Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-03-11
From the Hens3urg Gaseft~

no Not in imagination only but IN her amend
ed Constitution she is divided into four miniature
Commemorative. Each of these is a speculative
iuperium in imperio, empire within an empire
There is projected if you will sanction It, the liae
Wdfer Commonwealth, with its IS lawsivcrs' the
Middle Commonwealth, with Its so iawgivcrs' tue
Yaiiey Commonwealth, with its 81 lawgivers; anu
tho Cs-y AlsySnny Commonwealth, with ITS SO law
rivers. These, in the projected Constitution are
moaestly called districts! But they are not Deiegnte
tricts but a sort Of Commonwealth districts, having
each class of homogeneous interests, but heteroge.
Gus as respects the others, and with mixed and
immutabIe representative government, composed OF
che numerical power and relative strength in both
Houses, which the above number of lawgivers ndl-
Gates These divisions to be made constitutional
and 80 far as the amended Constitution goes they arc
made immutabie and perpetual. Two of thesc CON-
rnonwsalths are supposed to be more homogeneous
than the other two, aud sort OF constitutional alli-
ance is formed between them Hence the Valley
and the Western Commonwealth are made allies,
and the Middle and Tide Water are also constituted
friends i'm peace and enemies in cannot thero-
fore, with regard to strict propriety, contemplate
Virginia as and undivided, when the new Consti-
tuition has drawn the lines and marked the boundaries
of four discordant interests and given to each go
vernment, which, like the laws of the Modes and
Persians, atereth not
But as you my fellow-ciiizcns of the West. honor
ed me with your confidence IN making me one CT your
representatives in that Convention, which submitted
to you this Amended Constitution; and as you are
soon be called upon to reject ratify this nstru-
ment, as the supreme law OF the laid, deem it my
duty in further discharge of the responsibilities which
assumed in conserving to represent your wishes and
your interests TO address you on the subject OF this
new Constitution, which it will soon be your duty
to vote.
That il is not such Constitution as republicans
can honor with their support; that il is not such
Constitution accords with the principles of free
government, for which Virginia once stood forth the
brave and bold and talented champions; that it is not
such q Constitution rs cunports with the Govern
of ba Ron m mo
ms can promote the interests of the whole Common
wealth, and especially of the West, l need not en-
ploy much argument TO convince you. This to the
most astutc of our fellow citizens Is as plain as de-
monstraton itself.
But it is necessary to inform some of you, at least,
who have not had so god opportunities to know as
those which you have bestowed upon me, how. and
WHY this amended Constitution comes far short Of
our reasonable expectations rshort of doing that
Justice to US which requires, what will be its
bearings upon you if raiifsd, & kXtNfS prospects
may be entertained upon certafA fgetting
AN that may submit I'd This
subject shall have for its OBJ BIT of
these three items. This will ~ .I sub
stance Of speech which | much desired to have
made on the fna passage of the Constitution in Con-
vention but from which was prevented by the. arGn
sion manifested for the last two three wed <<
have any more speeches from either side OF
House, and from a general wish expressed by 49,
friends of reform that the final question mighI6e
taken without any debate.
Had l compressed my reasons for voting against
the amended Constitution into the most general terms
and classified them under the fewest conceivable
items would have offered but tico. The first, That
the amended Constitution not legitimate accord
Ing to oil standard writer's, and according to the
established principles of republican government be-
cause IL not made by Tie Representatives. IF tie
cisens Of Virginia Or in other words, it is the
free and unresrained expression OF tho sovereign will
OF the citizens of this COMMONWEALTH is the
work of faction, and not the work Of the Iepresen
r.l.- IL
ton to it was, and s-that if it had emanated from
the, lawful authority, had ii been the result Of the
most full, free and unresiraned action of publqa-
timent and public will, by the most equitable REPRE-
sentation of the citizens of this community, met in
CuI and free convention; if it had been submitted to
the people the genuine work of their own agents,
still its details, its bearings, its tendencies must be
such as to retard the prosperity of this Common
wealth. and to precipate farther and farther into
the rear of all our neighborng States. object to
it, then, account If tohat IL is in ITSELF and, dc-
count Of its suppositti,us origin. If ever there
such a thing bastard Constitution, this is one.
But for the facts and arguments that support my first
objection.
II is ILLEGiTIMArE. Let no man smile at such
Objectionable may laugh but let him hear me-
What, let ask, is LAWFUL Constitution? Is it not
the outline or form Of government which majority
ofthe citizens members of any community in their
most sovereign and unreStTdined capacity, by them.
selves, their agents. have drawn out and adopted?
Isay, again. Is IL not their own uiH clearly and du-
the instrument now submitted to the people of this
Commonwealth. And even should it be adopted by
the people to whom is submitted, it only be the
Constitution Of majority of certain classes, of part
ofthe Commonwealth; and never can it be on princ-
p'o the Constitution Of the whole Commonwealth,
unless the whole Commonwealth Of Virginia be the
persons to whom this instrument is submitted Hut
on higher authority and upon the best established
principles we may affirm that as the adoption of an
illegtimatc will make him real, natural
or lawful son, the adoption of this Amended
Constitution will constitute it the lawful form
OF government Of this Commonwealth for Tho iatD IF
Consitutton is, that it emanate from The people,
and be ratified by them.
But one point at time; and if I snail fail to prove
that the ratification of this Constitution By majority
Of the persons to whom it is submitted will not make
it, fright, the Constitution of this Commonwealth
doubt not but that shall be able prove that it
did mol emanote from The people, and this with me
yas alone sufficient reason to vote against 1t as u
republican, however unexceptionable 1t might have
been in itself
The point now to be proved is, that did not ena-
male from The present citi<eas IF Virsinia- This