Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-01-31
VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE.
SPEECH
Of Mr. Brotcn, Of Harrison, in Committee of the
Whole, Jon 18th

Wa0te, Jon. 18th.
Mr.. Brown said, he begged 10 be INDUCED in
submitting his views OF the subject under consii-
Grafton. He had not the vanity 10 believe, that any
thing he could say, would change the opinion of q
single Member OF the Committee. Ii the eloquent
a. pc ais already made, by gentlemen, older than
himself In legislation, and ADLER than he could hope
ever TO be, hat. failed il was NOT forhim 10 expect
success. But, on subject SO interesting to the
people he represented and so intimately connect
ed with the destinies of his native State he could
moi be content to give silent vote. Rc had heard
sentiments avowed on that floor, in the progress
OF that debate which filed him with astonishment
and regret and against which, he felt it duty, to
make his most earnest and emphatic protest.
Perhaps, he ought TO notice the comments which
nad been made on some remarks, he had offered a
few days before, III regard to the formation OF the
convention Committee. One word, then, ON that
subject, and it should be The last. The aid of the
Legislature had been asked by the friends of
convention, not by its opponents. There was "a
mongst them distinct understanding, to the OBJ
Jects they had in view, and clear, well defined
opinion as to the mode In which those objects were
to be attained. They introduced the subject to the
ate ntion OF the House and il TO have been eX
pected, that they would be permitted to state
the precise nature OF the application, and re-
duce II to the form of bill. The character of
the demand being thus ascertained, il would have
remained for its opponents 10 reject it, or modify
II according to their own views. But, the matter
was taken from the hands of its friends, and COM
nitted TO those who had originally denied its ex-
pedency,and finally assented TO it, only in quail
neo sense from reluctant regard TO public SEN
timeni. To instruct such persons TO bring in bill
was, IN effect, to make the reply precede the de
mainland 10 determine how much should ne grant
ed, and how much withheld, before II was known,
what was asked. AS coetIentious men, they
couldiio do other wise than Hame the bill I'm con-
iormiy with their own peculiar views OF expe-
dlency, however Objectionable it might prove to
those who instituted the inquiry. Whilst he must
insist, therefore, that the paiane ntary rule which
permits every applicant TO mature and perfect his
own proposition, had been violated in the iorma
lion oil this Committee, he imputed censure 10
the gentlemen who composed that Committee
he gave the fullest assurance, when he said, that
had he been member Of that Committee, enter
tanning the opinions wbichthey honestly did he
could not have acted otherwise than ,hey had
done lie begged il might be recollecied, that he
mad not adverted to this subject, in spirit of idle
complaint or wanton reproach; but for the purpose
OF showing, that the scheme of representation by
Congressional Districts, had the advantage of eve
ny other proposition, and of urging the means by
winch this advantage was obtained, as a reason for
temporarily abandoning il. The apprehension he
then expressed, had been thus far realized The
section had retained its place in the Bill, not from
IFS own intrinsic strength, but from the dissentions
OF its assailans. Troy stands, because the Grecan
Chiefs are distracted with feuds.
Mr.. Is. said, he should now proce ed to state his
objections to the original bill And here he must
be permitted to remark, that the controversy res
pecting Convention, had assumed a new and
measure now occupied position totally different
from that on which they formerly rested. For
more than quarter Of century, the advocates of
constitutional reform had been pressing the sub.
lJect on public attention. They asserted the ne
cessiiy Of change in The various departments of
the government, and generally concurred in de-
manding an extension Of the right of suffrage and
the equalization OF representation on the ba sis Of
white population. Throughout this long period,
they had encountered steady and unfolding
opposition. 1t was said that our Constitution was
the pest That ever existed-that we had lived long
and happily under its auspices, and none desired a
change, but restless and iscontented spi,its who
having nothing 10 lose, might hope to profit by
! the confusion that would cnsue. But, when the
| spirit Of reform began 10 gather strength and TO
assume formidable front, they denied dire city
the right OF equal representation, and maintained
that those VINO owned properly were entitled TO n
| proPortionate weight in the government. They
even perverted the old maxim, that "tax alton
and representation should go hand in hand" W hicL
| ID the days oil the revolution meant nothing more
than that those who paid the taxes, should lay
the taxes, into an argument in favor Of a partcu-
lar mode OF representation. They contended that
IL Convention were called, il would be in the
power OF that Convention to aPportion representa-
lion without regard to property, and thus leave it
exposed to unjust taxation. II twas the last ground
| on which they entrenched themselves that a
Convention would endanger the security Of pro-
| perty.
Now, said Mr.. b., what wish particularly 10
impress on your mind, is this, that throughout this
contest, the anti-conventionsis admitted that il
Convention should be called, il must, as a matter
O course, consist OF the people, in person or repre-
| sented in equal portions. If such was not their
| expectation, what force was there in The areu-
inent, that the property OF the minority would be-
jeopardzed' Had they contemplated the repre-
sentaon of property in the Convention, VIVA,
cause was there for apprehension? IL would there
nave been guarded by majority, as great OF
greater, than under the presen, government, and
might have perPeuated its own Safeguards
| DeheVe me, DIT, had such mode of representa-
uon been anticipated, they would not have strug-
gied with such desperate obsiinscy against this
Wost harmless measure. Their imagination
would never have been employed in sketching
gloomy pictures OF the mullation about to be in
hcted by the merciless hand Of reform, on this
generated monument OF the wisdom Of our fore
| fathers.
| When, therefore, said Mr.. b., the people voted
! for Convention, they did so with an expectation
that il was TO be based on white popuIaiion--ibat
IL was to be assemblage Of all persons OF mature
age, who were to become members Of The propos.
| ed political compsct,-in their primitive cbaTac.
| ter-clotbed with their natural rigbts-uoshack
| led by pre.exisiDg institutions-to determine. in
person, o. by agents, deputed from equal portions
upon the terms Of the compact No other mean
| ing was attached to HE term "Conyepfion +" II
was understood in no other sense; asd il qenno
men would rocur 10 the state of public sentiment
previous TO the vote on this question. with re-
COLLECTIONS unclouded by the new and bewiI.Jcr-
ing doctrines recently advanced, they would sus.
tain him m saying, that such was then the prevail
| ing opinion But, npw, sad he, when those who
| we're lately denounced factious minority,
are displayed in the imposing and RESTLESS
lorm Of majority the anti one enonists employ
| The same argument, which fhcy once IevcIIed a.