l know no.
thing about, beg to be excused.
| would rather stay at home and attend to INV bu
sness in which case, the election be abandonod
by Inc, to those who have something in uie,o
At present, ought to vote for an clcctor Of Pros
ideIt of the United States, whom know and in
whom can confde.
That was understood to be the spirit of that Con.
stuton, when gave my sanction 10 It-and il ,voe
SO practised on for some tnc
now elect my members to tie Legislature oftlo4
State and by the Constitution, they arc my electors
of Governor.
have witnessed no evil growing out of that
have tho, witnessed the deadly sin and wicked.
ness growing out of the change in practice which has
deprived me Of the power of clecting an eiector Of