Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-04-15

new -; and in other countries .Nc "ea.' '1'oI
III pas If civil pohty anu lno % ~
o. one - 81 ~: s,,sd, has usually Deem inc "orh oi
s-ord and of the hay'h.I anil Tho storm,
have for the ,t q. happily, with us, in this great
Of revolution ,o,, safe. We witness periodically
family 9" Of political structures. and the recon,
'he ~ social systems. win Is i,.S" "o'''.' '.t
IN, same sort OF matter OF course
WIZ Sin's Iot upon the repairing or rebuilding inc
ton thiI h;.b We dwell \ portion of our sister
edeeS Lrb the medium of their representatives are
sl"se' 20 assembled in convention, for tals purpose
,hers have but djourned, having eo;hpletea tnG''
roLns anl submitted the work OF their hahas I" tHe
tae choice OF those upon whom their seversl systems
are designedt TO operate l;..;,,rr;.b,, IN,
ID If mi. country from the peop OF all other couu-
po and all other times, may DO traced 70 its hcau
-; :, rho sentiments and opinions which animated
r sncestors when they first settled upon These
and may be followed down through AL their SUB
.s,urnt progress In that short form OF ASSOCIATION
drawn up and signed by the Pilgrims Oh o"ara 'ne NAY
A.w,r arc they had landed Oh the bleak coast OF NC"
r,,snd and in the proceedings and OF the
st. at jamestown may be found the germ OF those
,.nI.s which expanding with their growth, has
aohad maturity, in that blended system OF seperatt
toto sovereignty aud national union when mas attract
ed to these United States the love ana ase0n u oai
u.n noonle and the admiration OF all others.
r. r. Seuton and his followers may be assigned tht
h-h I;s,;ncton of having fixed tho planetary worlds
in revolving circles around one common cshIre' anu
having bound them there by the forces OF gra'l'Ho
and attraction 80 to anglo American ancestors NAY
be awarded the high praise OF having a.sn
cnfeierscy of states each one moving III ts own prop
ar orbit and vet all tremendously united together pv
written constitutions They brought here and planted
IN our soil never trust i'll God, 10 DO eraacteol 'ne
great principle of popular sovereignty lney Drousn.
with them the principles of equal law'i the greatest
good the greatest number-tho pTl:s VI p;li
suffrage, and that great 1unaaniieh'"i r.
of the majority to rule .
In obedience to these great prncpea We are mere 10
dsy majority of the nosaoeIs OF the DpnE P"i't III
mi, commonwealth have decided to assemble III cohVen
ton bv their delegate sothed with power I" ACT 10"
them for the purpose OF atIens '"'tt r. ~
government or to devise new one thcre had been
nj the whole voting population ct Virginia but MAJOR
~ ~ one man. in favor of holding ths Convention, 1t
would have been held II on the contrary, thoTe oppo-
seI to Convention had proponderated "y single vote
sya- those in ts favor We would not nave been mere
So TOO when shall have hnsESu our a'rs ana sall
have propouned to the people OF this commonwealth the
which We their representatives may agree
non snd they shall be called pass upon our work II
majority OF Que only shall be found 81 the "tre voting
popus;on of the state against It's adopt!ol 1t Will De
raac.1 a. eectuallv if the voice Of thousands had
ef.tad il We shall then continue under our present.
form of government until expression or the pop
ular will shall again seck the change of II. But, sir
upon the other hand If the people OF this commonw eat
by single vote shall ratify and affirm the
We NAV offer to their consideration 1t will have for IT.
,c tbe destruction-the doing away Of that govern
MAN, under which we have lived for the last twenty
and more and the substitution in its stead of
~ one for them and their posterity afterwards, until
changed again - IT,. ;. ,r,,.
OF the popular will-such the power oil the popular
roonr;1r The present government cannot be abrosa
a M new one can be introduced IN Its stead without
- .,ant Of the majority 1t create, aud 1t can de-
stroy. ,, = :; a.,
vary first difficulty that obsfucts our pata-the very
first question we are called upon here TO aiscuss Is
,rhs,bar We shall construct such government as Will
,h tb;s msoritv bv whose voice the government It
ell ia ~ b. breathed into life rcjscted 10 speak it,
own will and its own law, whether We shall so torn
and construct it TO carry off tho power OF that ma
nrity and concentrate it in the hands OF minority OF
tie people of this commonwealth. Is II not strange
,bs- sucb question should be presented at this time
ard in this countrv-that We should be thus attempt
~, - t.Le step ba:kward-that We should thus hnd
involved in the old struggle whether tn" few
!. OH Govern the many. or the many shall govern the
fcv Yet such is the fact Property CLAIMS to govern
n,p WEALTH seeks dou.iaiou over numbers.
We are hero ito consider discuss and propose con
+nt;on 70 be submitted to the people, and to be by
jam annroyad or rejected. as they shall uk proper
W. have no power to make constitution, we can oE
rnpose one It would be reasonable to suppose that
e this state of things great effort should DC TO as
certain, as far practicable what VIII 0" ost aceepa
lie 10 those whose organs We are ana to whose hna &C
;, .re must submit whatever proposition We shall
80, an here But gentlemen refuse to address them
-. =, tha work of ascertainng the popular will Or
a contrary they have addressed themselves to the Ia
Ir Of experimenting the popular pulse-"i ascer'
tanning how far the patience anu eeHness u tne
may be imposed upon-to ascertain how large share
of olt;cai power the people are willing to part with
nov an,alf modcun they will be content to retain
how far thew are willing to restrain their own rishts
ami diminish their OWL authority BY creating govern
mental majority out of minority of their own oody
.nd handing over the reins OF power TO IT.
sSTbs DISTINGUISHED gentleman from Fsuquier. (Mr.
So having satisfied himself that in representative
r.nubic majority in interest that Is to SAY majority
male mn of persons and property continued should have
tho to govern although ms scnehie concentrate
& nower in minority of the people and enables then
Maid il forever has told U.s. III language quite bold ant
;;icant that he and his associates iuteud To forc
H. ronos;tiou upon the people OF this commouw eath
and tGat be believes they will acceptlt.
The gentleman from Loudoun, Dir. JASsEf taxing u
and reechoing the came sentiment says inaI ny Sn'u
If ,bs legislative enactment under which we are cot
yrl we are required to propose to the people OF TIL
constituton-not t''o constitutions an
,h,, !; IA his bounden duty, eonsclentlous man,
ronose NOT such constitution as ne may oeeFe in
ori.y OF the people might prefer but that
whrh shall best secure tue
r,.n. az member of this Convention This IS the du
he was sent here to discharge His hands arc tci-h
has no mower TO submit to the people any alterha'
onoston whatsoever To this point shall refer agali
in subseouen, part of my remsrks But the gentle
rlsr from toudoun Mr JASSEY) says that the sueSt,S
a. issue between us sonly question OF cscretloa ana
expedieacv understood him az coinc!cns Win In
gentleman from Albcmarle (Mr. SoUTHAL, IN the oTi
lon ,bat in ,bs controversy we have but little I" do Wit
the PRINCIPLES announced in the bill of rlghts-that WI
whatvvo. feelings Of vcncrationL we have heretni"
looked to that great State paper or with Whatever i''
we NAV cli. to it now, 1t Is TO nave no iHuehc
upon this Question
ArJASNEY. Will my friend allow me t" set bin
rgni upon ih;a hect
NJ, SUMMERS. Ii my friend from Loudoun ha'
waited tu, moment, 1 sure he would nave ioun'
tia, mad doue him no injustice will however ylel'
nm the floor With pleasure, for the purpose OF eSplan
Ar: JASSEY only wished to correct my irien(
from kanawha If no was under the impression that
had said had nothing to do with the bill OF nights III
vas mistaken said cmphatically that there was on
lo;ol Of that bill of rights, which alluded TO- an'
Eai'h should take az test to try every question:
tae formation Of government, thst would come before
thi, body
Mr. SUMMERS. understood the gentleman perfect
~ if he had permitted me to proceed he would nave
found entiry unnecessary to have made his eSpiana