Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-05-09

Mr. FUi.II. Mr.. Chairman, have mol the ;an;ti
10 suppose that any thing can say. az this late Eour Q
this discussion, will induce members Of this coni!c'
10 change their Cpinicns relation to the great d ia
poraut question now under consideration. PERHAPS IN
result would rot have been materially different. "d La
;o:c been taken on this question without discussion. h
Gentlemen on the other side, have thrown down The
gauntlet and have challenged 10 tie combat and having
undertaken to convince Others /: Is out TAR to presume
that as liberal and generous aGycr:a:cs-as we know
them To he-thcy open 10 conviction themselves.
am therefore ourase, 10 deliver briefly M views OH
this y.llv interesting question: and IN doing so, Go ioi
intend TO 20 the ground winch has been already o.:
cupied b. other gentlemen, but will content myself with
presenting few additional views OF my own, :n'
CARVING out some ;yhat more in detail! OF the ar!
mems advanced by others shall also attempt to
7wcr snr.c of the arguments urged By gentlemen on the
other side.
have been pleased with the frankncss and good feel
ing which has characterized this discussion 1t Is right
and proper that should deal candidr with each DINER
and thereby correctly understand the positions occupied
nv gentlemen on this floor Ii Is necessary that VIC
should talk plainly to each other and that what may be
aid should be received in goud temper in order that il
may he properly appreciated and duly considered
am more than grafcd to find that as this discussion
has progressed the difference between the gentlemen or
the other side and those with whom it is my pleasure to
act upon This floor has " grown beautifully less There
is now according my humble conception nothing be-
tween The Two contcndllg parties here that Ought tc
~.
he sacrificed upon The alter of PATRIOTISM There i
nothing of difference which may not be surrendered
w thou dishonor. or yielded up without sacrifice CT u
;crcst or violation Of principle. This Is The light IN
hcI have .cn compelled to view the great strd!!
that is now going upon tbs iotr ana II snail !
-brte in he smallest degree to convince the minds o!
hers of The correctness Of this view, my object Val
h !, e been complish,d.
Mr.. Chairman will not follow the example of other
gentlemen and 90 back to inquire INTO Inc c!rc'S''-
ccs under which the act was passed by The teIsa'tlrt
thi; hody will not stop to inquire whether
,h. oct os liberal and .ise or whether the legislature
in the cxc-c Of its Legitimate powers, had right I"
BASS law providing for the organization oi CONVEX
ion to amend the organic laws upon basis dlnrls
from that upon which they derived their powers These
arc certainly very interesting questions IN INC abstract
mi taken in connection as they arise here, IN whatever
way they NAV be decided, il 10 me they can have
hut little bearing or the great question under conscra-
ton It cannot, however, be contcndcd 10" moment
that the legislature in fixing the basis upon which TINS
holy has been convened, dealt o crcn handed justice
10 The people of all parts Of this old commonwealth
do not hesitate to say at if eastern gentlemen could III
vest themselves Of their notions upon li>
subject they would be constrained 10 admit that equality
and Justice has not been done the western people IA The
organization orthls body. :,
I'm, w.. haze been convened 10 amend the organic laws
nd s preliminary to the discharge OF duties 1t viii
h well to understand what is our true position, and who
10 ce represent: What our duties, and how ought
thcs. duties to be discharged:
Tie existing constitution concrs no power upon the
legislature TO pass the act by which we have assembled
hnrn II was nullitY until ratified BY the people; and
when ratified by the people, it derived its validity, not
from the constitution, but directly from the people,
m the exercise Of that sovereignty which they had re-
served to themselves in the formation OF their govern
mcn This act, until adopted by the people, was no
cr. binding upon them than the act OF unauthorized
,nent would bind his alleged principal. as the rat
cation OF the principle directly imparts the force IN The
onc case so the adoption OF the act by the people con
Ters tic validity in the other We are here, therefore
no, under the provisions OF the constitution, but ny al
authority paramount TO Is We have been called int
ri tenc, by that supreme power which the people neye
h,ye artcd with; and when here convened, we have h
,,nc rowcrs ard occupy the position IN every re
suecf as FIVE were the first body assembled in this a.
10 frame organic law. Tie gentleman from I-o'lin'
lgr JAHSEY) says that this body may be dispersed II
moment by the proclamation of the governor canso
c,rcur with him The governor cannot properly cXeE
else any other authority than tina! conferred on NJ:
IS tho constitution and LAYS made III pursuance ticrcoi
Ii is clear that the act in question has na been made
accordance with any provision IN the constitution, 'n
derive lis force and validity, rs have shoSh from ~
sane power which created the constitution; u - 10
therefore, ono d those ordinary laws tho execution
which dcvovcs the executive head. but II u.
wron ii this the gentleman must s!!l DC III error ~
made tic duty OF the executive 10 see thai me a"s III
enforced and il this all ordinary act OIL ieslsa,'o
a,l certainly would nc; he acting within me scope 81 III
duty by GetAng the purposes o. The ac'' ~ i:s''s
proclamation to dispcrsc this Convention. ;,
It has been urged by gentlemen Oh the o;er sue III;
The pcopIc OF this commonwealth. by voting Tor MS col
vcHioa ratified and approved OF Inc Inequality Of repre-
senta,on which exists in this body IN u'iS liey al
wholly mistaken. II is fact we'll known 10 al. u
western aad many OF the eastern members upon .s nco
that out of the very large vote cast IN me west III i.s
OF this conventions but very few, any, approved OF I.
Basis upon which this body has been organized. ~
great inequality in representation $ the most prom
ncnt evil sought TO be remedied BY ting western poop!
md in coming into convention seeking remedy again.
this gross injustice, it is said that they have ieFeny
proTcd Of that inequality which forms the burden OF INC
complaints. d., r, r =
While we freely accord 10 the gentleman ron, 10
dom OR JASxEY) the right to speak Tor hnlsei, =;
10 show how he was returned to this bodE' from ~
Basis county, hope he will extend TO western nleloe
the rvilcge of speaking for themselves ana hel co
s.ituents. can tell the gentleman that there IS pu'
t opinion on this subject among the western Peop'e
hen thew voted for this Convention, they ola not area
. that they were sanconing an evil OF Which theS M
r complain. an.
,ho. if this we're business between private indymua
no vould be disposed act not only just but llbcra
;, and generously towards his western brothers, out IN