Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-04-22

" hen she takes that STEP III proper way, will 90
with her: will say of her in the touching and beau,
,fu language OF Ruth Whittier thou goest Twill 90
aid where thou odgest will lodge; thy people shall
be my people, and thy God shall be my God
HAD other reasons % submit to the Committee in
favor Of our proposition but fatigue sdonshes me that
must draw these remarks to close. 1t has keen the
custom of gentlemen in closing their remarks 70 dis
claim all personal alusioE, and any disposition TO give
offence. trust that my course of conduct upon this
floor as we'll as my private intercourse with the
oers, will furnish ample assurance IN my behalf !
thank the Committee for their attention TO ny re-
marks.
R,narks Of .slr F.qULKNER, II lcwu,ttsc oj' u
I'hotc March .Gth and .7M, ISL.
| Mr. FAULKNER. With the indications of impa-
! tenc. visible around lis in this hall. |
gentleman could be induced engage in the urihc.
discussion OF this question: unless i, under >troa;
! sense Of public duty. claim 10 be impeliel by
that consideration and BY that consideration aloe This
debate has been in progress for iorc thu, one month.
l.c whole field OF argument and statistics. III all the
general aspects of The subject has been ably aud pro-
foundry eXpiu-rdthc rich harvest of Thought as beer,
,arncrc up III your printed repository Of debates, and
is being scattered far and wide before tie people OF this
State ana not sneaf-intced stree the address of my
friend from Norfolk county, (Mr WArs( Who preceded
me- rav say not Row"r has been lett to reward The
toll of the humble CLEANER who is to follow. The sub
ice: has lost much OF lis freshness and novelty had
almost said il had lost of lis interest but trust
that the interest Which should always attach he pr,
cpes involved in this debate will Survive the
I sion which HIS convened Us together.
Having been prevented BY both absence and indspo-
stion from taking earlier part in this discussion
coill not have consented to Go so ut this late period
bu; for the proprcty, might say the necessity, which
devoives upon me- to respond to OF those illusions
which have been so repeatedly made the course OF that
district, which have the honor il pnrt TO represent
upoa this 'oo-. The inquiry has been repeatedly pressed
wiz ii is tina, who possess in so large degree III.
same interests which exist in Virginia should
nevertheless array ourselves in opposition! to that plan vi
representation which, upon mature consideration, the
east has deemed essential to the protection Of those
interests with which ic!!:iIied: have had Ia
answer this same question, already at The bar OF IN en-.
lighteuad constituency propose TO answer IL here.
take pleasure in assigning the grounds OF my "paion
in the presence Of large body of eastern statesmen,
dstin ,uislel for their acu,cness, learning, and ab
that ii there be any unsoundness IN he rl."s which
ha"2 taken OF this subject, their tai!acy -; be cH
posed AID ms constituents may thus be furnished with
The opportunity Of reversing that verdict, which, with
50 mach unan;lnty they rendered upon this Issue
in III. month OF August last.
Ny colleague (lr. LucAs) who preceded ME in this
debate, Ina. exhibited in appropriate terls those sen
e:a considerations which mi ht well lcae an ineli
gent people such we represent even 1T some sIcri
flee their interests, to prefer government founded
upon the public will, to fraugt with the evils and
discomfort which, in country like this, mast always
attend political organism OF an opposite character Ii
will be my duty, upon this occasion proceed ono step
further and 10 show that the t"rcSts OF our common
constituency are in perfect harm2..F 80 The principles
which he has conucntiv sustained and ;iH: no,ln,
short OF uupart l.. snornHcc OF, =! rc,clcrv .,
those interests could prompt me o place II um!,i
tie guardianship OF tla. scheme, "h;ch presented
the east for our adoption
! The dstin. uished gentleman from Halifax CIR. Ep
!rs Ds) on the day before yes;crar Announced
had now given up all hope OF the Valley. ii that gen
v.ean At any time entertained the L.. :aat any
portion Of the Valley could be brought 10 the support
OF the scheme OF representation which he has a ed
and which comes before us recommended ~ ;rinci
;e which approve and by no safeguard: 10 OR
Interests which Waite. he must nave been wholly
indebted bis Imagination for the grounds Of s.icll
~ opinion. Ii he meant TO intimate by The aamunca-
tion that taa great conservative region .oi the State
would, in this Convention, pursue any other course
than which will cherish and protect all the graa:
uatcriel interests OF this Commonwealth liz has vet
comprehend some of the most striking objections which
exist TO tic scheme recommended 10y himself and his
friends.
SIR the district which in pnrt represent, has no
ground of complaint against the xatiHg constitution
so far az it accords to US this time share III the
general representation Of the State We have no inter
il the pending srugy e 80 far as It's mere allotment
of legislative power concerned SO equally all
the elements oil wealth aud population combined in That
District that it matters not what may be the basis your
representation whether it be the suffrage, the white.
the Mixed the federal basis, it will present the same
results II this then i'll its confined sense,
|
considerations beyond the amount of Legislative inu-
ences which each district to acquire by the
dcncv of one principle the other we might well
assume the position of an armed neutrality and leave
.e contest wholly to those sections of the State more
dl-ectl- interested in its distribution.
But we cannot take this crcunscrihed view Of the
question before us. We part and parcel OF this
great and powerful Commonwealth. Our fate is indls.
olub; connected with her destiny Whatc' cr IT veal
woe may hei.!l her, will be shared by us. And while
more TO the west than TO the east we have deep aud
vital concern, that this disturbing element of aSlta-
ton III our State government shall be nn" aud forever
rightly and properly iduscd-that this fountain Of
bitter waters aii be dried up; that every contingency
WHICH ma: subject slave interests to more extended
cr,ler Giccs. nlaY be removed that Justice.
handed justice, be dealt every free white
nhabtant OF this State and that all the great elements
Ct moral and physical power which aboun'. in This Com,
nonwcait!l. may be dircctc; IL the single p;irpUSe Of
livaci'g her welfare prosperity and lory and lie
fritlcred away in sectional dist ss ariGositics zeal!
ousics and discVrls.
AMI Gun any gentleman upon ts floor. repeat it
can any gentleman upon this floor who knows the race
from which this western peopl" descended and that
naughty spirit Of equality which has always hecn char
act erstic of that for :unscnt believe that Iii
element Of agitation ever be quoted bl. ~ the fail
/ recognition ca the right of every freeman upon our
soil TO an equal participation in the privileges u gov
ern,nent Does he believe that there be any other
termination 70 this contest If he does he be
blind to the progress of events in this State for Tie last
seventy-ve years of our history. lie must be blind to
the influence of that spirit which is everywhere moving
upon this continent, graduating every remnant Of po
cal inequality between man and man. and moulding our
institutions to he standard OF the popular Will S!r
gentlemen may continue to Invoke harmony, bat was
harmony ever yet known dwell in the the same tab
ernacle with sense of wrong and oppression They
may depricatc agitation but agitation you Will have so
long as your people denied the common privileges OF
freemen You may to the pertu'b@d spirit that VIII
| haunt your peace,
"IAvaunt begone"
But it will not CO. until it has performed its sacred mis-
SION and restored the scepre to those hands from
w!lich-f the substitute of the gentleman from Eau
oucr Mr. ScorT shall succeed: will have been most
ioully aud unjustly wrenched
Sir this contest for equal participation in the GOV
crnnent of this State commenced very shortly after the
termination of our Of independence, and was the