Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-12-24

Il
shall nuke YOU acquainted with them"
e. S. Ga-
foa THE CoNsTITUrIoNAL VINO.
a writer in The WING, who signs himself ~ Rn.
dical, Processes to give the ayes and noes, in the
Stnunton Convention, on the SUBJECT of the appor-
uonment OF Representation. To enable the public
10 Judge OF the credit due to "a Radical" furnish
some extracts from the Journal of that Convention
now in my bands II appears from that document
that certain resolutions reported by n select
committee and in heir progress through the House.
hlr Meicer mo 1ed an amendment, which is noticed
III the following words "On motion of Mr.. Mercer
"the Report Of the Committee was further amended
by inserting therein after the Last member of
the second resolution, the following; Resolved
Ihat IN any qpporti"nment of representation to
numbers regard should be had exclusively, to the
free white inhabitants of the commonwealth and
on the question being taken thereupon the said re-
solution was adopted. cighty-one members voting in
tine affirmative, and eleven only, in the negative"
This is the only notice taken in the Journal Of the
vote on that proposition. The ayes and noes pub
llshed by "A Radical" shew the vote o., the third
resolution reported by The Comusatee That resolu-
ton related to the Judiciary appears by the fol-
towing extracts from the Journal, mir. Wallace
''movcd to amend the Sd resolution reported by the
committee, by adding thereto the following words
ito wit: although it is in favor of INTRODUCING
'some additional safeguard to that of the existing
"Consttuiion, against the abuse of its powers
"Mr Kcrcheval moved TO amend the aforesaid Sd
resolution reported by the Committee, ny adding
IL.
| ''that our Judicial System requires amendment
'Th' question them putt shall the said third re-
solution reported by The Committee, be adopted and
decided IN the Affirmative Then follows The ayes
aud noes published by "a Radical"
( The resolutions reported by the Gnurzaittoo, no
amended in the House, entered in the Journal
as there arranged, the amendment introduced by Mr..
Mercer, after the second resolution, stands as the
third and the resolution relation to the Judiciary
he fourth II is presumed that "a Radical in his
zeal convict gentlemen of Inconsistency, overlook
ed the circumstance.
The ayes and noes, the final passage of the re-
solution introduced by MIR. Mercer do not appear in
! the Journal. "a Radical wishes to know how
the vote stood that question, he is informed that
| Mr.. Scott OF Fauquicr, the only disscntient.
This fact, is verified only by the recollection OF
| many who Were members of the Staunton Conven-
ton, but by the private Journal of gentleman noy
| in Richmond.
/ AS TO the other member from Fauqucr, alluded
Ito in the quGrc of "A Radical TN accusation of
| change OF opinion, if well founded, can infct
no modification upon him. He pretends not to the
| perfection of knowledge, of reason which would
induce him to repose OH his Judgment as infallibe;
and he has, therefore, not untrequentIy found him
self n error, and fastened rather to correct than
justify, or conceal it. He values truth than
consistency and lie considers it hoRourable ia
retract than to perseveye in error. The world has
long ago decided how far mmutability of opinion is
evidence OF either sense candor. But he has
undergone no change with regard to the great fnda
mental principles OF government. He has always
| considered that the great end of government was
the protection Of the rights of person and property
anu that, therefore, whatever form Of organization
or distribution OF power, conventional stipulation
would be essential to Shat end, every member of the
socnl state was entitled TO demand and ought to be
PROVIDED for by the organic law. He has; ever re
garded representation "a nothing than the pow
eT OF protection In free governments; and he has
therefore, viewed the basis of apportion>nent yathe
as the measure than the principle of representation
The Slaunton Convention, it is well known, was aei
tated, and divided by great diversity of opinions
In q Iuo,S IL 4
It; and 1t could not in any resolutions viate
YER, except such OF the most general charac
ter and avoided all specifications. Thus the resoln
ton relating to the right of suffrage was 30 nenera
as to embrace The opinions of every one who assent
cd 10 any etention Whatever; that in respect 10 the
Judiciary included al who did not themselves thinl
that theF schemes Tor reforming it impaired its indie
peTOence; and that the subj ect of upportonino
power comprchended only comparison between the
basis OF Wine population and federal number ant
ieft all those who were for taXaton and population
combined, or separate county representations or any
other mode, entirely uncommtted. So membc,
from Accomac, who proposed and urged a scheme Of
county representation voted with perfect consistency
for the aforementioned resolution; that resolution
only declaring that, Fin any apportionment of repre-
sentation TO numbers, white population alone sh,Id
be preferred to any mixture Of such population and
slaves " was moreover declared in debate that tile
opinions then expressed should not be considered
binding on those who might be members of n future
Conventions and that the people would not, os thew
ought not, to lect pledged men, to such q body
The member from Fauquier, however does not seek
to shelter himself behind the generality Of these re-
solves for he then really believed that white popua-
ton might be safely conceded to tile west as the
measure OF apPortionment. He was then Of opinion
that. necessary 10 security reference should be had
to property well persons i'm Gxiu0 tie basis M
representation; and he disposed 10 grant TO the
west the measure of apportionment of white popula
ton, only from conviction that decided majority
Of such population must from the relative resources
Of the two divisions of the State a~sys continue OF
Of nd IL
affoTd to slave property the protection which was
deemed indispensable In this conviction it seem,
he mistaken; and his error was corrected by tho
eXp0siuons spread before the last Genera Assembl,
by members from the west, and by the officers of 20