Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-07-15

upon a!i quesohs except THIS ohe but upon this oet
ton they had nothing to compromise but ,her civ,
liberties freemen, and in that they desired nil ,L
rights Can any free people unite lhamsalr
with any other people in society but upon free ami eo
terms-upon terms Of equality 10 intellectual ,,i
moral capaeityf can never willingly do II my cn,
sttuents ought not and will not do it. Sir my j;,r,
lies between the noble States OF Kentucky and Trn
worthy examples for any republican people Thu so
timents constactly illuminating dark corne, ii
the old Dominion. 1t IS in these States that ,h, ,l,
cratic republican motto equality all fuur.b.s -
its gigantic strength and perfect beauty the rect ~
which is to encourage honesty, industry and virtuor
enterprise, BY which any community NAV live and rr,
per- and without which, democracy Itself is hut nam,
| saw therefore that upon this basis dGrsIio. nm .
stickler for my future lights, ami Tor compro,;
give own, or nothing We do not desire +, ,,n
stitute colony for the State oil Virginia auy lam.
Eastern gentlemen do not exactly understand Ii. - 80
Of this principle we suffered under il lon. .nyv.,
We were in minority, and II was l'.d cu"usu ,i..,
but now when i'll the ma ority. (Di numi,.,.
mean it is quite insoerabr. 4" v here do You live
am frequently asked by the stranger: in south ve,,,
/ Firglnu sir. Well friend, the stranger will ,
tell the why western Nrginau, AZ" the cen,
sured of all the earth Why is it ,ha, uihrr pcp,
will unite with them IN civil government et,ua,s
Are they not regarded, Al home ia"in; c,,)nou u,,-
standing and rplnuon honesty. and common Patriotism
Why are they required 10 Remain mere +,u:iv ~ ~
gina 30 longs Ms answer IL. that it La, been tie
fault sir they have been fully appraised oil their co,
ton, and have made all proper opposition to il. B lie,
me ask eastern friends II il will he our fault ii
We submit to this Inequality any longer: II this mixed
basis is u. ICED upon the west, have doubt tia,
will DE Resisted by them any other tyranny wo,d ,
Mr. Chairman having noticed some OF the strange b..
sions assumed the east, anG relied upon By tea.
horZing Them control the wLulc State nj iler sill!
and pleasure that there is such Il marked issiIn,y
between eastern and western people. and such Il p,c
iarity Of property in thr east that participant.
in the government except themselves that the old y
errlncni as not been Yet tried and condemned ;l,a:
liz. ninuri;r of numbers ought control and lawn,
showed the absolute necessity for tn. exercise "tr r;
fundamental principles OF virtue and equality in every
republican government propose now TO say s"ue,ni.
OF my constituents.
Sir. can say great truth that hey reiorms.
in the fullest seuse Of the word. The, radical r.
formers They desire to reform the { vcrnmeut II,
The base and the -uperstructurc also. i;,y are IN
favor OF extending the light of suffrage 10 al such
rs are properly qualified to exercise it. Si.iA
2ans ought to have and take some Interest in Tie
government; the nve tmcnt OF that power ought &C.:
tamil. to be somewhat guarded. They are also !
ar of the white basis. the suffrage Or the white mu
or the whites above twenty years DID, something
else t;ntamoun the white basis They are for bring
ing all elections before the people that worth their
notice No office OF appointment III the State be
TOO high important Ia be filled by the election Of tie
people and none be low small enough Ia be fc
by the Legis aure-all officers and appointments for
certain limited term no too lons-with all other restric
tons and responsibilities that the people ought To have
upon their officers and servants They are for biennial
sessions of the Legislature, limited to reasonable pc"
Rod for the business of the State, when all the election
are taken from that body. They IRE for taxation
ruiorem, upon all property OF value whether real per-
snnal mixed No injustice can arise By possibility
from th, mo !e of taxation fairly carried mt They
favor Of all such guarantees necessary to tho
security of every right in the State OF any kind what
ever but opposed to any restrictions upon the Lsgis
ture that will tend 10 hinder the present onward
progress of internal improvements IN the State. And
perhaps might say, that there ARE other ref NJ
cessarv. hl these such n now occur To me.
But, Mr.. Chairman. apprehcnd no serious sectional
l;tcuty her" upon any OF thes" Questions except the
basis Of representation and these restrictions Epon ;n
l. legislature As 10 the question of basis about which
this Cu::c.,t;on h, been almost constantly engaged .
about ten weeks II ,ve before remarked Ii. "ouSlit-
.ents are for the white basis And il authorities &c
wanting 10 sustain this basis, is not the Bill Of rit-
itself sufficient Let examine III" frs: for aoe
TONS
al That I'll men ARE b. r re- equally free :,l iu,;r
pendent aEl have certain inherent rights, ii which.
when they enter into state %. society. they cin,; iy
anv compact, deprive dives; ..cir po-:"rir : ua:.,
;ar enjoyment OIL and liberty. viii. the -.
1Erus and possessing property, Aid Pursuing AMI
tairing happiness and safely.
% That al; power is vested in. anu co:l.rq2 :, o
rived from the pcop" that magistrates ihr5 TIA
and servants and al ali times arcimbc to ;ilra
~. That government Is or ought 10 he, in>i,.ui,d o~
tho ro'nu"n bel.cti, protection and srcur, tie ,.
pl, nation community: Of all the no..> a.i
forms Of government tia, is best which is ca,c.5, o.:
producing Tic greatest degree OF happiness .:y,,
and il most i,c;ually scared against III" Il! H-,:,
ard that When any government
shall b. oind auequate contrary to these tUrt".e-.
ma orty of the conlrhity hath ndl.ia.ar mus.
licuabe, and uie.aslbc right !" reform. alter ;bt.
i-h IT, in ~, shall H. judged c1ri,c:Y.
to the public veal.
IL That no man, o. set 81 .-c as- ..cd to excIu-
Il
munity bn; IN consideration of public services, WHICH
being dcscendibc, neither ought tn. offices ui MAJ
trait" Legislator, or Judge, to b. hereditary.
Ihi-. as admitted by a is the grea; platform uroa
which must rest for safety; its light. will conduit
IL safely to equality an virtuous results |; Is nnti
more nor less than the common sense pracp. Of ;I,
social rights OF man-thc aHos: Ia the letter that
is adppted III almost all Tie Sites Of This America,
Uuion--ald let it also BE- remembcrcd that uIpnn i
many O: the States have adopt the white basis .l,i,
IS nothing peculiar Virginia IN our lii .: rights tina;
Is peculiar 10 other States also. rjrt rtrsr :ni
i this bill Of rights the -nlc in -ub-t:lc" every whrr
i authority for the white basis elsewhere nus
ty for the same basis in Virginia. And yet ir.-
u"nty has it been said here since this debate cop.r-
sed By eastern gentlemen, th"t this white Lr ~,
scheme of modern origin! And reference has bee,
c, made the opinions Of dist ing slcd statesmen m
orators 81 the c.scrn countries. and TO OF or
a ingulshci citizens to sustain III. mixed basis l.;
swcr To Ill which, lei gentlemen rcncbc, that Inc
Of authorities. Europeans are against t. .Yo.i,.
basis. notwithstanding the prepo4derarng il!c:tr, II
arisocracy that almost always operated upon a! iW'
penn productions upon this subject. And let lncnl re-
member that tie greater part Of their American au
Il critics upon this subject only apply the r,era
ro,-.ituton, and not to any other. Mi. Ch;:;.f lr
me tell gentlemen, that ! would not go 4 E.s...
nond Tor my model of government. No sir; / wv.,i
go west the Blue Ridge, into the great v! .i--pr
vull":. There. sir more modern and better -ar ,.,'
may b" found of truly republican form Of soyernrra
Sir civil governments commenced in tnr and has
been rolling west r several centuries, yetns Er'.l
and better the further they have gone in hat direction
anti in their improved condition they hav" CON.
,nenc"d rolling back again from the far they
already in ther return passed. over n"rs'.ny. and ~.
for admitting them in their new form into IN" Old D.
mnon also. Yes, -r, give pract:ral rsrgr'~,r
form of government for experiment sake pur" w';.
basis. Let if what almost every body
= that Virginia cannot be wor-ted. what will
Yes, sir, We have tried old things until old thing
worn out and become not only worthless but oIious
We at least half century behind the age: all IT,
time regulating the federal government and tn: stIr,
bat doing very little for Virginia. And w".t"r.
men, have been kc,A!y r-bukci here for abusing -
gina and her institutions. the justice Of which M
strongly inclined to admit FOR really Virginia has .ns
beneath abuse, down into more appropriate r"."n
he of thp -nct nn-.