Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-01-14
the probable change of population, was extremely

Cooke, Powell, Griggs, ]. M Mason, Naylor. Don
aldson. Boyd, Pendicton, George, M'Niillan, E.
lesby, Duncan. Lailley, Summers, See. Morgpn, 4.
Campbell. Wilson, Saunders. Cahcll. Stuarte4i.
N6Es.-Messrs. 2. p. Barbour, Jones, d. w.
Leigh, s. Taylor, Giles, Broinrx, Drumgoole. Alex,
under, Goodc,J Marshall, Tyler, Nicholas, CoptU,
Johnson, J. Y. Mason, 1'rezvart, Claiborne Urqu-
hart, Randolph w. Leigh. Logan, Verable Madison,
Stanard, Holiday, Roame, w. P. Taylor, Morris,
Garnett, J. S Barbour, Scott. Green, T. Marshall,
Clayton, Branch. Towncs, Martini Pleasants, Gordou
Thompson, Alassic, Bates, Ncale, Rose, Coater,
Joynes, Bayy, Upshur, Perrin-54
Mr.. Campbell of Washington then moved to sub
stittte Mr. Mudison's proposition by the following:
The General Assembly utter the year 1911, and at
intervals thereafter Of not less than 10 years. shall
have authority to make reapporionmcns of Delegates
and Senator'S throughout the Commonwealth SO that
the number of Delegates shall never exceed $50, NOR
Of Senators 36-Provded tho same shall he
adopted by majority ofthe whole number of quail
fed voters.
Mr.. Campbell supported tho amendment as sustain.
ed by every republican principle, and called on Mr..
Gordon for his support of it, that gentleman held
that sovereignty resided i'll the people, and 10 where
else. Mr. Gordon replied in very animated man
ner defended his course the question of the buse
from the DputatiOn of inconsistency affirmed that
ms principles were unchanged, but acknowledged
himself cured Il the wish of ,gforniiny and depreca
ted being singled out as tho object of taunt by gen
Yemen from certain quarter of the Stale. AIR.
Campbell rcolned that he had nothing pcrso-
nal in his rema rks-he had no unkind FEELINGS TO-
ward! the gentleman from Albenrarlc-but suppo-
sing there was concurrence ofopnion between them
on great principles, had called Oh him for his support
Mr. G. rcproh'tted the Iew Constitution without
this arrangement IF there was no rule of future
appor'onme Inc infinitely preferred the old state of
l9tic' MIR. Randopi',) III sustaining it. (Mr Ran
delphi thanked him.
Mr.. Naylor said,
Mr.. PnEsrpENr: The great objection often urged
lpn with A..
vention ngains any rule of future apporiionnent of
representation under the Constitution now under con-
siieration is, that it muy have tendency hereafter
70 excite ugitate the people. This aicipae ed ey
citement IS considered great evil that it is thot
to be better to permit the allotment of
now arbitrarily made by tins Constitutions to remain
to all time updisturbed, matter how grievous I'm
Just or unequal it may become by chanre of c,rcum
stances hereafter than to adopt any rule of future an
portlonment; lest The tranquility of the people be
disturbed. 1t amounts to this-that it is dangerous
20 trust the people If SO, what we assembled
here for? We arc not fit for a republican oDvern
ment, und it is in vain tn frame Constitution for such
people. This is the doctrine of the Holy Alliance
that the people are their most dangerous enc.
mes; that tire greatest evils fr.'n which you have
TO guard them is to screen them from themselves
! The gentleman from Albemarle seems to have had
the greatest fears upon this subject, and he has pre-
pared seda,ve for all political anxiety-a termina-
lioh OF al enquiry concerning what is TO become of
our rights in future. The plan contained in the pre-
sent Constitution seers intended for opate, upon
which we may sleep and never wake again. to look
for our lost liberties 1t Is catholcon intended for
the cure OF oil political diseases of the State. 1t is
otf;rcf TO us with the Insurance. that if VIC swallow
1t, we shall never want any state medicine again.
The gentleman who is most anxious in pressing it
upon seems to be dissatisfied with every one who
| would call its virtues in question But whv he
SD much AFRAID of tue rule of future apportiou-
| Inents which the gentlernuD from Washington has
proposeu' Is 1t TO be presumed thati is materal
how unequal the representation may hereafter become
nj he ole
germs OF growing inequality in it, of which the old
CONSTITUTION was SD productive TINT their ntoierahe
accumulation under It, was the chief for assca
bling the present Convention Shall we then in the
Constitution which we make, noW Law the foundation
for another Convention? Do the incidents and Cir
comstances which have attended this Convention in
v'te US to THIS course! Do not how it has Sc
parated us IN this House, and arrayed those on differ
ent sides who ought to have gone together in every
thing that concerns our mutual interests and in eve
ry sentiment and acuon9how it has set one section
OF the State against anotherin contest of conflictng
interests! True, they might have been so adjusted
by skIfll management us to void that conflict. But
it Is danger to which we are always exposed in
such crisis, and unhapPy, we have realised it in an
aggravated degree at the present time. Would
rule of apportionment Of representation where every
thlng is organized and regulated by law produce any
thing SO bad, And can flatter ourselves that when
representation becomes unequal again to any consi
deraD!s degrees, that the people will not struggle a
gam to produce another Convention No Sir thew
will. unless they lose the spirit Of freemcn and be-
come lost to all oft that dignity of character as
such, and this IS what no lover Of his country would
Wish TO sec Sir, for my part, would rather the
violent struggles of republican vitality in such cir.
cmstanccs, than 10 the stiffness of political DEATH
of which their tranquility in that condition would be
an evidence True, it might continue Tor years, and
cost much effort to effect it, it did TO bring about
this Convention. Why, then, attempt to alarm ITS
with fear OF excitement Why tell us that it is bet
ter 10 have apportaonment, Than be exposed the
excitement which this apPortfonnent might produce?
en- weary ofthcsc chiu,eras.
The question was then taken sIr. CarnpbelPs
amendment, and carried i'll the negative, as follows:
AYEs--Messrs. anderson, Cofinan, Harrison, Viii
Hanson, Balwn johnson, M Coy, Moore, Bernc
Smith, Miller, Baxter BIcrccr, Fitzhugh, Hender-
son, Osborn, Cooke, Powell, Griggs. J. M. Mason
Naylor Donaldson, Boyd, Pendleton, George, Nc
MILAN, r. Campbell Byars, Cloyd, Chapman Ma
thcws, Oglesby Duncan, Laidiey, Summers See
Morgan, A. Campbell, Wilson. W. Campbell, Clay.
tur, Saunders, CabelI, Stuart, Thompson--46
NoEs-Mesors. p. =. Barbour, Jonss, 3. W.