Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-12-22


bemarle as it Stood and would recommend Constitu.
ton with that feature in Il to the adoption Of their own
constituents: and this statement had been made TO him
lMr ~ with aview TO regulate his conduct In refer
ence TO his own proposition.
The Interview had the effect to render him less
jealous than he otherwise should have been In adyo
caung the proposition: aud II explained to him the
vo'es wn'en had been given against II, and which he
nau expected 10 have been given in its favour He stated
,hst Tact to shew rs influence on his own course
Inc experiment was now about 10 be made, The was
going cay Tor the last ae) TO whether the Eat
would be content TO agree to a comprocsr In which
they were accept ten year, lease and rive I'M the
lee simple OF their property.
Whether the gentleman from Frederick mfr. Pow.
ELL was one to whom he alluded he could not tell
but now was the time, as he supposed, when this
question OF the basis was be dehnitiveiy settled
Mr.. POWELL said, that when he had been last on
the noor, he gave the Convention a solemn and most
sincere assurance that he could vote for the propo
'i'ion oil the gentleman from Albemarle in
And no individual had any right to say that he was
prepared TO vote for that proposition against his can
science lie never had said to any that he was
prepared to vote for IL IA il STOOL and from whatever
source his Information derived there was no truth
in the authors statement, far as he was
Mr: MeCoY said 1t was very probable he had said
that " he was reduced TO the dilemma OF taking one or
The oher he should prefer the plan of the
from Albemarle to that OF the gentleman from Chester
held; but he could take neither unless there was added
some principle oil intute sPporionnent Either would
sun nun very wen Tor the time present. but he did not
come here, and the people did not send him here to
agree TO any temporary expedient He wanted some
thing that should last through time. He had no obec
lions TO the propositions in the plan Of the
from Aibemare, or even Of that OF the gentleman from
Chesterfield but to me il seems that no man could
cast his eve upon the last, and that that IL
be adopted the East must rule through all time. No
matter where the population shall be, what shall
be the growth Of the western country the East Ia IN
| rule them through all time.
Mr.. MASON OF Frederick. now addressed the Con-
veniion ms follows:
Mr.. PRESIDENT: By those with whom have tbe
advantage Of personal acquaintance shall be sus
peced OF being influenced in rising by the petty am
hi"on Of hearing my voice round within these walls-
Could be thus actuated, should ba sdmouished to
silence by the attitude in which stand to this assembly,
am here IA the humble successor Of one who was ho-
incurred as the peoples was not
given to me, Tor my seat am indebted TO the kind es-
innate oil those who are now my colleagues.
Were more wanting To repress me, 1 should be fur
Their and sernly admonshed, by the august presence
OF this assembly. But. Sir. the time has come, when
to remain silent might be TO betray-coming as | do
more recently from the people, l may perhaps he ar
with me fresher impression Of their feeling. on this
monen'ous question, and though by accident their re
preventative, they shall find not less true 10 the
trust.
Though not present at your deliberations, I have
been not an uomndiul observer of all that has passed on
this much vexed question OF representation Through
the faithful medium OF the press, | have attentively
heard and maurey hope, considered all that has be
urged on either side-and have taken view OF this
controversy different from any that have seen present
HOn
that is struggle for powerbut not as magine,
struggle between the East and the West II is one OF
those fearful CONTESTS of which all history is full in
which the government Is on side, and the people
| are on the other
Instances almost innumerable might be adduced
when at periods less frequent in the history
OF every government, Il not what its form) thi.
controversy has arisen between the people and the ru
| ing power.
The people demand the restitution Of an usurped au
thori'y-he government reiuse'to accede-the people
persis's-thc government stand firm in their refusal
an issue Is feariully made upmost generally the mo-
rnen'ous trial OF right IL avoided by coinpromise-
wheu that fails, there is left but the narrow choice be-
tween an abject submission, or the most spirited re-.
| sisance. i am afraid Sir, we are now brought IN
| that point in our deliberations.
Let us briefly review the history Of this convention
shall make no laboured exposition from the stat
tables with which we have been furnished, to shew
that has been called by large majority of the white
population OF the S,ate-t am warranted in that asser-
ton. II was loudly again and again demanded at the
hands Of the government, before it extcnded-in
1917 the population camor was for the time appeased
| by arrangement of the Senatorial Districts, so
10 accommodate that branch somewhat nearer to an
equal representation of the white population
The douceur had its effect, and the evil day for the
time postponed. But il could not ast--be thing was
wrong in itsef-the people would be satisfied
so long they were held in all things obedien to the
will ola confessed minority. This, sir, was the griev-
ance The COVER nment called retrbution in this
| "a Convention was demanded almost for this alone-
speak, sir, for the people whom am here TO repre
sent in part, and for the whole adjacent country /
speak the voice Of the entire West when saw that 10
equaze the representaton-te place the government mt
where OF right II ought TO he in the hands the MAORI
ty OF the political community. the controlling mo-
tive which impeed them 10 Convention.
Other objects may have been in view, hut they were
OF FAR minor onsderation-compared with this, thew
were but as feather in The scale. minority and
very small minority welded the whole power of the
State The foundations -four institutions were subvert
ed and the grand effort to store the power where
it reh'uy belonged, to the majority Of the people.
speak sir. ofthe only majority ever knew--a majority
OF The political communicated the free white popula.
lion. Much refined and able reasoning has been adj
duced 10 shew, that this is not the true maority-I
have neither time now, perhaps ability reply TO
The argument, hut permit me To say in part to the gen
eman on the other side. who has attacked this republic
can fortress with most effect in the language ola phy
post, ''aididil rObur iEvalide FACUNpIA causa,
never can acknowledge but one majority in our
countty--and those whom represent here, expect
us TO keep this steadily in view.
Again, by our brethren OF the East the right of the
majority TO rule IL denounced abstract prnci.
pie IL any principle, apart from practice, IL worthy
10 he denounced, il must be- because such princo,e
not only in practice, inappcable but ought not 10 be
applied When such principle l. found in the abstract
and Is sscertsned npraccsble. agree that IL ought
10 be denouncedbut il the principle in ton he such
surely all popular government resting upon IT, IL in.
eiuded in the denuncation. To this gentlemen are in
evaby brooght-and If their Remuneration be righui
what farce is your whole scheme OF popular govern.
mrnt II il be rgbtful, put aside at once all your no.
pnlar forms, and assume other rule power On.
y, enireat you, let your people know what their
government in truth j.. Do not announce Il in your
Bof Rights in breath and violate in your cons,i.
tuition in the other. Speak boldly forth and let the PEG.
pie KIN W that power is no longer iheirs-dont "keep
the word Of promise to The car, and break ii to the
hone"
| But sir, told on the other side in further an.
swer, you require Of US by your scheme Of representation