Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-07-01

gentleman from Accomac, (Mr WISE and was asreeo
MIR. BocoCK. If it is now proper to submit my
proposition will offer it, and AJAX that 1t e printed
1t was ordered. .
Tie Convention then adjourned till O'Clock on Nlon
day morning
Spcechof Mr.. LYONS, in the Virginia ConAeu-
ton, in Committee Of the Whole, OH the Basis
! Of Representation, on Tuesday, the ia April,
| 1851.
Mr.. LYONS said
| Mr. Chairman great rs is the magnitude OF the SUD
ect under consideration before this body, deep As
is the interest which feel in with every other
member Of the Convention, it not ny purpose I"
have obtruded myself upon the attention oil me COLI
mittee by participating i'll the discussion because
was perfectly aware that every thing that deep re,
search, that learning far beyond any that could
boast Of, and bllity yet more SURPRISING amy tna'
! could hope TO bring to bear upon this ques'ioh-
all had been brought bear upon t-every TACT eH-
hauSted-every argument thoroughly scanned anu cru
cscd, and nothing left to be doue by me- even II hau
been endowed with all the high properties which nave
characterized and distinguished those who have Iaftcl
pated iu this debate. The shape. however which
has to-day been given the issue and heappeal whc'
has been made to that constituency OF when AN III
part the humble representative have mado IT, III my
humble Judgment NV duty to ask the indulgence an't
orbeartce Of the committee while endsav"r 10 lsssi,
the reasons which regulate my OWL judgment ana
opinion in concurrng with the great body OF The eastern
delegation upon this floor, aud which satisfied my mhd'
however they may operate upon the minds OF ON
ers and led me to believe that the proposition which
has been submitted compromise ut the time
and under the circumstances under which !! mas neen
offered independently of it's own qualities - one which
not only ought not to receive the sanction OF this COM
nlittcc but which in humble aud deliberate Jud5'
meul will not only surrender every right OF the east
not only abandon the principle contende for by her
del eraior and entail upon this commonwealth now real
IL happy, however there may he appearances 81 iscon
tent within her. the mos unfortunate md HlacheFo'l-
government existing i'll modern times. On the one hali
our friends from the west present that wes called the
white Disis the suffrage basis and demand It's adoption
by this committee and by the Convention 10 whom the
delberatiuu and action of this committee Fa he repor-
tee, and on the other, the through is delegates,
denies that clain and SAYS that numbers and numbers
merely not by the opposing proposition IA man
tanned they are the only and exclusive element OF repre-
scuraiou but that was Trained and deaisn
ed and instituted for the protection of property at least
as much us persons, for the protection OF that without
which there Gun be security i'll any government, no
comfort Tor ay person without which freedom itself Is
but uane-tha it Is right that this government which
designed to take OF these interests pi proper
w rs well US persons should in Misrepresentation have duo
regard TO both. We of the east maintain that numbers
and numbers merely constitute but ut the elements
of society though most important element II Id true
but not that element for the preservation OF which, eI
cusvely findeed mainly the institution of government
was ordained before the existence OF government
there was property, there life and there was liberty
| but property was insecure and life to DO pro
teced by force and by force alone and liberty law
less and therefore centous In order to secure thes
things without the daily resort or hazard OF resort t
force in order to make property secure by general reg
ulutios Of law proclaimed by common CONSENT ard ell
forced bv urbtcrs selected bv the general voice; t
suppress the indulgence of vicious passions. and curb Ii
cenou- liberty government was Instituted and ordained
And this being the great object and end Of government
III humble, perhaps imperfect judgment. We have
supposed that it is proper the organization of tina
government, regard should bc had to this great ele
lnent which is to accomplish the great end Of the isti
tuition Our friends who maintain the tmsis of number
SAY that they claim jurs drino, natural right Of on
man 10 govern another and to control the property
that other, when brought into state Of society ant
made the fundamental basis of it, They say tina
in the particular before us-t0 wit: our owl
governlnent-this maxim has been canonized by thu
bill of rights, and they appeal to it as furnishing
broad aud clear declaration Of which the,
rcst-wch they proclaim to be the only true republican
principle. Well il would TO my uusophisticateo
intellect, upon the very outside and first blush of thu
question: that there Is inconsistency in this position
utterly indefelsble by argument at least anywhere
a natural right of one man TO govern another If i
he co. it right which exists by the very import of the
terms from nature of nature before the insti
tuition uf government And is there any gentleman no
on this -four who will affirm, either upon his Owl refec
ton and observation, the teaching Of any man who
has gone before him. deemed worthy teach at ALL thai
such proposition that il true was true ant
is not utterly unfuuuded A natural right of one
man TO govern another Why let me imupiue nv
self for tho present be in state Of nature and t.
have associated with me half dozen companions who
may be equal in personal strength to any other seven
where would the right be found right in the othe
seven to bid DO this that to 90 r STAY to do OF
not to do And if please to say when thu,
our masters bade us do I'VE will not where is the
right what is the evidence Of it, by which they would
command or enforce command: Must they not bring
il of necessity to question of brute force l. there
any other umpire in state Of nature but that which
the Almighty has implanted in the arms and tbews OF
every man I And BY what right shall any man com
maid bv what right shall he undertake to enforce
command which who have as much right as he am by
nature "a free he and by the endowment of God a
powerful us he shall please to and put at defiance
How then it be true, when this is the relation that
each man occupies To another III state of nature whel
he in that condition in which alone anywhere matt
raj rights exist that when You have brought him into
state IF sociey-uo longer state of nature but con
venopal organization for the purpose of correcting the
defects Of that state Of natureha there is in sociot,
natural right to govern, which natural right did not
exist when lie was 10 state of nature Sir, it is
solecism, contradiction IN terms may not be able t
understand these terms. 1t may be perlups defect
! my own understanding. | have not such one as ms
friend who sits my left Mr. FAuLks En with power
to gild he has done, the pages upon which Re lai
cast the light and influence Of his mind Would to God
| had But while all who feel MI interest In hm-as
do-regard that speech high monument to his iute
gence his information and his patriotism yet confess
that am unable, by anything in it. to comprehend how
it is that have not natural right whilst am in a
state Of nature, and directly come into state Of So
ciety, when ain no longer in a state Of nature have
natural right. But there natural right in any
set Of to control the property Of another
was taught whlel was an attendant upon Collegiate lee
lures while endeavoring to obtain some little in
formation to tit for after life from those who were
qualified toimpart it to and at least of them