Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-01-02

gentleman from Orange such have so dee
an effect on the gentleman from Spohsy hsania, aud
whether 1t be not in truth destructive Of the adoption
OF The amendment OF that gentleman. have thought
agfes deal on this subject, and though il does not be-
come me to question the motives Of the Legislature Of
Nirgima--yei do verify believe that the Anti-Du;l l.
ling act is in utter subversion Of every fundamental
principle of free Government submit 10 the gent.
man from Spctisylvana whether imp ,wer ring the Lee
g"'ure TO ''t On on" description OF offences this most
odloa' OF all Punishm-nts, acknowledgements, he any
denial to the Legislature If the power TO extend it
whihersoever they shall please? ask the gentleman
rom sp"'syivania on what principle the Legislature
mas MfOgaed To itself the power TO intrpose in this
hann'r on this behalf. which will imply a similar
power to itterposs in the manner, any other
oeha! The evils OF such principle have long been
ores en- by minds infinitely less strong and e clear
Than that of the gentleman from Orange. IL strikes at
once At the ioot of oil Tree Government.
MIR. Ptesiden'. IL has been my misfortune % have
lived in an age OF fanaticsn and cant. Aud would
20 to the u,ternod ends OF the earth 70 find refuge
II there he from this spirit of f,na,icsm and lhi
spirit oil can't. Sir,-why not once embody the en-.
n'e decalogue!-aye, aud the whole bibe-old and new
Iesaments-anh system Of philosophy into the bar
ir-and guip down tie whole one oah!-The pow.
er The same The principle il the same Sir do YOU
NOT oeheve-nay--do you not know-that there are
persons IN THIS Assembly, who believe in their consci
ence', that TO hold human being in bondage i. a
CRIME OF the hacses die not viii, inferior To murder
i'ss'' This spirit Of fanaic.m is spreatng-and il l..
one oil the strongest feelings that exists among men,
when once il gets the upper hand-suppose il should
emo TO prescribe oath hat man never had held
and never would hold human being in bondage
and this on pain of disqualification from all Offices un
uer 'he commonwealth! IL not that offence
as much IN. the teeth OF the Bill OF Rights and of
me great and sweeping principles il lays down. TO
al men hei"s by nature equally free. Then, con.
ceive TO yourself Wherefore, or a Master Stephen,
se"ug ,ot'h before The House OF Burgessrs the Eor
ros OF this oppressive, this unjust ,h. nsfsrious th.
bloody This cruel, this anti Christian practice OF hold
my men and women in bondagr.-Sir no tier 10 what
point blow this tornado oil anatcism sweeps all before
pr.s AL har. r..
that gave the Legislature power 20 puni particular Of
ehces In particular manner L. il no, an anomaly, Wa.
such ming ever heard OF in any nation civilized or unci
Vilzed! In Christendom Heathr Leave This
whole matter where il ia Sir, am not So much sur.
prseu atseeing SEINE men taking this Blu, when
see men Tor whose characters feel the mos, prof,n
respect, lending thems particular purpose al
the expense OF the great fundamental prncne of frea
government, what am to think. Sir the Conven,icp
nave no right 10 put any such clause i'm the Constiiu
on. As was very truly observed, they have the power
10 90 III nut 'hey have not the right, shadow Of
right. why single out this particular class of offences,
ne traitor, who has plotted The rc-ntroduction Of the
Iarqun' into the Capitol he il not pronounced unpar
dohasir you do not tender him an oath that he has
never plotted 10 overturn your GIvernment-He is no,
to be put TO The torture by oah-bu your oath ia in
the very spirit # the Spanish Iuqnson pnt. the
man OF virtue only TO the torture and passes over the
ruiiian and the assassin. IL offers premium for COW
iiuice-a premium far alsehood-a premium for SER
vhy-a premium for slander-a premium for all IN !, i.
base and AFFECT in human character
Or, nave no hPsaiion in saving with the gentle.
man from Chesterfield that place man's honour in
one scale, and all the Offices i'm the gift Of Kim, or a.
'"r IN NE other and man of honour would spurn
mem Az IN comparison with his violated feelings and
MS v'o''ei reputation Never was there such 'es,
attempted under the sun never al least in any govern
n1n' that airOgated TO Itself the character Of fir.
'puOic. ms Is The entering wedge. Admit the
incipe and you may allowing one party to pro-
cTihe the other until AZ length both the great parties
your Stale will find themselves ont of the male m tho
institution. Sir, have 10 hing more TO saw. II h.
''ople arc disposed 10 submit to tyranncal laws ina
osed en- them by their Leei .laure lie, the N do il
MI STA AWARD said that every argumc n, of the gen.
cman from Charlotte went give preference 10 the
'm'ncnen over the original text. howmuclso sver IL
might be against that textitsef The grn,irm,n from
Charlotte enquired whether, the principle Of IN,
Law, the Legislature might not entepd
he same disqualification to the other offences against
morals, or cfcRces against party, offence. against
eligion, or against ianaticism? He snswsred-yea
md that was the most powerful argument against the
Xxi traee OF the statute being example for future
imitation But strong might he the argument against
me IrnciPie OF The law, aud cogent might be The
objection, that il furnished precedent Cor ex,rndiog
thet principle 10 other thing, and thereby produce ali
The eonsequ noes which the gentleman appreheuIed
,-yet did not The gentleman from Charlotte perceive
hat IL was the very function o. the am nJment hv i'm;
'lica;on, TO preve such extension of the principI.
o letter the power! To give it in ole case and in
ca oniy? Aad thereby prevent fans,icl,n from
'Vendng II to any o'hr? To limit the power of the
Legislature! So that 1t should not disiranchse men
or other classes Of 'nces? II understood that the
grant OF one power was in every sound principle Of
negatiOn Of all others no, granted
lMr Ranfolph-n0 in practice.
Mr.. s. said be did not speak of irregular and urau
'horised eSertions Of auth ,rilyor against them il
was impossible to guard by any written law.-Ths was
the consequence dreaded-nay, the effort had already
been made to extend The principle other cases under
The Influence Of tat anaticism and cant of which The
gentleman had spoken. Mr.. Randolph livery proba
'ie, sir But the operation Of the amendment would
De 10 preclude all other attempts of the kind
The gentleman had asked whether there ever had
been, in the whole world, such experim mt made
as 10 apply the action of the Constitution TO one ind
giduai species OF crime The gentleman must surely
orget that in the very Constitution the Convention was
ibolt to make, there was sweeping clause in that
part Of il which trclted Of the tight of which
isiranchised at one baw all who had been convicted
Of any infamous crime: they all, without an
cepIon, abso'utey and forever, deprived Of the iaht
10 vote. Which was the more extraordinary Of The
Two, that The Constitution should empower the I.cyis-
lature TO dsTanchse for particular kind of oe
or That the Constitution should itself, dsfranchise for
a whole list Of ofences' Yet, such was he fact fl
VA disr"nchiSe, Tor all time. those who should have
been convicted Of "any infamous off nee"
The one surely, was a more mgated form of an.
horiiy than the other. The argument OF IN, gentle
man RON Charlotte did not apply 10 The competing
Question between the amendment and the resolution
And II the amendment should he agreed to- his other
argument would not apply, becluse granting power in
ih' one Isolated case would be cation of the BOW
er in all ether c1ses.
MIR s. said he had great solicitude on the subject
except az 10 The grating OF amnesty 10 past often.
lsrs. lie earnestly hoped the Convention would not
-iae without agreeing 10 provision of ,at kind. The
,ifsnce had been committed in almost every case by
young mcu rcsred and iostered in principles not row
30 general as at that ine-pncipes which they had
nbbed as honorable before any change had taken
place in public opuion: they had in consequence been
n t,pp beln 10 q,