Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-08-17

sent hateful ogarchy, and who in point of fact are
the very people, who above all Others. onoht to make
the Convention, for the sweed-h heads are at heart if
the truth was Known altogether opposed to it,
But to begin my address: | candidate for the
ConVentIon-not that l expect to gain anything by it
mysef-butl want 10 the people, and to see them
rlghted-the dear people, for whose welfare my very
bowels yearn. | must have been born a patriot for /
can't recolect the time when was not anxious to be
the peoples service II time permitted, could name
sundry occasions in which my anxiety to serve you
brought me into the field and though generally beat
en- my afectlon tor you is not in the least abated and
1lnd myself now ust as ready to serve you It's
momentous cause and grand OCCASION and you are
worthy OF a better chanpion-but, such as am de-
vote myself to your redemption for consider you
enslaved and down trodden people. Does the civilized
world present such spectacle of social degradation and
despotlsm as we see all around every day in this
boosted Commonwealth Of Virginia No wonder
that fields desolate and that we look upon rum
and decay at every turn OF the road and especially in
this valley OF ours which nature has made so lovely
Egyptian bondage was freedom compared to yours uu-
der this hord system OF government which for seventy
years mas broken down your energies and laid waste
your tairest fields. And what is worse you have been
guided and deceived people; for while some OF your
pretended friends have BEE, been telling you from time 70
your chains verify believe they only fastening
the riyets Old George Mason and Thomas Jefferson,
and all that set who made the first Constitution were
parcel ofland-hoders, and what sort of Constitution
would you expect land holder to give you?- And as
to John Marshall and the rest of them in the last Con-
yenllon they had been rather too thick with Thomas
Jefferson ever to get entirely rid of his way notions
about government The fact s-without meaning to
dsparage the motives of these men--they were rather
raw hands at Constitution making. Every body knows
the world is getting wiser every day, and that we know
all our fathers knew and great deal beside. And
will do John Marshall the justice to say that had he
lived to this day and had all lights he never would
have rsked his reputation by standing up for the county
Court system, independent Judiciary, and all that
sort oil trumpery-uot he
Do you. wish to know then, what go forl I'll tell
you in few words, and then I'll enlarge little 90
tor putting doon every thing that's up nd putting
up everything that's dO,on. | can't find a man who
likes the present system take it altogether 1t is true
one man wishes this part to be changed-one that, and
third something else. Now, my opinion is that the
y way to give general satisfaction wipe and begin
again Ii you try to mend it, like the foolish
toned in the scriptures you will be apt loose the patch
ing. In tor throwing away the old coat, and making
new out and out that will fit better
But as the other candidates have into particulars
and as "a number OF my friends and fellow citizens
have brought me forward, and invited me to publish my
Opinions they well their author heartily at your
service But observe my dear friends that these an
swers don't please pray you to consdeder them with
drawn, tor have no wish but to the people and
to think exactly as you think Put down, then as
going for every thing that the majority chooses. A
public servant has no right to think for himself. |
consider that the very starting pole of true republican,
ism.
And first, you ask: " Are you for the white or the
mixed basis 2! 1t seems to me there is something ola
Misunderstanding about this matter hear some OF the
candidates who call themelves republicans, talking
about the white basis the only republican basis while
it strikes me that rule which shuts out large and re-
spectacle class oil our fellow citizens the negroes and
mulatoes0 must be at with the fundamental prin-
cples ofliber!y and equality For my part go heart
and hand for the mi xed basis by which understand that
all breeds and colors, classes and conditions,
stand on the same evel-enjoyng all the equal and
maenable rights which belong alike ITO all men
The women tool never could see how it was brought
about that their tongues have been kept tied all h
time In respect to voting, while they have been let leo
on every other subject. sa5S *~ lSa
And this brings me, secondly to the rieaf II tx va h
| You may see, from what have said s
| think about that. My NOTCH s,thst
that's the word ;enot every white man w @
years OF age, who happens to Of lAor
or 70 sfax on bhpd} nnrsfsh
broadcast word can iind3las pr, ss sss ss
| laws, or else not be answera5le 10 q sx
| creed. 1t woman shan't Vote, sdon,t 81 II
the laws, and dismiss at once all your I'D
secutions against that wronged and prosecuted cas
our fellow-cizens, the negroes and mulattoes TN
had no hand in making any OF your laws against sea,
ing and Is contrary to the spirit Of this republican and
enlightened age to make them to any such laws
properly 9uaIfcatton, too! property qualification
indeed Why, so far from it, if there were not quite SO
many OF you property holders, | believe should be
tempted TO take the ground that property holder
should vote at ALL For my experience is that property
makes man proud, and makes him lose his sympathy
that larger class who liberal to own property
but who spend fast they or even little faster
have another notion, too, that might we'll come in
rlght here AS all men are created equal can't help
thinking that it's downright sin against Providence for
one man to try to make his condition better than that of
his neighbour 1t dsturbs any rate the great demo-
cratic law of social equilibrium. And have, more
over, pretty strong suspicion when see one man bet
ter OIL than another that there foul play in the
business am not sure, then, that would let any man
who is worth 800, vote all except that to ex
cude him would jar with my general proposition.
3D. Do you go for the peoples eecting all the Off
cersl Well, now in the first place. go against having
any officers at all, ii we can help | have a strong
idea that when the new Constitution is once set 10
work, lift properly put together it will work Itself
at any rate will work well enough for ten years and
then the people wind it up and set it a-gong again
pay the man for making it, and then pay him to stand
by 1t to make it run. These office holders eat up the
substance ofhonest people. and Pm against them
But IT we must have Judges. and Shers and Consta-
bes, &c. say let the people elect them and not only
SO, but for very short terms at that keep them hum
| Bile and and accountable All experience shows that
these officers are entirely too independent The Judges
especially, the moment you put them the bench
seem to lose all regard Tor the wishes and opinions of the
people Why, it's au absolute fact that not long ago
Judge not tar ofdecided case against the wishes of
every man IN the courthouse, except the winning par
" and his lawyer and the only reason he could assign
tor the outrage that the law that SIDE for
getting the republican doctrine that the law is butthe
creature public opinion and that the voice Of the peo-
pie IS the supreme law. And to make the case still
worse, when some noise made among the bystand =
ers about his reckless disregard OF the pu0c will that
same Judge had the insolence TO order the Sheriff to
keep silence. Now, l would have our Judges and
Sheriff. know that when the people choose speak
they shall be heard. would let his Honor remember
who made him, and let him the hole from which
he was digged And them as to Sheritfs and Consta
bles, look upon them kind of nuisance any way
you can Tx it. Why man is not, n'this free country
call lit, allowed even to pick his neighbours pocR
et or take any little liberty of that Sort without having
one OF these fellows after him. And they won't let a
freeman do as ne pleases either about paying his ho
nest debts. always thought it was bad enough to be
IN debt-bu to be dunned for it, and still worse, be
forced to pay it, is no longer to be tolerated.
4th. had good deal to say about the County
Courts and Justices of the Peace but am afraid
haven't lett room enough to express my ndigna ton
against Them Abolish the County Courts Yes
wouldn't even leave grease spot Justices of the
Peace three THOUSAND arstocrats scattered all over the
and clogs and Embraces to that ive fiH S
erty which go for and which, when it comes is TO be
the great millennium. 90 for roofing out the whole
race ofsuch Intermediates; and for fear they might
grow, again. would do as some farmers do with gar
| lic-l would salt the place.
| Passing by any more special measures of re FORM
will just detan you long enough to run over some of the
leading principles which will govern me in making a
new Constitution,
LIST. To break down all distinctions in society and
bring every thing to its natural level l wouldn't per