Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-01-01

have been living for ty four wears mnd.r We
ment which iirs no manner of authority and ;s y
ele at best----Yet Sir during that time
we nave changed our government; and call the at
tentlon OF this body to the manner in which thar
change was made. The Constitution of $50 was
suphittea TO the people; and Convention was call
Cd co ratiiy It. aud what was TINT Convention. Il
was the old House of Burgesses with nickname
the old House OF Delegates, Sir, with nickname
LIN which the same municipal divisions of the State
were regardcd--the same qualifications reouired-s
the same qualified freeholders were returned from
the same districts and by the same hers--and vel
ny Inc waving ofa magic wand, they were converted
unto conventlon---in which Warwick was mad,
equal with Culpepper, then by far the largest county
IN the State.-.-Do not gentlemen see where the
point OF their own argument leads to? lfitis sine
qua non of Legitimate government TINT il 'mpst
have the assent of maiorit the peonle tola h
the head then is the Federal Government al, usnrnn
Iton---to which the people per Capita. king NUM-
bers---has never given his assent. . 80
1T fsnow thought necessary to have anotbar r
vention, aud what is iR 1t is nothing but he sS,,
ate OF Virginia, elected from the same dictric,s h
the same voters and returned by the same sherits:
ana many OF them the self men; vet when null
tlphed by four by talsmanic touch, they become. -
Convention Yes, Sir- You can't trust the House Of.
delegates and Senate with your affairs, but YOU can
trust smaller body. You cart trust the yboIe
but you can trust part. Y on can't trust the Son
ate, bat you car rust the same men from the sam
districts. # multiplied by A. Sir,are we menu Oh.
are we chlldren my share this is the first Com
vention IN which ever had seat and trust IN o.,
1t WILDE the last never had any for Cor
veniions or for new constitutions, made per order
OF KEEP. ready made to suit casual customers need,
not tell you, sir, that was not member OF the
Staunton Convention. Nosir, nor was i a member
OF the tiarrsburgh Convention nor the ,la,ottes
vile Convention. No sir, nor the Anti-Jacl,sou
oonven.ion; .,nough had the honor, in very goud
company OF being put to the ban and anati,ema Of
that august assembly, and when to their very rreat
surprise and alarm, we returned their fire. they s,,
tered lick flock of wild geese "
Mr.. Chairman, the wisest thipu this holy co,,1
do. would be to return to the people from whom the
cane, re nyect0. am very willing to lend INV aid
to any very small and moderate reforms winch c.,
be made to believe that this ancient government
requires Butar better would it be tl1a thew wore
never made and that our constitution remaime,I mn
/ changcable like tint of Lycurgus. than that w..
shold break IN upon the main pillars the edificc.
SIR nave nay exhausted myself and tired you.
an PHYSICAL unable to recall or to express the few
thoughts brought with me to this assembly. Sir
that great master oftsSlunari heart who secnpd ~
know 1t, as Well as If he lad made it / mean Shakes
peare when he brings before our eyes an old and
feeble monarch not only deserted, but oppressed bl
his own pampered and ungratefu offspring describes
him as finding soace and succour only in his d;s,.ar
ded and dsmherited child. If this, our venerable
parent, must perish dealthe blow who Will it shall
never be given by my hand ] will avert it if
can, and If cannot, in the sincerity of my heart
tdeclare am ready to perish with it. Yet as tIe
gentleman from Spottsylvania says, am no candf-
date Tor martyrdom i am too old man to remove.
my associations my habits and my property nail
| me to the Commonwealth. But were a younp
man, would IN case this monstrous Tyranny shall
be imposed upon us, do what few Years ao, I
1should have thought paricdal. I would wthdravr
from your jurisdiction. would not live under KIM,
NUMBERS would not be his steward nor MAXI
nm my task master would obey the principles
OF self preservation, principle we find even in fo
| brute creation, IN 6yiBg from this mischief
1entlemen seem to press the question---Ict il for
me be taken---1t was only because felt unw;llnr
TO oeiay the COMMITTEE to another week, that hhave
advam ges 49,