Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-02-09

reverse what the Committee had agreed To do nv n
large majority-namely, to appropriate the Bonus
from the Bank of Virginia to literary purposes
Three days have been consumed in committee Of tho
whole and we shall consider Fortunate fless tmo
than three days is consumed upon the same subject
IN the iiousc-and all this upon question which
ought mover 10 have been brought before this Leg
'siature and which was brought there under crcum-
''anees which reflect upon the Legislature itself,
ahd upon the country-a question which there was
nor plausible reason for deciding at this time--and
which ought 10 have been left to the new Govern
ment to determine when it ovorhaulcd the general
policy of the State.
10 Tho author ofthe following is n plain, but very
sensible man. We sorry TO find such opposed 70
adopting the Constitution while not less from,
inclination, than from duty we are disposed 10 civs
him and MI others free acccss to our columns for Tho
maintenance ofthcir principles and opinions The
writer has fallen into the same mistake with the
Leesburg " ashingtorian and o;hers-;lat the basis
ofreprcsentaton established by the Constitution is
adversary to white population. This is certainly not
so. AS far that basis is discoverable il is the
,ohhe population of 1920 This was avowed by the
author ofthe plan. 1t is the same basis upon which
the Convention itself was organized Let us grant
that 1t Is not riSh-,he question results it not bet
ter than the old plan Of giving every county two
members, TO which must return if tho new Con
situlion be rejected. This is the point Of Wow in
which the question ought TO be considered-not
whittier tho new Constitution is the very best that
could De made, but is it better than the old, fit es
tab!islcd Stare representation, would unite with
our Correspondent in its rejection despite of any adj
vantagos it might hold OUTPUT 1t does no such
thing
We weuli ask to refer "a Western Citizen" to
NJ. Cookies letters, which we are now rcpubshing
for clear statement OF the question. At the same
time, we beg loave to express our regret at the at
tack, moderate it is, which that gentleman has
made upon the Trans Allegheny Delegation in Con-
vention. If they deserved it, it can now answer no
good end to make i,--ifthey did not deserve 1t, or
indeed whether they did no, is calculated to pro-
duce heart bxrnng, and to infc, prejudice upon the
question which he and ourselves wish afirmativelv
decided We shall lay the balance of Mr. Cookies
second letter, and Mr. IIendersons address TO the
people of Loudoun and Fairfax. before the reader,
without loss oftime. The peculiarly of their sua
ton in the Convention and the consequcnt exposure
to uisconstruction and vehement animadve rsion
makes it an act of sheer Justice to disseminate their
a.. defence widely possible. We fear, however
that the publication ofthose vindcations, is the CON-
mencement Of acrimonious warfare among the
members of the late Convention
To THE EDIToRs OF THE WurG
Gentlemen:
| have read, with considerable satisfaction vour re
marks on the amended constitu. and your address
to OF tbs West In turn hope YOU viii pive room,
IN some corner ofy your useful paper remarks
which others have 10 make, and would wish 10 spread
before
undoubtedly preferable in most particulars 20 tho
old one; but IN ii odious and must ever be so 10
enlightened and true republicans. mean IN the ha-
SIS OF representation. A compound of white
freemen and slaves The curtailinn of the number
to thee itths does not alter the principle nor dmin
sh the odium. That it was necessary 10 save slave
holders properly from unjust taxation, was and is q
mere pretence TO obtain Constitutional power beyond
what Is JUST and euqa amongst fellow frcemen: and
is directly collation. of much of the Bill f Ripbts
How could the shareholders ever be IN d,nger of
such law would Cypress them, when there never
has been and presume will be, Legislature
IN this or in any other slave-holding state without
majority Of the members Shareholder or striving 10
be such? If the men who make the laws of a coun-
try hold its soil, they will briug into the Legislature
the general, and in many particulars. universal inter
ests of the free white population: and thorcfpyc will
take OF the interests of all others IN takino care
10 secure their own; because they are common inter
csts. suppose citizen ever viii be ellpjble TO
the Assembly unless freehodcr, and IN mot cases
he will be man of wealth because these two com
bined with intelligence and reputation give power
and influence In short nothing can be induced from
past experience, to shew any danger Of such a law
as would be oppressive slave property. The
danger can never come until the Legislature will
be all OF them. or majority, non slave holders
which never is likely to be III Virginia. We will bo
disgraced by such constitution IN the view of all
pure republicans.
would now offer remark on another section
In reading tine article respecting religion, I find
much to approve. i'm not Proiessrd member of
any christian denomination; yet wish web to ALL
and think they should enjoy the rights Of conscience
and equal privilege in the state, which believe is
their universal DESIRE and Nothing would
be so unpopular proposition for such a religious
establishment, rs once existed here, and now does in
all tho kingdoms Of Europe; or any thing like them;
and therefore is 10 be feared than the esta.
bIishment of hereditary rulers or of King. But |
must confess am hurt with the effort that is made
TO cripple religious voluntary associations of citizens
IN their temporal concerns IF a man believes az
the most think do, that moral and religious ibstruc-
tons necessary for the preservation and prospefv of