Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-12-01


"a 'esnlutiou viz:
TX sliced, That the number of Members IN the
u.s. II ID .l:5tes. ought to b, reduced so that
ne sic bo not less than hundred aud twenty nor
l:sosc than one hundred and fifty" -
o; molten of sir. !lENpEnsoS this resolution was
2As.'.!-hy..
I'h1 COMMITTEE then took mp the sixth resolution,
viz:
~ISes!e.d That ~ person ought to be elected a
member of the S,naiE OF this S,uie, who il. not at
seast thirty years of~lre."
MT JorNEs suggested the proPricty OF passing by
tHi?, anu tic seventh resolution, until the other resp
Ion, respecting the bIsis Ut III, Senate, should be
u'snnsed Of He moved t' pass by these resolutions.
mr.. HENDERSON objected 10 the passing by of these
resolutions, and the motion TO pass BY, was lost
Mr.. DAsIY thcI. moved amend the 9th resolr.
Ton, by striking out the word thirty and substitu-
t'i?r twenty five lie admitted that in the I.cg:s
itivo Com,nittoe he had voted for ,,;-tv bu, srbsa
1fcnt reflection had taught him prefer the your
ger agI lie said that Virginia seldom cnt persons
n the Legislature, ut an immature agc but he stated
taat the three old gentlemen now al the head OF this
conventions went in public life before they were
twenty-five. One of oar Senator's in Congress and
another gentl"u,rn who nov in this Ho,,,e had
tecn IN public itn, cinrC The aye he had now speci-
hec; the latter gentleman when asked by the Speaker
al his entrance III pnalc life, whether he was Of Inc
proper age, replied, Gu and ask my Constituents
lie referred to ai- OF Inc IrneInen who formed the
tedeTai Constitution, Published in late n25yspapeI,
th SHOW that Haiiy oil i.i@I less t:l2 twenty
I've years Of are
Mr. JONES sp".ie in Substance as follows.
Mr. Chairman: The resolutions relative 20 The
ggeS OF Senators and Delegates, ha ving beer, adoptd
II the Legislative Committee on my motion il NAV
perhaps be expected of me to state The reasons which
iadnced ne to propose to change the provisions OF
: the present Constitution these subjects. | con-
iNs that do not consider it of gerry great
xortdncc that Senaors should be thirty rather tban
twenty-five years OF arc. but there are several con
sideratlons which induced to prefer thirty Us the
age of Sehators--Fhere is gen cral rule without
c&cep;iohe and admit that of tho greatest
Statesmen England ever produced was Prime Minis
terS of that kir,dou much less than thirty years
or nge: And our oYu country has prnluced some
splendid examples of very carly development oS treat
powers NJ mind. Some of the gra7, est orators the
world has ever known, have attained very high dis
t!actlon before the age of thirtybut these cxcrp-
tons do os disproyc the propriety Of I'll, proposed
Changes.
!; is not enough to ft a man for the duties of /,
Senator, that he should he man OF splendid genius
or great powers of eCquenct; but It is necessary
that he should possess maturity of Jndsrmeut md
knowledge OF the cons tuition and laws of the Stat
which very re" young men possess 1t is proposed
that the Senate should be retained al It's present
number OF twenty -four rcm5cr>-and bare ,uior-
siy being necessary TO form quorum the votes q:
s'.yen members (Which is u useoy$ty OF 1gojo,itg)
Will be sufficient TO euaci repeal The most por
tant laws The territory Ct Virginia from its extent
aud fertility, is sufficient ain Twice the number
UT ITS present npulation-and with this increased
popation and from other cau-es, it may reasonably
De expected that new interests will spring ,p and
whatever may be the Increased population, and
however diversified may be the interests of soci-
ety. it is proposed torcve. to limit the numbers OF
Senators to twenty four
In addition the ordinary powers of legislation
ls proposed in the Conven ION 10 confer nrsaund i'm
Portant powers tho * male II is proposed to give
TO the Senate the power of trying all impeachmenis
Ito give 1t concurrent vote with the House IF Del
egates in the appointment Of all in,ortant oie crs of
tue governn MT, or to COLI titutc, it council by
whose advice and consent the Governor is make
such appontIn and it also proposed 10 give to
the Senate and Hoas, OF Dele gates, by roncurc,.t
cote, the power vi removing Judges from ottice-i
these Important ,wers to be exercised by twenty
!our iae1n5ers, 1t seems To M requires that these
twenty four members should possess great wisdom and
experience, ans: that maturity of judgment and DIS
creion, which age alone give.
Bat, Mr.. Chairman, there Is another consideration
which it appears tn is entitled to some weight
in the consideration OF this suhiect.-Althouah
aTleniy hope that the Union of these may be
perpetual, yet, II .aDlem times, diNsoiutoIs IF the
Caion is frequently spoken Of, that there is
reason ~ apprel.ni THAI ha! Is not merely possible
eTeHt--if such catastrophe should ever happen TO
this conederacy, the Legislature of Virginia, viii
not then, at present, be confined to legislation Ir
the internal concerns Of the State; but other new
and important duties viii devolve upon them in refer
fnce To the connection of Virginia with the great
family of nations. Such important duties as will
then dsvo!vc upon the L. gislature ought to- be
perform I'd except by the wisest and most eXperIel
ced sons of Virginia
l. is said that the people Inuy be s,fely trusted or
this subject and that they the best judges of the
qualifications of candidates for Office and that there
Is no danger of their elecing man to the Senate
who is not well qualified for the station. should bo
the last to question the competency of the poo
pie to decide upon the qualifications of candidates for
the Legislature, to impose any improper restric-
tons upon the exercise OF their discreton; but the
arguments of gentlemen upon this subject prove too
Iluch. The restraints imposed by tie people Upon
themselves in their Fundamental laws, are restraints
n3osed by them for heir benefit. II rcstrut
should be imposed in the Constitution upon the pow
or OF election, why d, gentlemen propose that
Senators should he t,renty ice years OF ageo Why
not trust the people elect Seniors lDepty-one
years Of age? Nay. Sir, less than tDenty-oae;
ibr dare say that som; young men might be found
gwen under twoSty-Ine vino might, poyibiy, make
rood Senators.
THE satne argument would apply wits cqunl force
90 the Constitution Of the Unitci States rhc wise
men who nade that Constitution required the Prcs-
no thirty G.,s--GanatnrS thrfy and nCDPc-