Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-01-14

He did not see why gentlemen from the West should
them more power than they could otherwise have OBJ
taned they might have had the Federal number thrust
upon them the liked basic, but for his compromise
He would inform gentlemen tina, he should vote accord
ing to the dictates Of his own Coincidence regardless OF
their opinions as TO his consistency.
He had tsng ago said that IL plan could not receive
the ppott ola respectable majority Of the House, he
should throw himself into the scale make II pre-
ponderate by his vote. He believed the sovereignty
reside in the people, and not just where this Conven.
ton should choose TO place It. He went for Constitu.
ton. He wished and hoped 10 adopted by the
Convention and by the People Of Virginia. To those
who claimed to be Reormers (anj no had himself been
Of them) he sail that the exhibitions made that
Convention again III. came there resolved TO advance
the cause of popular rights land what had he found!
the interests Of their section Of country, ami in
no other design. His philanthropc views Of and
Of theoretical liberty had received lesson which he
should not forget. He had seen how easily prin-
cipes could be forgotten soon they found
to come in conflict with particular interests He had
hopedto see thu Convention agree upon some thing
He had offered his compromise because he the con
test was maddening the Convention and msddening
the country. There maaifestly great division of
aud feeling, delicate but vital question
u the State IL gentlemen content to make tho
interests, he respected their SPORT by taun,ing him. let
gentlemen beware He was not to be made their sport.
The consistency OF his opinions 4 matter not TO be
'ported WITH He should give such vote he thought
right, very reckless OF the opinions Of any.
MIR. CAMPBELL said he had meant 10 throw out no
taunts against the gencman-He had no unkind feel
ngs toward him; indeed he knew little about him.
But he wished to understand what the gentleman
exactly by telling gentlemen TO F." bswae.". If that
was Intended as personal threat he disregaded it,
It wa. intended to refer TO party or political consider
and II principles were adopted entirely contrary to
all his notions OF right he preferred remaining he
he would 60 for the Old Constitution with the gen.
teman from Charlotte, Mr. II. " much obliged to the
genleman!l unless come change should be made
which he approved more than the gentemans compro-
mise.
Mr. c. said he believed the plan he propos ed had
never been before The Convention before 1t wa., that
any plan for future apportionmeDt should be submitted
to those who were the real sovsregns Of the land.
all who could make their sovereignty felt by
IT, Ii was true the sovereignty resided in the people
but how did operate when could not be put in ex.
ere.set IL was by vote, that the people made their
future apportonment to this test. Did the gentleman
object to this! Was this the distinction he took. Did he
say that Il was not his docr ne! that the people should
make their will known by their votets If So he was
welcome TO his distinction. He had cant no taunt
But 1t that geR,eman was disciple of the man who
had once given such distinction TO his district (Mr.
Je rson) he should have thought he would have been
in favour OF such plan. All he asked for his amend.
ment, was candid consideration Of Its merits and that
| he knew the House would give.
MIR. GORDON said he might, perhaps have received
the gentlenan's remarks with more warmth than the
gentleman had intended. He had not meant 10 use a.
ny personal threat, or any political Mr.. G. here
went into review Of what had taken place in the Con-
vention, and argued to shew that his ndmsnt had
been marked with Inconsistency, and ed by
expressing his hope that he might be let alone aud
suffered to vote in obscury without being thus COM
PEELED to present himself and his before the Con-
| ven'ion.
Mr.: LEIGH wished to know If the question on re-.
consideration was 10 be made test question as to the
ame ndment self.
| Mr.: CAMPBELL expressed his willingness that |,
should bs considered.
Mar. MERCER made some remarks which were jnau
dibe from the confusion in the House. When no Be.
gan 10 be heard, he was saying that the end of tn
green: motion was the accomplishment of what the
venerable gentleman from Orange had much at h art
the securing Of majority in favour OF the
The Convention having organized four distinct p.rte,
In the state with notions OF separate and conflicting
erest', IT provision was made for e-apport;onmen, =
future without any control the action Of the Ie
gisature they would expose the basis itself of the Co
vernment TO be changed.
| He differed from the gentleman from Albema,l. n.
to Its producing discomfort The discomfort was like
" to grow from applying fixed rule 10 changing
operations Of majority Of The Legislature by the will
Of majority Of the voters of the Commonly and
IN that he went on principle already sanconed for
the very Constitution they making was by law IN
be submitted to that very ordeal was to be Judged
OF by the votes of the qualified voters from the mos,
numerous branch Of the Assembly. Without such a
check he could not vote to leave the subj ct o(
tionment to majority merely Of the Legislature A
bare majority might be in favor of adopting Fedora
| Numbers as a basis in future.
AT the suggestion OF Mr.. SrANARD Mr. CAMP
BELL changed the form Of his amendment, 80 a. to
avoid the necessity Of any by adding
merely proviso at the end of Mr.. MAprsoN's amend
ment.
The question now being, directly. on the adoption
| Of this amendment,
M. MAYOR made a very animated address to the
Convention deprecaing the idea that the People mus,
be thrown into state Of agitation, by having the aYes
Ion oil representation from time 10 time submitted IN
them. He secuted the idea that the utmost
must be submitted TO, and things left to ike their down
ward course, as they might, rather than disturb the
people and run the risk OF an excitement Were the
People not to be trusted Must they be "saved from
thenseyesF' Were they "iheir own worst enemies,
This was the doctrine Of the Holy Alliance, not Of n
Republican Assembly. Was this nous comnropiss
10 be such an anodyne that the People were TO
under II to all time? Must they never be awakeJ to
adopt any other spporonment than that now ixed rnon,
For his part, he had rather symptom. of life than nj
dicine. He did not bel II was such ca,hoIicon a,
would cure sll msades and prevent them forever
hereafter. He contended that rule of re- apportion
msnt would prevent the real aga,ions that must en-.
sue u another Convention had to be resortec to- He
concluded by expressing his opposition 10 all those bor
rors ABOUT trusting the People with their own affairs:
ne believed in none Of those dangers al ALL
Mr.. SMITH asked for the yeas and NAYS
Mr.. LEIGH asked that the question should be d.
vidsd. 70 ''-
II was accordingly, first put on striking Out: and
decided by yeas and nays as follows:
fEAS-Me'srs. Anderson, Cofman Harrison vii
Hanson: Baldwin, johnson, MCoy, Moore, Bsirne,
Smilh, Miller, Baxter, Mercer, Fiizhugh, Henderson,
osborne, Cooke, Powell, Griggs Mason Of +. Naylor
Donaldson, Boyd, Pendiston, George, MMillan Camp.
bell OF W. Bvars, C1oyd. Chapman, Mathe VS.. O,Issbv
duncan, Laiiley, Summers, SEE, Morgan CamobeIl
OF Brooke, Wilson, Campbell of Bed, Claytor. Saun
ders, Cabeil, Stuart, Thompson-45.
~ NoES-Mes.rs. Barbour (P) Jones, Leigh Of Oh
Taylor Of CHI, Giles, Brodnax DromyooIe Si.x snd.s
n X Toll