Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-02-13

FELLOW .CIrIzENs:-hnt the PREDATORY letter. whic
lately addressed to you, l reserved 10 myself I'll
privilege (valuable to who is uncertain whether h
will have leisure 10 discuss all the topics fore him
and anxious to make OF the most importantly q
treating my subject in desultory manner. shall
make liberal use of the privilege in this, ard in m.
future commune ations,-if, indeed, there shall be
future.
Ii is my present purpose, after disposng Of some pre-
liminary matters, to discuss the important question
how far your rights respected, and your interest
secured by the appporiionmeht oil representation mad
in the new constitution
What your rights are, in regard to representation
is this side of the mountain, and between you and
me, question which needs discussion. say "a
you, a. said the floor of the convention in the We
ry act OF expressing determination to support The
plan of representation since adopted, that enter.
tain lin with you ga political creed which
all the eloquence of it, opponents has not shaken and
which will continue to be my creed so long lille and
consciousness Ii is that Jreencn the sole
elements out Of which republic should be formed,
and that equality is the only just rule for the dstri-
button OF power among them"
This, say your creed, and it is mine, in regard
to political rights. But had il been your fortune,
as II was mne to ls'en for weeks together, TO the
spie Edd eiIuons of eastern eloquence,y might per-
haps have been lei TO doubt whether yor had any
rights at oil. You might have been hAlt-p aTsua,e
TO believe that the noble and eevitng theory OF the
natural rights OF men, promulgated in the 18th cenu
ry by Locke and his enlightened cotemp, aries, a.
dopted in Virginia the of the revolution, and
secrated by the blood of fathers poured ont in it.
Defence was, after ALL gorgesus fabric Of the imag
nation, splendid illu. ion which, having lived TO its
tatcd day, was destined TO be d4pelled by the ell
iulgence OF the new lights Of the 10Th century. In a
convention of Virginia Statesmen, found men of
undouhted patriotism and dsting ushsd ability, who.
dazzied and misled by the brilliAncy of their own
thoughts, and bewildered in the mSZes of their own
ingenuity, called in question all the principles which
have been considered for a century and a ha f. the
ry aXioms OF political science. Making rdsd td6uia
of the political chart by which we steered through
and weathered the storm of the revolution they
tended that
There are no original principles of government what
ever;
OF men is a mere abstraction;
That the doctrine of the right of the majority 10 go
vern is a vulgar fdlacy;
That government controlled by " mere numbers"
orr in other words, by the people, is system OF legal
lied rspine and
That every question about the distribution OF politi-
cal power, in the organic law OF country he de-
cided by " AN enlarged expediency," and without any
reference TO principles supposed natural rights
Where, or in whom the pswcr rightiully existed,
whether IL rghtfully existed any where of deciding
ho'o much power il WAS erpedient TO GeStOLo this
that section Of the common allh; how many class
es OF the community it erpedient 10 admit TO
share in the government they did not undertake 10 in
form ia BY falling to do which, they tscitly admitted
as humbly conceive, the necessity of resorting
some original principle, without which the patent
engine, expediency," could not be set in notion
And II might be permitted, with all Difference, TO ha-
Zard the ida would say that their argument forc
bly, reminded me Of the supposed orien al tn o~y that
he world rests the back of huge turtle; the said
theory being silent to the question, what does the
turtle rest?
And here will take occasion TO say, that whatever
doubt. may hive heretofore entertained about the
eXre iency OF anneXiug " declaration of rightly 10
every organic law, founded the idea that the express
sion OF some righs might be mi con trued no The
CATION OF others not expressed thoroH ghly
convinced of the great practical utility OF .uch solemn
declarations For, now know, by experience, that
such is the auaacity of the human intellect roting in
its Strength and impatient OF the restraint of ahh
e.. PRINCIPLES that i delights TO call in question all
abiished truths human and divine. The fIndamrntAl
and essential rincplss OF all free Institutions might
have received their death wound in the Convention of
Virginia, from the hands OF daring nnovaiors bur for
the tacous aid they derived from the solemn annun
cation that was made Of tho-e principles in the " de-.
clara'on OF rights instrument endrar to the PEG.
pie OF Virginia by liza association with Ill their glowing
recollections % revolutionary glory No candid man
who was member OF that body, will deny that the
de ciaraton Of rights stumbling block the wa
OF the real iunovator@ TO whom have allndeI They
could not openly all il. because il embalned in
the affections OF the people; neither could they
other hand entirely conceal the--what shall / saw
almost contempt with which they regarded it. 1t was
undeniably, admirable instrumental very able ia
per, containing very correct principle - very Blu
after all, they were abstract Rrncipesmcrr abstrac.
ticn'-requiring great modification when applied TO the
actual concerns Of men.-All which means, in plain
English, that they OF Of earth hut 10
furnish fine sentiments for ith of July oralions
seek not feow-citlens, by thi. statement of facts
10 exce, or to foster, in your minds, feelings OF
uohhl nsHe, already too strong Tor the Hare of
common country. AMI /, therefore, accompany the
statement have made with the strong asseveraton
Of my beli't. that the gentlemen alluded to m srepre
Sented, in these points, the opinions and the feelings
heir constituents Neither do assert that the here
sieS have described prevailed generally among the
eastern and 'on hern members Aud while | an on
this part OF the subject. my feelings mpsl ms to saw
that II the eastern and southern member generally
were fair sample Of The eastern and southern peoule
they are people " nom we may be proud TO call our
countrymen add f-low citizens.
Do you ak me how il happened that l. en- dseoI,,
impressed with the deiormity Of csc anii.repuhIic,n
doctrines, and thoroughly persuaded of the truth of
The grea, revolutionary principle, the equality Of mem
voted for cOnstitu ion which does not promise IRE
cisely equal distribution Of power among the fire. snen
OF The state! answer you in the language which I
used or the floor OF the Convention, when oa the
18th OF December frat announced in concert wi,I,
my friend Mr. Henderson, OF Loudonn, orr determine.
lion to support the compromise plan Of representa,ioo
oposed by Gen Gordjn and asst neL our reasons for
the course we intended TO pursue.
81 cung to the hope that constitution wound no
formed by which the equal representation Of the peo
pie Of Virginia in both Of the Legislative bodies wouIj
be carried into full effect till my reason told me 1,
despair OF its accomplishment. after a proiracied
an obstinate, and may almost cav, fierce contest in
this assembly Of several weeks Duration il WIS bu, too
apparent that victory had deserted the banners Of The
friends Of reiormthat they had numerical strength
in this assembly 10 carry into H eject the PRINCIPLES
Of their political creedthat The effort 10 obtain an
quail approximation Of the people OF Virginia in The
Government Of Virginia, must be abandoned az hope.
less
II presume that those who will do mo the bonor 10 re,d
s address, arc already acquainted with the prominent
facts hero alluded Parliamentary usage and decorn forbade
me 70 explain them IN tho House, such explanation