Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-03-21
LEGISLATURE OF VIRGINIA.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES

REMARKS Oh Mg. CoSAN, OF RUSSELL,
On the BIZ 10 take tie q tie People uPoa NE
propriety Of oGtiiH9 Nate Contention TO amend
The State Constitution
MIR. Speaker i rise TO make Il lew remarks, not 10
make Speech and most confess ST., was surprised
10 near the remarks t5at fell from the gentleman from
Hal!fax He sad, that he was pn@'"nS 10 snht inns
question the people. What, SIR Democrat r.
fuse 10 let the reop'e question! particular
" question o: such Importance wheinsr they wii
call Convention - amend The Constitution OF 'tgl
MA: The second arcia IN our Blil OF Rights declares,
that all powe. IS vested 10, and consequently derived
FROM the people; aud yet The gentleman 10 unwilling
TO trust the intelligent people, tae sorcregns oil thus
land, with this grave question Is tins the knd ci
Democracy that the member boasts so much ABOUT
Democracy did say. MIR. Speakef:-ls not such coc-
trine ars,ocratca Yes, Sir arisocracy IN It's high
est grade What, SIR unwilling 10 submit question
the ,niesencc OF The psopie 0: ths proud old Do
mnion who boast r1uch OF her Democracy, her IN
terencc and patriotism: Does not our Bl OF i.ghls
declare that u ma ioty % Inc community have rght
change Govern nent, to reform, a!tef o: aoo-
lish -aso that ar o. set OF men, are entitled TO
exclusive separate em"umentS or privileges, iFoc
the cor muuy bat IN consideration OF public services:
Because Easten Virginia has II" po"er On this hoor
does it follow as matter OF course, tha, we OF the
West of the Blue Ridge untaas, must Submlt-nol
wthsta nding we have large majority OF white po-
puation: Yet, agreeably to the doctrine OF The gen
tleman from Halifax with all his Democracy, mino
rity must rule majority. Is this Democracy No,
Sir Such doctrine is monarchical. And, these very
men, who willing and ready to fight the battles OF
our country, my friend from HaiiiHx declares, he IS
unwilling TO trust That much TO say, that the
people are apable of self government. SIR, ask this
House, ask this proud Old Commonwealth ii such
doctrine is nos Ars,pc .aljeaE VIII the Tree white
men of this proud cid Dominion, submit to such IA
iustice No, SIR. Your table Will gfoan "ith petit
tons until you willing 20 gave Us our true repre-
sentatou, aPreeahly To white population. SIR, re-
collect IN 1890, after ne insureciion Of the sayes
in Southampton county. lat the next session OF the i.a
gisature) that the Eastern members on tins dor. call
ed the Western members TO come TO iher and; ard
when the Western members came 10 their nd, and
proposed that the increase oil their slaves after lSl
should be tree-why, Sir, cur Eastern members SAID,
You might well take tie increase OF our colts calves
lambs, pigs Ne, to take the increase OF our
slaves THIS was the doctrine advanced By our East
ern members at that tine they coulended that their
slaves were property and not persons. Why, ST., the
Eastern members charged Governor Mcdowell with
being Abollt'onst, because 10 aG7ocaed some Goc
trnes that subject al iaa. session ST. recoiiect
that Gen BroadnaX, hp is now ~ eternity, contend
ed that their slaves property We are now 'cil
that they are persons and Quaint TO be represented
NV friend from Halifax (}lr. EdmuHds) tells Us that
the little State OF Delaware has two Senators IN The
u States Senate and New York has tao also, when
the population OF New York is Eve times Us large as
that of Delaware VIII the member from Halifax
agree TO establish that political principle
If so, let me make proposition TO that gentle
man: Halifax county has two members on this ilocf;
russell out one Lei Us c"ahse 'ie VI
iiaiax aha isuSSe 'e' i'usSei iiate '"o .'e"''e v
this floor, and Halifax but oGe-aiihough The poprla-
ton Of Halifax twice large that o! Russell
VIII the gen'iem. ag'ee % sAS proF'S''o" ~ ~
Speaker IRIS beHoaf@"i 't'7'1 81 i''Ne WI. at"i!
agree nv proPosit!cnhe .5Vea power too well Our
Eastern friends tits floor tel. US. iiat they W.! not
abuse 'he'f P'"e' ''sy va "on, 'e,' ''''"US J'9ti;
and kinaiy a!Iao"@" We o 'hc west nave majority
of free white population OF thousand, and, accord
ing to our b!' o. :Ea''' oos"' 20 nave ia.'ry gu
thus moor. bu!, 81 uey zen Us a'y s'c a''''4 "
US the power Tor lear we WI! aoase u. are We ''o d
Intelligent and honest as iAey are As chaf'aoie' ana
equally capable oil conducting tAe aHa,rS OF "oVefn'
ment? Yes, SIR equally So ask my Eastern if'ehcs
TO turn over ZEAL ana iet 'e "est hoiu Tue 'es I"
Government as long os htg nave Tor we are ehu'ieo
TO 1t by free white population les, Mi Speaker! IN
the late war, w:'en cur hasten seaport towns were
threatened by our ioe-one u I've most p""e''"'
nations on cart" huTnmg '"eH'' ana threatening 20
49, VI 49,. .r 49, NIL :, r.as lilo Ya
4.son, f -, ~ = no.. as ~,
inoo'Aoi .'o', W. 80. "a I.,,
+ . :