Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-02-17


as follows, 10 wit: The State having free white
population in 1S45 of 775, SAT, Of whom 39S, l02
are in The Western division, and 374 AS, are in
the Eastern division. The Western division be-
ing entitled 10 fiity-six delegates, making 7l08
OF her free white population to delegate. The
Eastern division being entitled 10 seventy.eight
delegates, making ,Sl3 of her free white popua-
ton to delegate. The first district having free
while population Of 26l ,264, and entitled to
thirty-one delegates, being S427 10 delegate.
| The second district having free white popua-
tion of l36,638, and entitled to twenty-five dele
gates being Sab 10 a delegate. The third dis
trict having Tree while population OF 20l 0O9,
and entitled 10 forty-two delegates, being 1856
| 10 delegate The fourth district having a free
white population of Ia, 425, and entitled 10 thir-
ty-six delegates, being 4S45 10 a delegate. Upon
the principles of equality. there being free
white population Of ia, 547 in The entire Stale,
and The Convention 10 consist I one hundred and
thir,y-four members, The equal ratio would be
SIP 10 each delegate, and would give 10 the
Western division sixty-nine delegates, instead Of
| 6ily-six, the number proposed 10 be given her;
and TO the Eastern division sixly-ive delegates,
instead of sevenly-eish the number proposed TO
! be given her. Upon the same principle, the first
district would be entitled 10 iorly-fve delegates,
instead of thrty.one, the number proposed 10 be
| given her. The second district would be entitled
10 twenty -four delegates, instead of twenty-five,
The number proposed 10 be given her. The third
district would be entitled TO thirty.five delegates,
instead Of fory-lwo, the number proposed 10 be
given her. And The fourth district would be emil
tied to thirty delegates, instead Of lhiTy-six, The
number proposed TO be given her
The third district having free white population
of2O OO9 and entitled 10 iorty-,wo delegates in the
Convention, being 4, 1855 10 delegate, the lowest
ratio in the several districts, equalizing The other
three districts with her, the result would be, that
1872 3lS OF the free white population OF The State
wonld be wholly unrepresened in the Conven-
| lion-of which number there would be 929
in The first disirict-l72l3 in the second district
and ,, l76 in the fourth district, being more than
one-sixth Of the whole unrepresented-a fraction
less than one-third in the Western divisional
fraction less than one-hafin the first disrict-and
fraction more than one-eishh in the second dis
| trict.
! Il will thus be seen, that, assuming either the
number OF free white timetables, or The free white
population of the State as the basis OF the repre-
senlalien in the proposed Convention the result
would not be materially variant. The question
recurs, would Convention Of delegates, elected
| in the manner prescribed by the bill under con-
sideration, have the power, according 10 the rule
laid down in the third article oil The Bill OF Rights,
| 10 reform, alter or abolish the Constitution il
will be recoec,ed, that that rule in substance is,
when any government shall be found inadequate
10 produce The greatest degree OF happiness and
safety, and 10 be effectually secured against the
dangers of mal-adminislratoD, majority Of The
community hath an unqueslioned light 10 reform,
alter or abolish it, in such manner shall be ad-
| Judged most conducive 10 the public veal.
Is there any one in This House, or within the
| broad limits Of Virginia. who will be so bold as
to deny this doctrine II is 10 be huped there is
not one. Who, then, according 10 this fnnda-
mental rule, have the right, in the first instance,
| to decide whether the Government, as now admit
nistered, does or does not produce The greatest de-
gree OF happiness and safety, or is inadequate, or
lailst efectuate the original design Gifts lramers7
| Surely the people, whose Government II is-in
them collectively as We are informed by the Sc
cond article OF the Bill Of Rights, all power re-
sides. and is in these words: ".rhat all power is
vested in, and consequently derived from, Tie peo-
| pie: that magistrates are their trustees and SER
| wants, ard al all times amenahle 10 them" l!
| the people have The right 10 decide this question
for themselves will any one contend that ltss than
| a maturity of them can risblfully exercise this
| power, in exclusion OF the remainder2 il less
number than majority have the right, what pro-
portion can exercise it, and what proportion is 10
be excluded II is believed that this question
will be difficult 10 answer satisfactorily. BY the
first article Of the Bill! of Rights we are inform
| ed "Thai all men are b. nature equally free and
dalion for the anomaly, that one man, in Gov
eminent protesting these principles, has the right
10 control two of his fellow. citizens in deciding
whether The organic law does or does not pro-
duce The greatest degree of happiness and safety;
| or whether il does or does not require aInendmen'i
may safely assume, that there is no principle
| in Nature that would authorize this departure
| from all our natural notions of justice; and
| NAV. with equal confidence, affirm, that there is
| al oh bindlnU
zens OF this Commonwealth 10 submit TO any
such anti.Repubican doctrine. But if there
were any such rule recognised in the compact, il
would be absolutely null and void, by reason OF
its incompatibility with the first article OF the Bill
Of Righls-being one OF the inherent richis" OF
which the people, on entering into stale oil So
ciely, cannot divest their posteritY.
The bill, 10 which offer an amendment, propo-
ses to submit 10 the persons now entitled toihe right
OF suffrage, the question, in the first place, whether
| they are in favor OF the call OF Convention 10
amend the Constitution Of the State; and, so far,
| the object is perfectly compatible with the Bill tf
Rights, and entirely consistent with a our notions
of governmental policy. II further provides thai
iiil shall be ascenained that majority oil The peo-
pie entitled TO the right of suffrage, who shall
give an expression OF opinion on that subject, de-
sire Convention, then, the same qualified voters
are 10 assemble and elect the delegates 10 the
/ Convention, IN Tie same HuUlUtIS anu HpiIl INT
| same places as the present House of Delegates
are now elected TO whom is 10 he confded the
| important question whether the Constitution, in
its practical operation, fails TO produce The great
est degree of happiness and safety and, there
tore, demands amendment; and, if SO, what
amendment shall be made. To such body as
this, elected as above stated it is proposed 10
confde all the political lights OF an acknowledged
| free and independent people. So lar as this bill
proposes 10 submit the question to The qualified
| voters OF the Common wealth, whether they are
in favor Of the call OF Convention 10 amend
The Constitution OF the State, il meets my un-
qualified appreciation: SO far it is legitimate and
proper, and SO far only
Would I, not be an absurdity 10 say, that ma
| jority OF the community, have right to decide,
| whether there is a necessity Tor change in The
Constitution, without having heright, also 10 de-
| termine, by their representatives, what change
| should be made This bill, ifcarried into law,
would certainly convict the community Of that
ahsurdity. Is il reasonable, that majority ofthc
| community should concede that right! Is there
any thing so peculiar, either in The conflicting ter
rilora limits OF The State or The unequal disri-
button OF an unfortunate species Of property, with
| which she is possessed, 10 authorize so great
sacrifice of principles?
| III is true that a malority Of INC community
have the right 10 reform, alter or abolish Inc Con-
sli.ulon, i, is very clear that Inc adoption OF this
bill will deprive the majority oil that right. There
cannot be any thing, in any Republican form Of
Government, either in the conflicting interests of
territory or The peculiarly oil her properly, that
| will Justly authorize the virtual disiTanchlsement
Of more than one sixth OF her entire free white
population in the election Of delegates TO Con-
venlion to amend the Constitution; more especial
w. when ,929 ofhal number, reside in District
ofrhe Stale, having peculiar interests. somewhat
antagonist 10 the residue, comprising only 1888, lO2
free white population in The whole, being sacri-
hce of fraction less than one third OF her entire
tree white population. The most weghty objec
lion lion 10 this bin is that by the adoption Of its pro
vision. there would be an example OF surren-
der Of the power of the majority ofths commnni-
" 10 reform, alter, or abolish the Constitution,
and eonide !, 10 minority. This. in my opin-
ion, so long as the people are capable Of sellgo-
vernment. is principle, so vital IN us character
- tho snirif Of liberty and tTee-