Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-12-29
vfnGrNIA coNvENTIoN.
mr.. sTANARD'S SPEECH-Concluded. !,

state in he presence of this audience, whuei 'hac
at-. sofsss cl5lore, with most perfect sincerity.
l have told you that entertain no ds,rrst Of the
honour aud sincerity of the people Of tho West; and
further, thu, did dis;IuS their sons The gen
tlcmau from Brooke considered the gentleman from
Northsmptt n, TO have done: and feeling this | think
1t due 10 tl, candour which belongs 20 this debate
to declare my full and entire conviction, that If thc
power to the very uttcrmost of their claim, shall he
transferred TO the people of the West their sense of
Justice will restrain them from wil!uly donr the
open and apparent wrong OF levyiug unequal taxes
OH this species 0fpropety To the cNoneratlun az pro-
Ipcrly OF different kind. ! do not believe thcy
will do any such thiI.g There is not to be found
IN this land, any body OF Mon prepared To COM
init gross apparent and warfon wrong. Much less
wonld imputc such Il purpose 10 gentlemen from
The W est, some of whom am glad 10 regard a per
sonal friends and oil OF whom hope, will long con
tinuc 10 b. brethren Of the same political family
But, Will this honesty b. any guard against such in
fuencc as | have described, Sir, | dread not the
vices ofmy brethren, but opinions that to them hive
the show OfyIrtuc. fear not their mcdita,el yron.r
bu: their misguided philanthropy.
extend the rcmntk to the exercise of the taxing
power for objects IN which have little interest
! DO apprehcnithiS from the wantunncss OF power,
and the rcCkCSsncSs o. rapaCIty2 | dscaim such
thought 40 Sir. have fears of their v,,,5l i'll
Justice But, IS there any Safeguard against dc,u-
sion on this subject Can l shut my eyes against
The light that beams from al! experience, and shows
the iaciIuy OF persuaCng mon that tEcy are in the
line OF duty and patriotism, though interest alone
stimulates he effort and sYays the Judgment And
such occasions the virtues of the rCp-csrn M , =,
stand not security, hut as the very source of
our DANCE; w!iei L= sail think thai lie is conform.
ing % - wishes &c lis constituents AMI gherishiro
the interests of all may say, therefore, witho.I,
mitch violence to gcn;lemens feelings that If there
are any dangers arising from the power Of Taxation,
they to be resolved into no ds'rlst Of thor -,
tegrty, but that all the danger proceeds from tho
different views and different Interests parts and tho
whole Commonwealth ani the representative virtue
ofcbcrishing hose Of his ronsliturns
. There anO hpr view of suIfa,t 'l'hcy .lo-,
that We arc entitled TO security. BIZ, insist ,hat
the form III which We ask 1t extends too far and c;-
nbies us to lnHlct he yc-y ia Isicc them IN ohcr
respects which We process TO fear from them on this
i call the attention of gentlemen to the different
functions 81 the taxing power in one. and in the
other hand. With US II IL conservative and dcfcn-
sye merely We dc no, seek for its exercise by or
selves but TO prevent ITS exercise by others In theIo
the danger Is from actiOn-n0t from the uov-cr' he
ing fetiered, bu, from its being left free.
admit that the power, if given us for orr Drot
ton exists tor other objects and may be used for Der
sonnl oppression But beg leave TO call the atten-
ton OF gentlemen to the position on which rest the
argumpnt-I have distrus in the honor and virtue
OF the Nest-auG claim the same confidence as due
to the Fast anticipate in quarter the exercise
OF mere arbitrary power; anu Found the argument
on mat very principles Their security is hat which
Is furnished By considerations which thny urrc in
vlndIca'ion OF the West. How can we oppress
them IN their personal rights without afIcctInJ all
parts OF tn" State equally; unless we be guilty ofan
open, confessed, naked of arbitrary powers How
can any Constitution be so framed as TO nuatJ a.
gainst violence and arbitrary power turn gentle
mems argument against thcnsc!vcs-f any mart of
the Commonwealth shall have made up their minds
- face TIC oP9robTum Of such conduct your ConstI-
tuition and ali lis guards ceases to be Of any value
No matter where power is by constitutional reoujs
lion. IL cannot be retained Resort mist be I5Ito
an arbfcr-aud that ar5ter sweeps vour ConsIit,,
lion and your Republican Government together From,
the face o. the land.
And here let me notice one Of the ARGUMENTS re-
tttrr, 80,
made an oIninous remark which have no, f,rgo,ta,
lie said, that IF we Of the East had no slaves tbcr
places would be supplied by white men" In what
tsGat!on ola he he make this remark Suppose
their places were filed b. white mem then we are
asking much less than are entitled to-
but their places are not supplied by white mon 49,
W nat theh, are you 10 form a Constitution nc #
they were not hero, As if they did not Lci,,c .,
tue Commonwealth and formed no part of ite iSter
ests: The observation shews either that VIC asl
less than IS our due, 1t gives cause for the foro
boding that the new Constitution Is to be fashioned
as II slaves were mere intruders here To ,yLoso -
lsiencc no regard is 20 be given.
Permit me 10 make another ob.e.ya,ion. told
you mat III looking at this important and delicate in
'c'e'I Il was 10 be regarded not merely as a subject
o. '~;a-iOh' bnl that sc ought 10 hook steadily on all
the dangers which surround il. Is Il necossayy Cr
me TO tell this assembly that IN repard 10 tho, =
ests respect 10 TO be had 10 legislation which
even as property That wise repard 10 ir.orc.
ond feelings TO the Eastern part of tii. S,nfo ,-
En mt
To push Their theories so ne to take away From, ~, ~
Po"e5 u govern our slaves, and make laws of roI,o
Tor them By the transit Of power to hand, M, ~,
luaii'GH win our situation and dangers and shielded
by barrier OF mountains, who have 10 fc,rs r., ,J,
pc" Their ,ris''~"l TO- tic approach Of cv and Who
kno" not how to adopt laws 90 the wants he co,1d;
tion the feelings, and the passions 9th, s,,oe in 70
cara 10 those who retain them bondage; interests.
not OF property merely but Of life itenlr arc ir.pca
ted these and OIL their dearest connexions.
pass with much pleasure from such subject to
view more cong.niii TO The spirit iu ghc, onto,
ca tNi5 Convention Sir. came here not 10 cyas1r
rate, bot 10 soolhc the aspcrtcs of olor -
10 orr 81 the nnrch Of reform, tas FAR a. reform oI
20 be allowed 20 goJ but 10 enter on thc task of re-
pairing Tie constitution. in perfect rood flitl. ygr
PROFESSIONS not upon ny lips merely, but sprino;ry
from my hear: not made on fii. f,,, a. ;, i'H'''s
cas'on, 5nt resolved Oh and promulgated before c,
Lifc. iciuct as an unworthy suggestion. tic II..
uat tne course OF any member here Is intended ne n
more deception To bogug thI- assembly and T., ci-
the people out Of their rigltCI o..;... ~''-