Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-01-26
STATE CONVENTION.

Il
STATE CONVENTION.
Mr. LEfrwlca. from the Select Committee tho subject
Submitted The ,so~ins Report # TIE A,so,iy q the
amend tho Constitution Of tho State
| [coScLuprp
From what has been she~n. Is believed To be made
sppseni that the period has arrived when the
found be inadequate object the essmoa
bsashf In the third article vi bull 81 rights plainly
declared the object OF government the standard OF
eelence snd the rule for ITS reformation. The
bsneff being longer dspensed. asnsbe under the
present distribution Of the representative power in the L.
gsa,ure, reformation 10 then demandsble Of right
What then the rule o reformation engrsted made
part OF tho compact ITSELF By which IL be aecomp .h
cdr IL plain aud inels 10 much co. ,ha, he who
runs. msy rcsd"-and not only read, but understand II
is As follows. to Wit THAT government H. ought be-
instituted for the benefit protection, aud security
OF the people. nation OF community; Ut oil the
modes aud forms Of government that best which
psble OF producing the greatest degree happiness and
safety aud most eheeiusly secured against the danger
OF INSTRUMENTATION And that when any government
shall be found inadequate, contrary purpose
majority OF the community hath ndubitabe. unaeaa.
BILE and indeeasble night reform alter abolish it, in
such shall be Judged conducive to the pub.
lie veal IL will be perceived that the poser eform
alter or ABOLISH" rests IN the "msVriiy Of he eo1maay
principle strongly incorporated with all our natural
notions OF governmental policy hardly needed the aid
OF conventional sanction. II the power admitted
side here, as Il presumed IL will be, would the adoption
OF the principle upon which the ma.y OF your
propose 10 Organize the convention invoke this powerf
would the question must be surrendered proper aud
practicable But the contrary the adoption Of that
principle would both letter aud spirit ia,
rule above laid down, then u hoped, like manner its
advocates will surrender the que sion. seek To place
their Argument other ienable ground
Inconsistent with this well established cOnvt onal rule
IL Is moreover equally true that by this rule this power
only To be exercised with single the public good
and Tor redress OF the evils OF complaint What
ess OF compliant that have moved the sovereign will upon
this suojectf And will they be redessed by the bill
ported by the majority Of your commueei And more
2cciay, would the 'maoriiy OF the community" be In
vested with the V reform. alter ABOLISH the
stliuUon
II is answered the gross inequality of II
the evil mainly complained Of all Others merely col
lateral and incidental; this, and all the
uraly isll into the channel Of reformation, that the
shadow follows the substance. What probability there il
OF redress by the bill proposed by majority Of your com
ml'ee may be most conelusvey answered by reference
iormer part OF this report where the mode OF election
and The basis OF the organization Of the proposed
ton lie adve rted to. No reasonably expect re-
dress Of existing evil in the absence OF
an adequate representation IN the reforming power iend
y To such purpose When, therefore, unneces-
saIy caution with which the precuded from
enjoyment Of equal participation in the repese
the councils OF state government by constitutional prov-
sion II Is enough TO preclude all hope from revising pow
er emanang from and created by authority that sanctions
this principle and is avowedy adver,e TO such object
But It is insisted by the minority OF your committee,
that nothing less than "msority OF the community has
night To "reorm alter, abolish" the organic law; and
that body organized the principle by the
Till reported by the Iry your committee could not
be regarded as representing the majority of the
nly II Is true that majority OF the convention, when
elected would decide all legitimate subjects OF controversy
that would arise in that body such decision would not
oI necessity nor would n likely be the decision of the
joriy Of the electors, unless the members Of that body
were elected upon equal basis The district
having now free white population Of 375445, by the bill
proposed she would be entitled rs delegates
yenion. forming basis of ASH each delegate The
district, having n free white population of
39s,lO2, and would be entitled So delegates forming
basis OF IlOS TO delegate. Upon the principle of equa
~, allowing TO the western district delegate for every
4S3 the ratio in the district she would be entitled
to 81 delegates instead OF Sc. Or Of her 39S O2
Tree white population, allowing delegate every 4sl3
would be the basis OF the So delegates proposed CIV
en- her In the convention leaving lie Is Of her free white
population entirely the convention This
being the basis IA the and districts upon
which the delegates the convention elected II
will hardy be contended that they would ceainly speak
the voice OF "maJorty OF the community and hence
would possess neither natural conventional right
'to reform, alter abolish the fundamental law OF GO
yernment.
So matters of detail and subjects OF minor con-
sdersion concerned, they may, aud OF right ought
To be, the subjects OF compromise. there pne-
pies SO vitality essenua and insepanby inteI woven
with republican system OF government, understood
this day. that TO compromise them, wOul be v-
tua surrender of all that supposed supe
Nor excellence the important OF which it, that in the
distribution OF legislative power, persons, conadisin
gushed from properly should be regarded consuu
ent element out OF which It should be equally formed.
Every departure from this primary posuse in the orgaL
zaton OF government, is Ear change from represen-
taiive republic to mixed monarchy.
II oil men are 'by nature equally free and ndepe ndent
cannot be perceived why they should be less when
state OF society IL cannot be successfully maintained
thai ought surrender OF his natural night.
Than another, when he enters into state of society.
that required, IL Is presumed that he who might fou
nsely lie possessed of the wealth. would be very
successful persuading others diyest Of more
Of their natural rights than himself avoweiy for the pto
lection OF his wealth. They could reasonably be ex
pecled TO do because, OF nature 50 soon as
the OF wealth Invested himself of the mme ute Do
OF hs wealth, II would be liable be appropriated
by the hrst one who could fortunately possess himself Of
a. IL would therefore appear f. this, that tbs Of
wealth on entering into social state II any VI the
parties To the compact ought surrender nau-
rights than another would be he who he
protect and therefore the greatest society
But again, II wealth were Legitimate OF govern
mental power, how easy would II be perpetuaIe
in all where II predominated. II IL believed
that generally, where the power exists the dsp stion to
exercise will very shortly be found Besides cannot
be commended that wealth is the insignia OF and
elgence, either, as may be- and very often is dis
connected with both The poorest may well be the
v,rIJous. the intelligent add the most worthy
ciizea perhaps his honesty has precudcd him from be
coming wealthy perhaps misfortune has visited him. and
II lac has been the unhappy victim Of Provdents misfO
tune, over which he had control, it To be hoped that
IN government procssedly based the principles Of
equality, that The further msortune Of political prOscrp-
ton will not Ice enailed upon him. There u still another
objection TO combining wealth with persons the b1sIs OF
Representations not less weghy than ho that have zen
adyefed to above. f does perpetuaie power
which, IN the opinion Of the minority Of your committee
there 10 much 10 be feared wealth being Of trarsory
character that government based upon u would be
liable To change, aud would be deficient highly
ta requisite, that Of mmutiby, and would therefore Of
necessity TO certain extent imPair the confidence Of her
citizens.
The mnoi Of your committee therefore conclude that
the only proper and safe element Of which repub.
government be formed. and upon which IL can
rghuly be based the free white population the com
muniy Aud being Of this opinion, they beg leave
bill IN conformity with these principles, which they
ask may be substituted for the bill reported by the mSprty
All Ut which is respectfully submitted
ISAAC J LEFTWICH,
ALBERT &. PENDLETON,
JAMES e.. WEST.
Tue ESNEE STGrE.-The following IL the aggregate Of
the agricultural statistics Of the State Of New York fur