Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-06-13

ne an rrhich he presented to the Convention for
,r,anTing tha government of the United States. ]
shall not trouble the COMMITTEES by reading his plan but
barely refer TO some Of lis prominent features. ne
nronosed Senate for life, or good behavior, to have
The sole power of declaring war; President for life
th President to appoint the Governors Of the States
rhe Governors of the States to have veto upon the
low of the States-the President to have an absolute
rectian Of war when authorized or begun Iput it to
aer,Iemen even if Mr.. Hamilton had proposed repre-
,otion according to the mixed basis as advocated by
hem now whether it would be regarded as much au-
thorY in this body or to much consideration at this
lightened daya
question in connection with the formation of the
titution of the United States. If the committee will
hear with me for moment, think shall be enabled
to satisfy every mind that Mr. Madison at that time
was Of the opinion that the free white population
the suffrage basis the true one to be adopted for the
government Of the States.
Mr. Patterson said, Has man In Virginia a number
Of votes in proportion TO the number Of his sayes And
Il negroes not represented in the States to which
they belong, why should they be- represented in thu
general government What ], the true principle o.
representation 1t is an expedien BY which an Assem-.
by of certain individuals, chosen BY the people, sub
,uted In place Of the nconvenient meeting of thu
people themselYes If such a meeting of the people
actually to take place. would the slaves vote' They
would not Why then should they be represented
Of representation which in its principle the genuine
one must forever silence the pretensons of the small
States equality of votes with the largo ones They
ought TO vote in the same proportion in which the
citizens would do, If the people of all the States
collectively met" The committee will recollect tina
the formation Of the constitution of the United States
the most difficult question that Of the suffrage
the States in the Congress The small States claimed
that among soyereigns there should be equality of suf
|fage the large States contended the States parted
| - Ill
lid not apply. We all know that the rexed question
vas compromised by giving to the States equal surag,
in the Senate aid representation in the House of Rep
resentaves, upon federal numbers. We see that willis
Mr. Madison was compelled to admit that MIR. Patter
s5ns doctrine Of representation was correct he seizet
upon the remarks Of Mr. Patterson to refue the pre-
tensions of the small States in claiming equal represen
tation in both branches of the national legislature.
Now what arc we to understand from the remarks OIL
Mr.. Madison' Could he have been more direct anG
spoken upon the question Of representation He
saws that the views of Mr. Patterson are correct anG
hat the States ought to vote in the same proportion
their citizens would vote if the people of the State.
were collectively met. And yet notwithstanding this
Ar Madison is used a. authority, BY gentlemen upon
the other side, to sustain the mixed basis principle
But, sir, have not done with Mr. Madison upon this
subject. will show this committee that he repeated
The same remarks some time afterwards He SAYS still
speaking upon the question Of representation, at had
been very properly observed by Mr. Patterson that rep
the people themselves was rendered unnecessary and
that the representatives ought therefore TO bear pro-
portion to the votes which their constituents il con
yened, would respectively have"
Here we have a second declaration upon the subject
Mr. Madison admitting and conceding that this great
principle for which contend s the true principle
The gentlemen from Richmond, (Mr. LYONS and Mr.
SrANARp endeayored to sustain their positions By re
ierring to what said the convention to form the
constitution of the United States. The last gentleman
will read extract from MIR. Shermans views upon
this subject was asonished at the reference the gen
.leman made-(2d Madison papers)-s'Mr. Sherman
proposed that the proposition of suffrage In the frs
branch should he according TO the respective numbers
Of free inhabitants and that in the second branch eacf
State should have one vote and no more.'
assume the position before this committee that the
provisions Of the constitution of the United States have
just bearing upon the proposition under consid
GRAFTON. II was compromise and adjustment by SOW
cessions upon the other maintain from the course
argument in that bodythat enlightened body at that pa
ro;c period Of political exstencetha the great er
OF that day advocated the principles, which we here ad
sceate in this year 1851 Take all the debates in thai
,o!y-take the history Of the Commonwealth Of Vir
sina upon the subject of representation and the arg,
Gsnt is overwhelmn in favor OF the position VIC oc
cupy upon this floor. This is the first time that it be
comes necessary for this governmental MAJORITY, Il
assume the bold ground it assumes OF retaining tn,
power in the hands of the minority. In former coz
tests, the question: could be waived, and The power re
tanned. The question is to be directly met whether
this great principle is to be prestrated or the power
thin governmental majority held by the eastern portion
Of this Commonwealth, is to be surrendered up Tha
is the question to determine, and that is the
question TO which the attention Of the Commonwealth
i now called, not only this Commonwealth, but of al
who love equality 1t involves great principle
principle that should never be yielded for it is liberty
:t.elf was astonished when l referred to the fac
t;,a
think, BY Congress in 1888, retained tho suffrage basis
and adopted federal numbers the rule Of contribution
and that every member from Virginia voted for it. In
reply the argument that has been urged oyer and owe,
again attempted to be drawn from the provisions Of the
constitution of the United States In reference represen
tation aud show how wholly different that constitution
its nature and object from the constitution intended
for the government of single State ask the indulgence
ofhe committee while read some remarks made by Mr.
Madison in the Convention of this State that ratified
me leave say something Of the nature Of the govern
ment and to show that it is safe and just to vest with
the power Of taxation. There 3 number of opin
ions but the principal question is, whether be fed
aral or consolidated government in order 10 Judge
properly of the question before US, must consider
infinitely in its principe parts. conceive myself that
il is Of mixed nature il is in manner unprecedented
we cannot find one express example in the experience
Of the world. II stands by itself. In some respects
il government of federal nature in others it il o.
ner in which the constitution is investigated ratified
made the act of the people Of America, can say, not
wthstanding what the honorable gentleman has alleged
that this government is not completely consolidated
nor is it entirely federal Who are parties to it' The
people-but not the people composing one grea
oody, but the people as composing thirteen sovereign
ties: were it as the gentleman asserts consolidated
government, the assent of majority of the people
would be sufficient for its establishment, and as ma
orty have adopted it already, the remaining State.
would be bound BY the act Of the majority even if the,
unanimously reprobated il -ere it such government
as it is suggested it would be now binding on the PEG
pie of this State, without having had the privilege
celebrating upon it; butt Biz, State is bound BY it
il is without its own consent. Should all the States
adopt it, it will be then government established b,
the thirteen States of America not through the inter
venton Of the legislature, but by the people at large
In this particular respect the distinction between the
existing and proposed governments is very material
The existing system has been derived from the depend
dervatye authority of the legislatures of the States
whereas this is derived from the superior power Of tn.
people. If look at the manner in which alteration.
to be made in it. the idea is in some degree at
tended to. by the new system majority of the State.
cannot introduce amendments are all the States re
luired for that purpose three-fourths of them mus
concur in alterations: in this there is departure from
the federal idea. The members of the national Hous.
If Representatives to be chosen by the people al
large, in proportion to the numbers in the respective