Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-02-28
CONVENTION QUESTION.
SPEECH OF Mi. LEE,

FL sense OF the People for the Call Of Convention
Isl amend the Constitution Of the State-Mr L.ftwiehi
amendment proposed the white basis instead OF the
cd that on which the Convention should be
MI LEE remarked that he felt much embarrassed b,
the situation in which he found himsef-the ateness {, IN,
hour rendering 1t almst impossible for him
inc attention OF the H1usc long enough the yer,
" uu aud able arguments OF the gentlemen whom h.d
become hi, duty 60 reply laeness OF the period
IN the session f tho Assembly rendering extremely de-
.abe that tbs debate should into another day
tie would choose, however that horn ot the dilemma whrh
seemed to be the safest aud by which, he could e.e
ioihng else, he would. least efrct saving o. the ms
the House. which had now perhaps become vava
ihan any hing he could say. Aud. ss 1t seems Mr.
HSpeaker. that oil speeches well books
preface tue present of this House. seing
lures into patient gnaton Ia the ind cuun ct Ionp
peech reminds me 81 torcbly OF what heard
similar predicsment OF late roysl peis,nage, that viii
0SNe the House an anecdote by OF the
preface They may. too, be assured Of its correctness
hsd II from party 10 the transaction IL SCENE that
George " had horror of long spe.chcs 'qps least Ia
that OF this House and he happened be Windsor when
one OF our Ministers Ia his Court be presented g.
him. While e,ing thihsr win HI. Mai-si, Secn,I.t,
"r Foreign AH'irs. the latter very dersey limited the
Ambassador this very strong aud quite natural
II re Kings, and also that which repu bc an
peoPe had Perhps not duly respected. Our Minister
The hint, and when brought the presence Of royalty
Its eOunttninec precisely such that which thu
"use 50 often wears when about the inf tn,
King anticipated But instead of delivering the d.
peeeh. our Minister merely remarked thar he had b.
enarged by the President OF the Unied States
aOns which existed between the countries aud how
neerey he hoped for their Continuance and assure yuui
h'rsy added our Minister, could be h,pper than
nNssh IN being instrumental IN promoting this al
pom this agreeable Of affairs the Kings
assumed the most gracious smile. extending both ms
z hands he exciamed-My dear SIR. delighted to see
zy"a II hope you had pleasant voyage England And
4 utter conycrsing delightfully."- for half hou ne permitted
ur Minister retire with the assurance that they should
= soon meet ag iin IN London.
4 Mr. Speaker, wish could be permitted now 10 afford
similar relief 10 this House would then re
y ;eiye from IL gracious smile ever King gave
out sense OF duty compes TO deny this pleasure
10Th And yet b0Hoi for whose good are both no
be ~ea'ied! cannot hope To change vote BY any TIN Nc
can say Each, aas is liked by the ranges of the
ANS and by any words OF mine is unaSeSbe they
bi; Is not permitted that conduct should resua
= ed by Its reward Nor know what may be IN,
whole Effect OF Their actions. Their duty sruyg.
long with the good sgeneies Of the word-o range their
3 xerilons with the benign influences OF creation ally
themselves 10 the beneheent powers which are in
n peraOn through tn, Universe. assured that they ar,
thereby fulfilling, however humble their sphere limited
nel capacity, the best drstnes which belong
1t Is IN this spiri, Mr. Speaker, that shall labor in IN,
;ause now submitted to my care; and in that to
" which trust to commend this labor the indulgence
= the House.
The objection behooves me TO meet is one which
vas raised by the gentleman from Halifax, and in which
ne sustained by some who have followed hi. side ut
> ne question: Nz that this General Assembly has Jus,
authority 10 adopt course of legislation the object anr
3JrUbabe result o! which be organize the
Convention on the white basis for they be thereby
y lower amoag the great divisions Of the Commonwealth
nide by that constitution from which alone they derive an,
o~er-ha they would be altering that organic law iron
"heh alone they derive authority, and controlling that ve
poSer which alone gives them any power OF control Bu
that thu. obi scton will be found upon yer,
q GIT examination IL be rIuch plausible than pru
ouni FOr II l. not denied that there petitions from
very quarter OF the Common weslih to amend the Cons
urOn; IS 1t denied the power exists somewhere
Hmske this amendment Nor it be denied that ,h,
changes asked Tor must be made either through the form
IN he
ahey may properly be effected by law as against law;
AID will DC as readily admitted thou IN the acuot
u the Legislature alone they be effected by law Tn.
question then arises. to what extent Legislature g
adopting enaetnents for the change OF the organic
Ana the % 'i)us answer seems 10 be, only extent
rsiy submitting 10 the sovereign puwer Of the Safe In,
question OF the proposed ehsnRe; aud OF arranging th,
node and manner OF such submission that 1t shall b,
airy made aud fully responded and that response
uraely reported. That would to be all which IN,
sslatye power can rghuliy do; and one MT infect
I'D with DJirsm, will that may DO that much
NV what Dies the sUb-tute of the gentleman from
"ythe proposal Why. submit to the qualified yor. p
Z he Commonwealth wnether they desire the call nj
q Convention oiganze' Up the basis. 10 amend IN,
constitution, OT not Is that proper question submn
The sovefe'sn power f the ate Eut' Are the gu
II voters OF the Commrnwe Iith those who may n .ht
II uly cecd" upon that question: And Is Ihv l. glliu-
q he proper power 10 submit nat question iasd
vnlcrl These The inquiries and the only nyy
ID IN due consideration OF tie Proposed by tn
Eenuem1n from Wyh'; and that they must be
Tue sihmaye seems too obvious 1" quire arsumeni-
ienec would se' plain that tins Leg wo aid no.
y a. all transcend its power by adopting the substitute en-
iivocatng. Bat gentlemen say 1t would because mt,
IooVioul effsct at adopting that substitute would be Il,
Isn''eI the controlling pIwer Of the State fom the Ei,I
y the West see Of The Blue Ridge aro that the marit,
this legislature would be "a Iness 10 their
O enact law which would he fatal that dsrbut on OF
through the State, 10 spak plainly to tina
ksuPemacy u the East which they were sent mere To
: guard, and beiray.
thak The gentsmen opposed to me will now saw ib,,
have met them sir!y-thSt have ground ul
Nheh hey have placed Them elves which they cIs
~ occupy righuully Ii So, position they mantin r.
I1at they may nor. without b,trayng the trust rep ~
2 hetn feier 10 lie sovereign Of the State gu,
4 r change in the Organic law with iut s, puaIdiny
nd limiting that Reference not IL endanRet thai supr.
y macy which their constituents enjoy.
That We may esve nothing doubtful The terms cf hi,
Imposition let US ascertain what the sovereign power
ls Slde-oT rdher, VINO IS entrusted with
this H. IN fact the point Of controversy and upur
rs rehtul settlement the decision OF this whole question
!! Unjust turn.
lhat the meOTiy # the qualified yrginu my
aud may only. rghuuly decide and p'onuunce decision
upon all qlestons submitted the judgment of the SOW
f3eiegn power OF the State. We right which W..
aclam Tor that I,ry upon those aws of nature
d ~ the social compact. recognized by the social or
ganizauon, which 'kes the inhabitants Of Virgins on,
icummunty, Gnd associates them gsher a. one peopr
tnuse great which have divided into dvfen
.1nauOns the inhabitants Of the earth
n The gentlemen from HALIFAX and Abemarle say Their,
JIro laws Of known 10 civil zsd commuui
naiura laws, aud conventional rights dpce those of ne
due was glad TO see gentlemen up so boldly {,
his obvious conclusion rom their premises this
eul: If their reasoning For mere take with the m
md maintain that II - the old issue Of night against mghi
~ reform against abuse, Of progress against decay flo
Asociey cannot stand sui Of civilization against bsTba
1nsm The arguments Of my opponents In this conoyer-
sy precisely those which we're used BY the Stuarr
dngans their pIrarens, well - by the opposcrs Of TIN
nore recent parliamentary reform IN England and con
utuuonal reform Virgins. They rest on pfecisoy tn
conventional rights to uphold the supremacy OF Eas
Tern over Western Virginia. which the Crown the Duke
and bars OF England owned the decayed burrouRh
81 Old Lafum, Lynn, Regis and the like relied on {,
malniain their title TO send members Parliament with
vOco potential a. that Of the knights Of the most ppu
uus shrcs u the Kingdom. The claim to Eastern suprs
9macy now ~ 10 no wise different. claim Of Conven
a nal right from that which urged to ontitl
Mathews and WtrWtk 90 send msny delegates 10 hi
,ute % we're fentby ouoOn nd Sh'nsf dOth. II II
wfong now, because OF any existing Institutions chang
pc relative representation Of Eastern nnd Western Vif
Eglna, u wrong under tho institutions which then eGs
sed a. change that between Warwick and HalsE msi1
tain the change then made wrong uy made,
h,t hst now asked Tor may be made with equal oIemp
~ Dn from blame. And Uuaintatn this because matnai