Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-01-05
VIRGINIA CONVENTION.
MIR SUMMERS SPEECH,


If it would be order consider the resolutions of
fered some since by the gentleman from Fred
erick, (Ar. Cooke aud the resolutions offered BY the
gentlemln from Northampton (Mr. Upshur,) in con-
nection with the resolution of the Committee of the
Whole, now under consideration and to contrast
their relative provisions, and being informed that it
would be in order to do so addressed the chair in
Substance as follows:
Mr.. S. said he could not longer observe the silence
which he had hitherto imposed upon himself in rela-
ton to the important subject under consideration.
The deep interest felt by fifty thousand of his
fellow -citizeus, the deliberations of this day. and
who he had the homer in part to represent on this
floor, forbid it. The happiness aud security of their
posterity forbid it, He here, he said pe-suad-
cd, that the people of Virginia had the unbelievable
right alter, and reform their government and to
direct its operations when ormc this opinion he had
not Abandoned. 1t was one he never shobld s,rren-
der: necessity. and very mperious necessity could
alone limit its influence; that necessity, he THOUGHT
now existed, and he was willing limit it to ground
hess extensive than it egitimatey covered. Its en-
tire surrender was, however, demanded and he was
required To adopt the principle, that minority of the
People under peculiar circumstances, should govern
CONTROL end direct majority OF their fellow ctizons:
sacrifice which he could not make, which he never
wh,ld make.
Y,torc entering upon the consideration of the sub
3euts before him, he said he would take leave to cor
rect some errors into which gentlemen had fallen
1t had been supposed by the gentleman from Spott-
sylvania (Mr. Stanard) that the west claimed equal
participation in the Legislation of the country,
debt of gratitude, accruing FROM the blood and trei-
expended in defence of the eastern frontier dur
ing the late In this, lie said, the western pec-
pie were misapprehcnded; their clum rested on other
and stronger grounds Debts of gratitude he said
we're cancelled when claimed. Fiat the west asked
nothing of the bounty of their brethren; they
Invoked their justice only. TlIe gentleman from
Sputtsylvania, he said had however, kindly pointed
US the benetcent conduct of eastern breth ren
two occasions, Wien he supposed, that as far as
gratitude concefned, the account was settled
4,ie first the distribution of the Literary Fund
according to white populations the second, the saving
of TIN, west from tile pernicious effects elsa splendid
scheme of banking. Z rejected by the Legislature
fey years since.
As the first, Mr.. s. remarked that the policy of
The east forbade the education of their slaves and as
white chilurcn We're the only objects of the public
bnuty left it resulted, necessarily that this bounty
Should be distributed with reference to the numbers
to be benefited and without comforting any peculiar
boon, on any particular part of the Commonwealth.
As to the second he said all must ecollect the peril
nacitv with which the Legislature resisted the at
lGinpts WhIch made to aid the enterprise and
industry of the west, by the establishment of few
safe aad secure banks resistance which brought in
to existence those chat We're founded in nractions of
the laws, without capital and their ultima results
MOST injurious to the country i'll which they had eN
stence; that course of legislation followed which
lett those unauthorized banking institutions in pos
session of their i'll gotten gums, without any
laas efrerovery for the grcat variety of debts which
thiy had contracted with the holders OF their notes.
This debt of gratitude paid to the west by saving
them iroa, banks, was followed in the cast BY crca,
ting and continuing III operation banks of vast capital
extending their branches from the metropolis TO all
the principal towns. What to have been thg
crse of one quarter Of the Suite given as bias
sing another. He would not stop to INQUIRE how
much of that property. for which political power is
now claimed had resulted from bank accommodations,
bank dividends, bank salaries; but Judging from
the palaces around us, this Of wealth could
not have been inconsderabe.
Mr.. s. said. when the question of equal represen-
tation was presented to this body it was resisted
the ground that the slave property of the east could
mot be safely cnnfided to western legislation because
b11 srlal proportion of this property held in
that part of the State. TO resist this diingenuous
affection, the west had referred their eastern bretl
ran the alacrty with which the men of the noun
tas descended to the shores Of the ocenn, to assist
in the defence Of the persons and property OF their
enstern bTethreu not forming claims upon their
gratitude, but for the purpose Of repelling the
warranted ASSUMPTION that they could not be safely
trusted with their Just share 10 the government of
tye country. He askeh to whom was this distrust
Girect.dS Who are the You thus hold unworthy
oTequal political rights Sprung from the same COM
mon stock their fathers formed the frontier barrier
between your atbers and the savages of sbe wilder
ness-the Descendants of the 0ampbells and the
PEostons-the l.eayisEs and the Dickinsons-the Low
trs and the MOrgans, ask their equal rights your
hands; and are they TIA be told, that although they
are the sims Of sires who bore your flag triumphant
utrILst the InduIu hordes at the mouth of kanawha
and against the less barbarous enemy King
mouDtain-who stood by you in every peril, and
shared with you in every danger that they must hold
colonial inferority in the Commonwealth, because
tbpv hold fewer slaves than their brethren the east
The whom you cannot trust with equal
political rights, not dstrused during the dark
cNt hours of your danGer-Whcn the capital
during the late Your Governor appeal
ed to the patriotism of the county for its defence
The West scarcely heard the alarm when corps
Of cavalry with their intrepid leader, StceDbergeD
teir head, left the Ohio Shore for the defence of the
Eastern border; Wilson'S Company Of Rihemen left
the valley of kcnawila for the destination The
enquiry not then made, who paid tue greatest or
least amount Of taxes? who oWued the greatest or
smallest number OF slaves? Their common country
was III danger, and tho only question Was, where
could service bomnst efectuaUy rendered.. As char
acteristic of the feeling of that country he begged
the Commonwealth. Two young gentlemen, who
lad Just closed their studies, and about to
their professional left the Western frontier
foot and threaded the mazes of your Western NOUN
tains, until they REACHED Jacksnns River. Unac-
custoned to his mode of travelling, fatigued bnt not
dsconramed. they embarked in canoe al The mouth