Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-03-11
LEGISLATURES OF VIRGINIA.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
WcdReSdaH, .iLQrch ;. lSI3.


with said petition.
On motion of Mr. MANN,
Rssoired Tha, the Committee cr Courts Of Justice
inquire into The eApediency of changing the time OF
holding the Quarterly terms of the county Court Of
Allegheny, from the time now prescribed by law 10 the
months OF February, Mag, July aud October
The report of the Committee OF finance against the
petition Of John Blat,ea5urg, for the remission OF a
fine imposed upon him, taken up, and on the
question recurring upon the motion Of MIR EDGISGTos
tive
The bill 10 take the of the people upon the pro
pretty OF calling convention to amend tile State Con
stu,on, read a second ime-and the question was
upon It's cngrossmsE.
slr SMIru, of Harrison, commended that the present
Constitution inflicted great injustice upon the people Of
the West Ii deprived them Of their due representa-
ton. White population was the only true basis of
presentation. The people OF the West know their
rights and will shew 10 the East that they know how 10
obtain them. The West have deep admiration fo'
their Eastern brethren-but they cannot agree TO
main longer without the proper representation. They
Will discuss and agltate this question before the people,
and will till they have obtained their rights
III the people Of the East pay taxes, the people Of
the West make up for il in military services. The
whites of the East, Of war; will all be employed
in keeping down the black populaon-ond the West
people will have to to the rescue of the
try. 1t is always well 10 recur 10 fundamental ptin.
ciples. In conclusion, all the West wished wus no..
q Convention al once, but Tor some measures to take
the of the people at the Spring elections, as TO
the prcp.iey OF ealing Convention.
/ Mr. BROOKE said that his people very wiling
for aPportonment OF representation according
TO white popuatioD under the Const,u,ion-bul that
when it proposed 10 charge TIE organic law BY
means OF Convention, they wiling 10 deliberate
and wait until the causes now operating shall become
much more serious. The people of Augusta, he be-
eved, were, :! present, opposed to Convention, and
he felt bound TO vote egaInst this bill.
Mr.. PARKS. However lightly Eastern gentlemen
NAV treat this subject II is o vital importance, and
calculated to affect The future destiny of Tie Old Do
minion Mr.. L gave sketch Of the early struggles
between the throne aud The people in EnslanG-and
traced The fundamental principles o! liberty, by which
We ought TO measure Constitution which, ne
maintained, not only did not tEeory follow. these
fundamental principles, but IN its practice WIDELY &c
waited from them. Numerous nper iecti0ns III the
Constitution ate acknowledged by all, aad all would
60 for Convention, unless the East afraid OF
being s!:orn q o! lis power. The West cannot
endure much longer the present of things 1t is
not part OF the nature OF iteemen to give up their
precious rights. The representation ~ presen,
Constitution is most anomalous and founded no
principle whatever. The East s entitled To - in the
! House and - in Tie Senate-,he West is entitled To
30 in the House and l3 in the Senate; and this too,
when the white population OF the West exceeds that
Of the East > 0GO, Mr.. Z. wen. to show that the
Yves: had Increased in population aud amount oi
taxes paid, while the East had decreased 10000
bu, free negroes. The Yves, lad sen: respectful aud
able memorial tor reappor,ionment under The Consi-
tuo;i, according 10 the views Of the gentleman from
Augusta hut that memorial had been treated with
contempt, and we have now no other remedy bu! q
Convention.
Mr.. WILLIAMS. regret, Mir Speaker, that this dis
cusson has no, been confined the and only ques
ton before the House. That question is not now, what
4 Convention may or may not Go. IL is not whether
organic law shall! be change essentially, properly
4 IuI,I 10th Ib hos
each OF us here, shall be permitted, IN official
and legal form, express their opinions for agains,
a call Of Convention Surely, Sir those ndiv dua!-
IN whom you have entrusted all political power should
have liberty 10 express their Will upon the proprety Of
the proposed measure, The bill con,emplass 4 refer
ence Of thus matter only TO the qualified voters
thereby ahotdng the surest guarantee against abu-
ses 1t seems 10 ne most reasonable PROPOSE.
ton, and wl.ich cannot be denied, unless you
are prepared to sanction that old monsrous and
exploded doctrine, SHUT the ptopte incapable
81 StJ S0rerRment. Are gen,lemen this floor
afraid to trust this question to the people, The
eigns Of this land, and the repository OF all power
am disposed TO believe it is the fear Of losing po,oer
which excites this opposition, and the arguments ad-
yanced only preiences under which the true -ee
son is cloated il well, Sir, 10 eneGire, from whom
docs thus question enarae From ,he people Yes,
SIR, and from Convention embodyrg ;he opinions oi
al least noety Of The free white cii,zs;s Of this Co
monweah, well Of The qualified voters Are
there others in Eastern Virginia flYorabc tc
tins measure | should Judge from the an xiety ma
infested 10 prevent them from expressing their Cpl
mons. 1t canno, be objected 10 because of the ex-
pense-noae viii attend it-lhca why refuse Does
th5 refusal proceed from those principles upon which
our Government is founded Surely not Sir, from
the spirit OF Democracy.
know, Mr.. Speaker, tba: those who oppose this
measure will tell that representation is now fixed
upon the proper basis; that the people have no grevan
OF winch they can, with any justice, complain We
do al aSk in adj n,
opinions upon subjects which properly belong 10 the
people, and upon which they have the right express
their opinions in their primary assemblies and consun
mate their wishes in legally constituted Convention
Give, then, pray you, 10 the people, your con
stuents, an opportunity 10 express their opinions
upon this subject They have The right 10 demand it.
and will demand IT. until it shall be acceded TO.
Reject this bill, and you say to the people, we are
your guardians, and know your interests better than
you yourselves do tell gentlemen that they cannot
escape this question by arguing against this or that
change in organic law the people cannot and will
not be deceived If therefore, II is TO cost nothing
and if it i, only referring te question the people, the
source all power why object Is the present time u
favorable No, sir And tell Eastern gentlemen, that
no time favorable the protection Of their interests
as the present. Postpone this matter, and the excite
ment will increase with the length OF time ard that
which NAV be effected by concatory spirit will
then be rendered impossible BY that exasperated feeling
which your delay and denial has produced Beware
then. OF your own interests, whilst you are denying
rights 10 others Sooner later this question will be
brought to an issue, aud the power possessed in
the East will be transferred 10 the West. DO gentle
men expect thus 10 smother this matter Let me tell
,hem they only adding fuel to the fame. | can,
upon this subject, speak calmly and frankly: for Mr
Speaker it is not interest, that interest which
prompts TO n greater acquisition of political power, tina,
induces me support the bill in your haad So far
representation is concerned, the Valley OF Virginia will
gain nothing The expression OF their opinion is pre-.
lca,ed upon principle, aad not political interests
There are sundry amendments which they, in common
with large majority OF the people Of tis Common
wealth, would gladly see adopted refer 20 biennial
Legislature, by which an annual saving Of $5o,00t
n.,1h, be effected, and which would, in inrty or Gy
years pay off our debt without ceat OF increased
taxation refer, also 10 the proprie,y of giving to
he Senate gh, TO originate all bills except money
appropriation bills, assuii-tng our Government in that
,espec, to the power of Congress vii! p,ess this
subject farther. Reject tins bill, and year after year
you will be called to egIs!ae; spending money
than Convention will cost-and year after year, add
ing the already great, which, if not allay
ed, will either terminate in division Of this good ole