Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-03-14

gentleman from Fauquier advocated TIE amendment up
The opposite ground that The white basis lie con-
tended would check this system Of interna! improve
ments, and thereby check the necessity for taxation
and it was because il would have this effect that he
preferred the mixed basis OF representation desire
10 call The attention Of the committee to this additional
difference between the advocates o that proposition
The substitute As we'll the principle contained iii the
mixed basis part of the committees report is advocated
here by gentlemen who denounce The primo, con-
tanned in the bill OF rights string Of distractions
Il Is also advocated nv een''-r''s wo profess 10 a
here TO these ,;rc;,' ,nd who Geek to reconcile he
principle of the mixed basis wit. tic principles con-
tanned in that .,crsd instrument. Now, what is the
natural inference To he drawn fom these opposite opn
ions, assigned reasons BY gentlemen ne support Inc
same proposition: That it is the intention OF eastern
gentlemen Il, I'D on to the power which they now
have in the language OF the gentleman from Greeas
vile, (Mr CHAMgIssI al all hazards, anu 70 lhe as'
extremity-aye at the sacrlfce oil every Prmcipe
which has heretofore heen held sacrcdby republican
| people | alluded TO the argument al the gentlema
from Fauquier and particularly TO that part OF where
he commended that the phrase majority oil the comml-
nity. used in the bill oil rights, meant govern,
mental ~.aiority ] cndeavored to show, and think
did show beyond all cavil or doubt, that II meant NJ
such thing but meant nothing NOR nor ess than The
majority of he people; because the idea oi govern
mental ma ori,y pre-sun2oses prior eAs''s govern
meu; and rha, the rights Of that orty derived
| from the government through some conventional oi
constitutional regulation. which cannot h. The meaning
OF the phrase Is used in The bill of rights. because, as
was correctly stated ny my lrehn from CuipclPc'
Mr. B.RBouR) ON Yesterday, the dill g. rights speaks
As nror 10 all government, behind all government. AMI
| is thing but declaration oil those rights Whrh be-
long 10 man iii his unorsanzed state and ot winch ne
cannot be deprived, in the language Of tha instrument
when he enters into state OF society, nor can he G"-
pr,e OF diysst his uosery Of them, because the prac-
teal operation Of the doctrine that the phrase meant 4
governmental majority would defeat the very ri-n'
sought To lie secured and recognise the right Ia The
governmental majority. although composed al small
,,in al no a.
sire to assign another reason and ca the attention ~
the committee to the language OF the bill OF r5''S and
| 10 the words Immediately succeeding the phrase 10
which have alluded. 1t is TO be found III The thii',
section and .fcr providing that when any government
shall be found inadequate contrary I" Is purposes
";ac majority al the community hath the naiien9be'
iaauhi,ahe ard inde;easr right - rcioinn, alter "r
abolish it, provides that this right shall hc exercised n
such manner a. shall he ndgcd most conducive / The
public veal. Nov wish to know, II &Ay 9TH IA
! orly than that Of majority 81 tbs people IS aiu"'"
20 in ihs phrase. what that majority: surely San
no. be property, for j, has Judgment 10 exercise
Property has not the faculty Of The ser! ls''-
guagc of the instrument itself carries w';h TN con
yiction that tie exercise of t." Judgment was III ''
cciemp!at. Of The trainers OF tia; h1l 81 rights a'
that that Judgment should be exercised IN order or Thai
majority 10 determine whether ,hey would reform, alter
| OF abolish their government But W., not content
with this called the attention Of The c,nmit'"' 10
the laacuarr contained in the declaration al ndrprla-
cncc. adopted by the tnrtccl original colonies hil
TWENTY-FIVE DAYS after the bill Of rights Of Virginia
adopted written BY Of tue most distinguished states
men Virginia productivity one who it i, PEE
s;imcd. understood the meaning Of the bin Of rights
adopted by his State We'll gentlemen Of the
present day. But further referred, cotcmpora-
neos exposition Of this phrase, 10 every declaration Of
rights made by the States If this Union. and We nd
that community" ard people are 'i>cd as precisely
SYNONYMOUS terms Then referred tins iac; that o
all the State OF this Union but solitary State had
cngra.ird upo its organic Law tie principle sought 10
be engraei upon b. the substitute offered b. the
gentlemen from Fauquie". And contrasted The pro,l
sion in this respect with that in the constitution oi
South Carolina and again call :ta attention of the
committee the propriey and abso.ct-' necessity. il
they viii carry out this principle o basns representa-
ion upon persons and property ut also requiring, Ii or
der 10 afford that security which they demand at our
hands, that The exercise OF governmental po.r IL The
legislative department Of the govern r:cnt snail only be-
coutdcd to those who possess t"r proportion o ihis
property which it is said is to he projected, ami not
ony protected bit for which gentlemen claim in addi-
ton representation in the legislative department. But
il i argued by my friend from Caeppcr. tha: IA the
constitute. and the hill of rights opted ia 7i6
botn Tic workmanship ci George Mason. and that
constitution did not appor,ion aescnta. ion through
ort the Commonwealth upon the white population of
each given district, and give 10 the same 4.
voters the representation iii the Ice sa,yc Dr.
partment that therefore the meaning commended Tor
here BY the friends OF the suffrage basis cannot be
rect Now. no kn0ws better than my friend from
Cupcprcr that that constitution was franco under cir
cunStaaccs that wc9ld not have permitted the princ
ciples laid down in he bill Of rights 10 III carried Out
10 their fullest extent. lie know. that il part Of the
history Of that time that Mr. Jefferson, then in Phlia
ieiph;a, forwarded that convention ,ti,u;io.
which in MANY respects was preferred b 'ha' coare
on and b. George Mason h self, 10 the astiiutio
which they had adopted, but vas not adopted Tor wan,
Of time and for other reasons which ARE ko'n to gc-
e,rc but they conteatcd themselves with ac cons.i
tuition which ,hcy had already adopted and c:ciycd to
j, the preamble Of Mr. Jcer,ons constitution. Vow.
Justice to the memory Of that n.an requires 1t IL
should not he charged with violation Of iS 6WG fi-
cipes because circuiastn,"c9 ~. l.aa SURROUNDED
him did not adir - rr";"g tle-,. >; to heir .,,;
extent, and ha, ing laid down in nc rights these
principles which declared !" that Instrument to be-
long 10 in his primary capacity. and OF which he
cannot be deprived, he knew full well that ii was in
he 7o;rer of those who 10 come af:er III e. 10 com
ylctc the aori; which he Lad peg'n.
But my friend IRON Gu pepper objects 10 t,c outrage
basis and 10 the report OF the committee aade py the
whit" basis part Of il, because that commit &c. IN ork
in, ont the principle contained in that report. have moi
done il correctly Now, sbm! TO him, ii it be fair
arsumen. o5icc, 10 principle because It's details
have not been properly carried out asd because those
10 whom tt" Guty was assigned Of WORKING out that
nFAc'.s - ;hr apportionm-nt Of rcpresc n'acn nave
failed 70 discharge tia, du,y, ana have departed from
INC psi.c pie II the principle he right, It is the duty
OF my irhd Ion Cupcppcr 70 assist in correcting TINS
report: ana TO carry ont the principle hr riakns pro-
psr aIp9r'lonmon and it will not justify him TO di'rc-
gard The prlncir" acca'>e OF the manner. repeat in
men taai irasr.r sas been worked ont. conceive
that 10 y" sufficient argument all III pari III his
speech abiding to this subject; and haze doahl.
nc VIII examine with the sa,nn care, and scntnlzc
the "port OF the mixed basis portion Of tho committee,
he Sil find as great, If no: greater inequality in work
ing ont his principle, than c i in at part of the
report under the letter B. Bat he asks il going Tor
the suffrage basis, We are going Tor .asurc be-
ere to be adverse TO the interests or constituents,
answer by saying that wc believe Tie suffrage basis 10
be necessary to tho promotion al The interests not nry
Of o constituents. ba of iis hciicre the adoption
OF the suffrage basis necessary the interests of the
constituents Of every gentleman upon hi, floor for
think the highest interest freeman. have *
cure himself ard his posterity free government and
10 preserve those liberties which have been obaine
for him. There can be no interest that would jus, lfy
departure from those principles which lie Al the .cry
fourda.ion Of all free government. ana upon VIII ah all
free government: rests. desire TO call ne attention Of
the committee for few moments TO argr r,cni used
h, the member from Fauqnirr. When p submitted
hissustitute he more than limited that TIE prncr,. OF
thcinxed basis had been sanctioned r y the peo OF
thi. Commonwealth in voting for the call oi this CON-
,c,ton Now, put to him 10 $, if the reason he
assigned for submitting his subs.itp and for prcierrin
i, the mixed basis par: of the report Of ;hr commit,
ted is not sufficient 10 am inference sough,
70 &c drawn from the Of The PEOPLE in favor this