Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-01-09
VIRGINIA CONy EaTgOA.
NR DALDyyIN s SPEECH.

Mr. Cu,,aM,S: certainly should not trespass UP
on the attention Of the committee. especially this
lue ueIiod of the debate, but for consideration.
Having former occasion suggestel a plan of
compromise substantially the same with ltat now Of
fcrcd BY the gentleman from Frederick mir. Cooke
aud the merits of which must be weighed in deter
mining The present question leel;t be duty which
eve myself and my constituents, that the motives
for my conduct shou be distinctly understood. There
some gentlemen on this floor who, entertaining
enthusiastic, ana no doubt, honest att acleni to
tim, Constitution, do not seem disposed to
view the course pursued by their adversarlcs with su
fccnt indulgence. Hence we have had charges
which it becomes those assaulted to repel-cbarpes of
such nature as may be best repealed by free and
candid exposition OF our motives and conduct.
Though do not profess, sir, have made politics
my s udy. or to have had much experience in public
affairs, there is truth deeply Impressed on my
mild, which cannot escape the most casual observer
Whoever the part of {. statesman however hum
BILE, or however distinguished, is compelled if he be
nli,s.. "a make great sac ifccs. On this occasion
feel nysc constrained by sense of du,v 10 ma ke
sacrifice of op,ipn. of feeling, even of consistency
it.cii. II shall be maJe, freely mad.-lpon tho nlaf
of my country. without hestatng Il moment to cous-
d IT the consequences personal 10 myself. Ally only
answer, therefore, 10 the charge of inconsistency is
tat confess and justi:y What is my justification
The peace, the happiness. the salty of Virginia =
Mr.. Chairman, this Is momentous crisis i'm the des
tiny of our In this Assembly, convened bv he
highest exercise of sovereign power the waves of
Controversy have risen to great height--they have
extended beyond In every dire ciion and threaten
to overwhcm the whole Commonwealth We are
now to determine whether shall pour oil mon
those waves, permit the storm rage VIII, r,ch-
less and resislless fury. Is this time indulge the
pride of opinion. the spirit of party the love or con
sistency; does the occasion demand the Influence,
of widely different and far higher n,otIvcsa
II must now be obvious to all, that If thu disoo ree
abl. and dangerous controversy is to be bann;v nd
jIsed, the only practicable means is that of com,r,
mise. The parties this floor may be repard.j nc
equally balanced We have majority of two in ia
of the white basis in the House of DELEGATES hu,
il is well understood that there is an eouaIn,;,ri,
opposed to similar basis in the Senate Ifboth mr.
ties should remain inileXible what hope is there nf
profitable termination of labors? Is rho co,,es
TO be continued throughout the whole of the session
and upon all the details OF the subject? Is this ones
ton OF relative political power minge itself win
and influence the consideration and decision of every
proposed amendment, in the CONSTITUTIONS Shall ~.
exhaust own patience and that of the pcone and
finally return hoale, not the harbnrers of reconc,
tion and peace, but OF nterminable dscord aud ba :
tired?
These considerations have forced upon nv mind tho
necessity OF comp omise and have Welded to ,h,,
necessity though not without great repugnsncc and
difficulty act upon my own responsibility, without
pedgng or committing my constituents in the slph,
est degree. They will decide for themselves ard
are capable ofeetimating the magnitude of the pro
posed concession on Their part, and OF the mschiei
which Ii is Intended to obviate.
have been much surprised to hear it remarkably
asserted, that we have shewn spirit of concia
part. and no disposition to meet the aGver,e
party on middle ground. What. Sir was tho or;o
nal demand of the Western members and those . 20
ciated with thcm' They contended for the basis NJ
white population in both branches of the IroisI,,rr
rs required by Justice, sound policy, and the funda-
mental principles OF our republican system 'I'bev
were vigorously resisted, on the ground that Droncr
~ would be rendered insecure, by looking onlv to
numbers in the appo?ii"nmcnt of representation II
was not Denied bui on the contrary admitted by co
yeral OF the Easter members that as a GENERAL mi,
the majority ought TO have the ascendencv in a Re
publican Government But. the confictnS inn erests
existing IN Virginia appealed to as iIIs1fying
| rs
perty not the great and only obiecf declared h,
those opposed to the basis of white population and #
that security by means of Representations is all that
is desired. whether it be not furnished by the conccs
sion Of federal numbers in the Senate?
We have been charged at one moment with incon
AsteEcy and at another, with nfexibe pertinacitv
These mpuations may be retorted, vii h mucA Inoy.
propriety, against those, from whom they have pro-
ceeded. Representation, according to sader al mum
bers, was not, In the first instance demanded in this
Assembly by our adyersaries 1t was not proposed,
Until after strength had been gained here end viii
the people, by the powerful efforts maAc to excite A.
larms for the security of property at first nothing
more than the mixed basis of white population and
taxation was required think NAV confidently as
sert that compromise might have been had ga riv in
the Session, by yielding he mixed basis in the San
ateat all evcn~, by yielding the basis of taxat;on in
that branch OF the Legs ature The latter PROPOSE
ton, will be recolieeiei, off ed as scheme IF
compromise by the gentleman from Faueuier INT.
Scott N
But even fthe federal numbers for both b-,nol,,
of the Legislature had been originally demanded nm
TINS floor we surely met adversarcs on middle
ground when we otter to yield that basis in the Sen
ate, and insist only upon representation according n
white population in the House of Delegates Cp5iIe
men must not regard us cencedng nothpr on our
part, bCcaus" they choose to consider our
as dangerous or visionary They will gain n Iiao v
treating ali propositions for attentions Of the exisp1
system the wild schemes of revoltionisis and mad
retUrmers Let every proposition be examined anon
its merits, and adopted, If wise or rcicc;ed ;r
mscieyous For myself can freely declare tina,
there are few members Of this assembly who esimnte
tho existing constitution more highly than do So
far from having any thirst for Innovation have been
uniformly opposed to the call of Convention, belize
ing the practical operation of the to have
been substantially goud and fearing to hazard bless
lngs attained IN search of others, perhaps unattaus
BILE. am not disposed, however, to shut my evos
against The defects of the present constitutions and
fh,,o =, ,,rol,.