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

LEGISLATURE OF VIRGINIA.
REMARKS OF MR.. LEFTWlCH'

10 one which l uer lot 1ie Cyl ;r;on en-
uouse. feel that dsrust OF my omn ones.
coomon with me nregafc 10 On Up he hest r..
IONS Willis, am OF opinion, no ,,a ,n snb.
IONS. hove heep able 10 give Tins weisnIy suo-
Hecnyu ,Ss conclusions 10 which my NINA mas
lec., ".a' -. legitimate, nevertheless, when they
arii,'u, nss1 70 The opinions OF others, IN whose
.oment have ever reposed Inc most unlilhl'eu
!.an6dence. and whose honesty Of purpose % quee
,;oned hy none, persons SO lar superior " -. ~
ae9u, hsno,ss more than ordinarily embarass-
ms. e ~. ,,os,;or will on
Or n divest myself, as far as possible, oil all
sss,;onal feeling-and consider il as one OF gene
~ cnneern-appicable TO every portion oil Inc
sr,,d limits OF this good old mmonweallh-
~ discard from my mind all intention to atIain,
mn one portion OF the Stale, an unuue aus dhas.,
he expense OF another. II can be met on
~ common ground OF proper feeling and aus
",.,on 10 do equal justice 10 all, there IS out III,
fear that this question will be settled, and ad-
,,,.,ei satisfactorily 10 all concerned.
!.rne first question that presents itself Tor exa-
.;,a,iou is whether there is any actual necess.-
=. -, change in the organic law} All will ad-
IN that unless there are radical detects 10 Inc
"x,,,ns Constitution, such as ahect me general
interests OF he people, ii should be hela sacred
al Ina, no partial Inconvenience, resulting from
,sn,e % change or disturb it. :.
ina, there are defects somewhere in the policy
y VIRGINIA, as Sovereignty vital IN their char
ac,er involving her prosperity as STATE, her con-
s,an,lv declining condition but too strongly
nrnves-Whelher the cause Of these detects exists
IN The Constitution, or whether they are properly
attributable 10 other sources, IS wen ~oi.ny "
cnnsideration. II may be- tina, the Constitution =
~, 60 defective as the legislation professed 10 be
s,ssd nnonit. From what reflection have been
,ohled 10 bes,ow upon this question, my mind
80 bs,n brought TO The conclusion, that u IS
,;nlv 10 be ascribed to the former, whilst the lat
- i far from being faultlesS
The location Of Virginia is peculiarly unior-
,on.,s comprising as it does, naturally, antago-
80 ;,srss;s superadded TO this, is the unequal
i-r;hn,;on Of a particular description OF pro-
Vs.. .hs protection Of which, has at all times
sII.;sa the sleepess vigilance and jealousy OF
T...sSn Virernia-,his forms an additional ele-
-, II dscord and creates further difficulty
| - 1.,n,ioo The organic law so as to dispense
al Iu,Ice 10 all. Ii must be notifying TO
~ mile OF every Virsinian, TO see this once
,i,,,it renowned State, that was, for long Pc
=, in me advance of her sister States IN every
,s~s ina, promised ultimate prosperity and
,s,,,ess recede, and take her station in the rear
+ o.bers no, entitled 10 superior rank from any
10 cause than the prescribed illiberal policy
I J, bar statesmen. To this cause may be Justly
,.,ribed The constant flow of her wealth ana
r,oua,ion to other States, where more Ioefai
anil enlarged policy prevails.
O." ~, mauef of surprise, that such conse-
,,sros shoun result from the administration OF
:(;,vernmen, without, regard 10 principle-such
\ s,,,, Tho case in regard 10 Virginia-so long
,asrsf,r, as she persists in her present suiclaai
i ,,jry she inevitably will continue 20 uesceuu
Srsr and lower in the category OF States, until
q. becomes 50 reproachful that her cltizenS "heD
sa-oai u blush TO hear her name. ms, ~
NIX mind, is so apparent, that IL IS mater u
sl.pise, when change IN me SonSs,. .u,;on
i Dr 10 sed 10 be made, that this mover nnovalion
Y, H. inma,ion Of government, peculiar 10 Virsi-
- al,na shouli sill find an advocate within ner
il, hardly necessary for me 10 call the atten-
non Il the House 10 defects OF minor importance
IN me C,ns,i.ulion-such as apply to Inc risnt
o; suii,ase he i,nperieciions OF the JUDICIARY,
and manr Others OF less importance: pi
,h.m IS, as .ot secondary consideration only,
in csr9a7j>oa 10 the unequal disriooiioh
~ Of he legislative power The latter BENG Inc
III first whilst all The res. OF secondary interest,"
|. NAV be- tha, from the position sustain 10 TINS
question. The pervading influence OF feeling and
OF ineres, NAV have operated upon me 10 an ex'
tent Of which | ain not fully aware; and thal
however honest may be in the exercise OF my
Gigmcu. with regard 10 il, | may have neverthe-
ls>s erred am fully appraised OF the uncertain
II OF coming TO proper conclusions when operai-
81 anon by such considerations. Will, therefore,
mere avail myself OF this opportunity 10 STATE,
Tia; will. with all sincerity, concede TO others
:as same honesty OF Intention aud proper leelins,
in The examination Of this important question:
wh;ch | claim for myself; and any tnins
>h,uh escape from me- whilst | am discussing
;as qneston, calculated in the slightest degree to
wound Inc feelings Of any who stand opposed to
me, now, with all candor and sincerity, dlsclaim
all such Intention on my part. am Tree 10 say,
nat i, is possible, il | were citizen OF Eastern
Virginia that those influences Of which have
h-sa speaking might hastily bring my mind 10
different conclusions from what II has honest
il arrived at under different circumstances. bri
il appears 10 M, that Inc "suber, second thought,
4 arising IRON ne broad principles of equality and
n las,ice. would conduc, me back from the wander
Z ings u partial alteration TO sound, practicai
,rGih, aud would enable me 10 discriminate cor
recily between The established principles oil re-
pfesenla,ive republic and the slightest departure
tom them in lie direction towards mixed mo-
alrchy.
The object, in the formation of government, as
we'll as the rule for its reformation, may oe ioun1
mine Bin Of Rights, and engral,ed upon The pre-.
s.n, Constitution. The common sense OF every
On. wiIl teach him, that this object ought to be
ID extend the greatest benefits to The greatest
nambe! Il is unnecessary for me 10 argue
The question as 10 whether there exists
necessl!y at the present time, for the call OF
Convention 10 amend the Constitution, or wne-
Their il is desired by the great mass oil the
people. These are questions that require no argu-
.g.nt 10 sustain them. | am fully convinced,
!rom actual observation, that whilst no one SIN
gle objection 10 the present Constitution could
as an isolated question, induce majority OF the
communii. 10 demand change in The Conslitu-
ion, yet, taking all the defects in the Constitution
as whole, they are OF Sufficient magnitude TO
unite, from The different sections oil The Stale, 10y
reason oi their operation on the peculiar in;e-
rests OF particular parts Of the Stale, majority
Of The community in favor OF change OF The Con-
yitution. This being admitted, how shall the
mango be effected so as 10 subserve The great
potpose Of remedying the evils collectively, and
ARRANGING The general good with the least sacri
nee Of particular interests? This, contend, can
only be done by strc. compliance with the rules
a'l down in the Bill of Rights. Ii is sufficient,
objection 10 The present Constitution, with all
uoe Republicans, ,hat in its formation, there
was not only no lSei principle recognized, but
toia want 81 Difference TO all the established
ilss ior The formation Of government protested
= D. Tor the common benefit. From the Bill
o. Rights We learn, ''that government is, or
onshi 10 be, Instituted for the common
oenrhi, protection and security OF the people,
ha.ion OF community; OF all the various modes
! suA ioi MS of government mat is Oest whlch IS
capable OF producing the greatest degree ofhap-
Hness and safety, and is most efectually secu-
fei against the danger OF ma. administration;
ana. tha, when any Government shall be found
adequate or contrary 10 these purposes, a ma
2l'g Of nc community hath an indubitable,
i7alienable, and ndefeasble righito reform, al
isF, or abolish il, in such manner as shall be ad-
Indsed most conducive 10 the public veal"
Upon 'hsse principles, am willing to test the
under Jon u
power reside, according these doctrines, 10 re.
iorm alter or abolish the Constitution Ills an.
sHered, in the majority Of The community. Who
are he community, thus entrusted with the power
. reform, alter or abolish the Constitution! Ger
iainiy not every man, woman and child in the
community but j, is that portion Of the commu-
ny, spoken Of in The sixth article Of the Bill OF
Sl,htS itlai,a IL IL a.,Ar Il.