Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1846-03-26


siiy exist between her citizens and those
both the East and the West, we shall a, one
conclude tia! her people could no, be.dispo,
ed 10 engage as par,izans in this or any oihe
controversy between them. will not ;,n
uer,aRe 10 speak for other portions Of Il,
valley, but think | can safely say that hi
IS the state OF feeling among my cons,itueul,
anu .nat me oaiy wish they have on the. sui
Jeci Us, mat TINS unfortunate controversy ma
be settled speedily-lhal it may be settled up
on correct principles, aud ia such a name
as 10 secure the Prepayment harmony of tn
State.
In 'his-spirit so consopant, with my owl
feelings, have, as their representative, com
to the consideration Of the question now nm
der discussion, aud having satisfied mvsel
1hat the bill reported by tue majority of III
tnmltee, proposes. The rrnpo- nsat,,iza,jo,
tae-Convention, will, as briefly as Va,
give the reasons which have led me to tina
conclusion.
II seems 20 be conceded that there is nc
peaceable mode of altering our constitution,
except by first obtaining the consent of the
existing government To the call of conven.
lion for the purpose. If ;his were not conced-
ed, /, could be readily demonstrated but will
not consume time in combating heresy which
sincerely hope: will never find foothold in
Virginia.
How, then, shall the consent of the existing
government be given? As our constitution
requires something more than mere residence
or citizenship to constitute voter, there mus,
Of course be a majority of constitutional vo-
tiers differing from the majority of inhabitants
or citizens; and as the constitution distributes
Representations IN proportion moi correspond
ing with the number of qualified voters, there
Is constitutional representative majority diff
iering from the majority of constitutional vo-
ters. IL seems 10 me TO be clear that the con-
sent oil the government cannot be given EXCEPT
by Tins constitutional representative majority ::
ana that whether absolutely necessary or not.
IL Is peculiarly proper before taking step so
vitality affecting the rights of the citizen that
the consent of majority of the constitutions
al voters should also be obtained. Accord
ingly, we find that both The bills under dis
cussion seek to obtain first the consent of the
representative majority in the General Assem-
oily, and afterwards, the consent of majority
oil the constitutional voters al the polls.
Botr propositions, then, agree as to the
mode OF settling the question ,cheiher ,ce shall
hdce convention, and in both, it seems 10
me. the constitution Il rights of the citizen are
properly guarded
When this question is settled, however. another
immediately arises, not less vitality affecting the
rights oil the citizen, and of fully as much interest
TO the community. This is. in iphat respecfs shall
me fundamental lar he Uttered? and il is in the
provisions Tor settling this question that the rrea,
dilieTefIce between the two bills consists. Che
Dill OF the majority provides for its decision bv
no al
is preserved, and the members of which are IN he
selected by the constitutional voters. No mods
OF raih alton oil The acts of the convention is Dro
vided, but 1t seems reasonable to infer from a,
the provisions of the bill that its advocates look
Tor this ratification to majority Of the cons,itu.
'ional voters. On the other hand, the bill of the
minofity, though 1t does moi provide for the de.
c'sioh OF me question, seeks 10 prepare the way
Tor It's decision BY body organized upon prin.
ciple oil representation, which. whatever NAV be
It's merits, is no where recognized in our cons,i
tution we are not informed as to the mode ir
winch The advocates of this organization proposf
to have the members of the convention selected
or as TO the mode of ratification contemplated
nut the disregard OF the constitutional distrbu
uoh oil power suggested and the new principle o.
representation sought to be introduced, give rist
to dlsagreeable conjectures as to The manner If
which They viii dispose of the constitutions
right of individual suffrage.
we have but one precedent in the history n
the commonwealth from which we can derive in
struciIon upon this subject. and that is found ir
'he organization OF The convention which adopted
our present constitution. That convention was
cal'ed 10 redress grievances precisely similar tt
'hose now complained of. Ii was called by ;
maJotty OF the then constitutional voters. win
the consent Of the Legislature the members wer.
elected by the qualified voters-the convention
was organized upon the basis of the senatoria
representation, and Its action was ratified by :
majority oil the voters under the old constitution
mus adnerlng to the forms of the old constitution
until The new one was adopted. This is precise
~ what is proposed by the bill Of the majority
and this seems to me to be the course i,j;o,,aI
oy every consideration of prudence and propre,v
The range which this discussion has ,al,en
furnishes strong argument in favor Of adherino
10 the forms oil the constitution. The question
Is, not whether we will have convention. bn,
now IL shall be organized.-and upon this dues
ton we have had most elaborate discussion. q.
TO Inc true principles of government, and IN,
comparative merits OF the white and mixed bases
" IePfesen'a',on'-one would suppose from the
arguments addressed to this House. that this was
convention assembled with full power tn copsi
der and decide upon this question, when in fact
we not ohiy nave no power 10 do So but it wouJt
oe hlghly improper for us to attempt in any man
hef 10 prejudice the decision Of the question. h,
organizing convention with reference to its de
cIsion III any particular manner. If we depar
ron The existing constitutional forms, it must b,
because. In our opinion. some other form is NOR,
In accordance with justice, and the moment w,
seek 70 ascertain what that form is, I've are in
vowed In the consideration Of questions prone
'or the decision OF the very convention which W,
propose 10 caH. was not sent here, Mr. Spea
kef, TO consider or decide such questions, and
prefer to leave them entirely uDpreiudiced b,
any action OF mine, to be acted upon by thos,
whom my constituents may choose as delegate,
TO the proposed convention.
would vote for the bill Of the majority. if 70
no other reason, because it can be passed now
ano no other bill can. IL ever the conlrovers,