Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-09-12
RICHMOND, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER IL.

Charleston Mercury that il supposed to be the Btsn
i ton of the "Nlember Of the Stale Convention" The
Mercury left the impression the mind, that, by The
majority Of States he meant the majority Of the Party
No sooner, however, does the Mercury express It's
views of the matter, than "the Member himself comes
forth to contradict the construction It's rather strange
that these gentlemen do not better understand each
| other.
/ 1t will be seen from the following article that "a
Member OF the Convention" who speaks by authority
for the State of South Carolina plainly and distinctly
proposes To give Delaware and Rhode Island equal
vote with New York and Virginia, in deciding upon the
organization of the National Convention and the mode
of voting in that body He places these important
questions exactly the same footing as that of the
time when the Convention should meet which, at the
suggestion of Indiana, and under the lead Of other
States, in spirit of compromise decided in ia.
of the later day. We would promise, that the pro-
position of Indiana couched in obscure terms-he
circular of her Committee referring the decision Of time
to "a majority of the Republican Party while their
GLIDING resolution refers it to ga majority Of States. -
We will admit, that the time fixed in degree,
in accordance with the recommendation of Indiana; does
il therefore follow, that should adopt the
in the settlement OF these other great questions? Noim
portant principle supposed 10 be stake in the de
cision of the time ofmeeting in Convention was
question Of expedency; moreover there could be but
one time for the holding of the Convention-while, on
the contrary, many mouentous questions were involved
in The determination of the organization of the Conven
ton and among the rest, whether Slate had not the
right of deciding, in her onn ray, the appointment OF
dele gates and the manner in which they would repre-
sent her strength in the Convention gam, unlike the
question of time, which necessarily must be and the
same the of representation in the Convention
admits of variety oil views which be carried out
in The Convention, without interfering with lis exist.
ence, or high functions. With The light shed upon
the views of South Carolina by her able exponent,
are bound empha,icaly To reply, without further con-
sullaon with the Republicans Vrgnla that Virginia
will consent to leave the decision of these grave
questions "a majority of the States" where Della
ware shall have the same vote as New York. ANY ar
gument in favor of such equal weight would equally
the right OF Delaware 10 many representatives,
in Congress as New York, and what Republican would
consent to such vast dsproporton Of political power?
We do not believe that there is in Virginia, who
would agree to the proposition TO place Virginia on the
same footing with Rhode Island the decision Of mat
tiers which involve such great principles In reply to
the precedents quoted by the writer which the States
have equal votes, we have to say that his scheme was
never adopted in either of the National Conventions
hitherto held, and in direct conflict with the primer
pes of our confederation We are for giving To every
State its sovereign strength but consent that
on grave questions, not regulated or required by the
Constitution ITSELF Virginia should reduce her strength
to that of Delaware Instead of the rights OF The small
States heing "tramped under foot are they not sui-
GENTLY guaranteed by their equal representation III the
u s. Senate, there we rejoice TO the sovereignty
Of all the States, small and great, fully represented p
4 And, in The electoral colleges IL not their sovereignty
equally established by the allowance OF two electors
for every State and above the number OF members
of Conpress2 Does not also, this grand principle pre-
vail in the representation in the National Conventions
Can the small States Justly ask more and can they
desire control the larger States IN the manner OF
putting forth their strength in the body which is to
select candidate for the Presidency, which may be
fact almost antamount 10 the election OF the President
itself We trust, that South Carolina will the i'm
policy Of her views, and will not press this plan, which
we feel justified in distinctly repeating, Virginia can
never accede To. Heaven knows, that Virginia has
stood up for State Rights whilst many other States
have abandoned them 10 the usurpaton OF the Federal
Goyernment;-bu, it surely does not follow, that she
trampes them under foot when, under the eompro-
weight allowed TO her the eiecuoh " me- CHIEF Ma
gis,rate of the Republic
From the Charleston Mercury
Mr.. Editor Circumstances which trust will not
again occur have prevented my replying earlier TO the
enquiry of Mr. Richie
regret see, that The Editor Of the Richmond En-.
quirer has not been able 10 answer my questions ex
cept by calling panalons II is unfortunate that
in all our aims TO be explicit should often fail
| Our questions were in the folow ny words:
81. DO the friends OF Mr. Van Buren, in Virpinia
intend TO adhere 'uncompromsingy TO this principle,
that each State has the right TO determine how its de
legates shall be appointed, how many there shall be-
and how they shall vote in the Convention, in making
! the nomination?
so Are they willing to leave the decision of ,fssa
and other preliminary questions, whish there are
may be difference Of opinion, to the decision of
In majority of the States, and 10 abide by their dec
sion asceraiped by appeal, similar 10 that made by
the Indiana Central Committee on the preliminary
question to the time of the meeting fthe Conven
ton
81 hope the Enquirer will give explicit answer 10
both, and cay, also, if Virginia 'uncomp.omisingly in
sIsls on more than seventeen delegates in the Con
vention:"
The Enquirer does no, understand what is meant in
the second question, and asks, if il is proposed give
to Delaware the weight determining these pre-.
liminary points, that we would give New York
When Indiana proposed 10 leave it 10 q majority of
The States to decide the disputed preliminary question
when the Convention should meet, by which that i'm.
porant pon, has been most satisfactorily settled the
proposition was 80 plain that called for expla
nations. BY TINT proposition, Delaware and New
York, and each and every other Of the States
treated as equals-soVereign-indep dependent States-a
majority oil whose votes, cast States was TO decide |
this first great preliminary question, which hung
the very existence itself of the Convention. Let it be
borne in mind, that This proposition from Indiana
and from Mr.. Van Burens friends that IN acquIescng
in the first place, 10 IT. and in adopting prece
dent for our second proposition above, yietding
TO compromise for union and harmony As that pro-
position came from Indiana, Delaware and New York,
Rhode Island and Virginia put upon the footing
OF equality, on which their sovereign rights as States
entitled them To stand The friends Of all the other
Democratic candidates yielded to it, and by it, the time
ly fixed for May, 1874. As friend of Mr.. Calhoun
and on behalf of his other friends in South Carolina
proposed to take precisely the mode Of settling
the other preliminary suestons not less important
less necessary TO the union and harmony Of the party
| do propose, as Indiana did, 10 give Delaware aud
every other State, an equal vote with New York aud
South Carolina-and if The rule good for the i'm
porlant preliminary question of the lime Of meeting
why not hold equally Tor all The other preliminary
queslions' see nothing startling in il now than
did then The proposition is as plain now as II was
hen-the small and middle sized States are equally as
worthy of respect and as much entitled to their right
Of an equal vote now, and on this question, as they
were then, and on that. 1t unqnestioned then,
md why should it be now In making the Constitu.
lion, they consulted and voted States and equals;
adopting it, they voted States and equals md
to the Constitution. under its 9Th article, they
aoW vote States and equals and in voting in the
House Of Representatives for President, under the I'd
irtlce Of the Constitution, they vote States and
'quals-why then should they be degraded from this
quality and be sunk into suborjinaes 10 New York
ind Virginia
trust that the mother of State rights will not be the
eoder in trampling under foot The jen IF them that are
fof no ntIs a -oaL dfntee