Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1851-03-18
SPEECH
HON. WILLIAM LUCAS,
OF JEFFERSON,


The Convention resumed the consideration, in
Co,nmi,tce Of the Whole (Mc. Miller in the
Chair) OF The report of the committee on the ba-
sis OF representation.
The CHAIR stated the question TO be on the
( prnoositiou nf Mr.. SCoTT, OF Fanquier.
Mr LUCAS having the floor
. E!r FAULKNER. My colleague, at my request Mas
vcr;, kindly idcd the floor for for the
purosc Of cshiag me to correct
this eody t=w days ago, under which the gentleman
from Fauquer, Chlr SCOTT the GhaEac'eF
'Tc 1T,t3itfdis submitted related to the subject Of
liiVin T1wer of the legislative department 10 con-
debts in turc and an UNIV IllIngncss to interrupt
the c,uan from FauTucr during the continuance OF
his ry able and lervd argument, and the late hour at
which he Cscd them, prey cntcd mc from making the
cx.nation " stCrday which now propose TO make
had supposcdl Judging from the opinions that gentleman
is ,y 10 ra;,.rtan upon subject Of liberal. will
not an c1r:rvagant system of internal improv
thai he a. had any objection 10 the scheme ocr
-j v vorII ayc been to the number and strngcncy Of
Ibr gc,,rI- l. proposed throw around the exercise
of the over jgSt alluded TO. But IN his rcmarks upon
yesterday he :aed these propositions as calculated to
am src that Gcs couI have examined my scheme
witt, his usr,! :arc and accuracy stated distinctly
whoa submitted those propositions, that designed
r.inr them uou the consideration OF the Convention
without tho slightest reference 10 the question, whether
the J. .s or tl. Nest should succeed in the contest
going tAis floor sa!d that cur experiences IN
The legislation y the State during the lat twenty years
cf t. control the legislature by an Eastern majority
had iecn no r,uar against the abuse OF that power It
reckless and iudcious appropriation, and that had no
me Wcst " Sout proper limitation, it might not be
Gua,l, liable abuse; and. therefore, in presenting
III s. prop si&i,ns distinctly stated that designed
r :r III IA unon the consideration Of the Convention
wi ot the slgEtc,t regard to the fact TO which party
should SUCCEED ia the penIing controversy.
III, second rrror which the gentleman committed IN
treating Ihsn propositions was IN representing mem
as yr!mg t: over Of appropriation TO inc uncrcke"
aud u:omtroII action Of the popular majority oil voters
Nov! cair u, merit fur introducing this plan; claim
o,flI lfsSirts in n ltGNE
nr!s 10 cxI il to the Conv cutiOn that gentlemen
cnoos, to make they doit understand
inly The Ian proposes that c Legislature shall have
n3 pc TO debts beyond the fixed sum OF ono
mor ofdoar, unless for thcpnrPCSc rcPcIinS lnva-
:sion 'r"ressis i"surrcctIon or defending 1c SnS IN
;casc his refers TO debts hereafter 10 Oc cohrac
tcd II then scs reference TO debts that exceed
Iat rou1 before the legislature shall halc pow
c to contract -.@ debts that the law slali ID inc h>'
,r cyii,;ti authcriE. the creation Of that debt for
tcnc .rcrrc ctirct work; secondly, that That law
a !c a' tr time for the imposition aud col
il Iirn Of an "a tax, sufficient pay the interest en-
dc i'm, created discharge the principal within
u..i ,f crttccn ycar>: and thirdly, that this law
Iii NOT rccr, = hc sanction Of the legislative depart
ncnt f,i i, r.ccivcs the vote Of majority all the
~I - a., r. h, ii, branches Of tlc General Assem-
tv . rai,r, iat VIII practically amount TO at least
Ut its rcf;. and that tho yeas and nays shall re
-crdc: on the i,,slga Of the law These are very I'm
dra., safeguards far; bat the scheme proceeds step
i,,l~ and ,!.trrs that this law thus creating d-bt
:,nii,: uiou ta comm, nwcaIth shalt not go into effect
''i'l s'''n'ii'c''1 tue Pcolhc' 'llic lg @ ,t, ~ ,.o
"nc ay ihrn aud It SXPrs sly % @ S ~
=: " ihou ,canino to enter further into an cNPa-
,, ri,s Of ihis scheme, for would
mas lar upon tc courtesy oi my colleague rs 70 40 SO
row will simply state that at least Three rcSus VIII
S5ow its wlop'ion whether the results nc o
a, it thu Convention 10 determine IN irS place.
.nd ,rrwar. E,r the people. They would be these;
Thc first rcsu would be uP by the roots al" those
tr I local rprupriatirns Oi winch cur statute DOCK
n,shcS 50 maj yand striking illustrations II Is lde 10
snnrC=a for that appropriations OF ult C"rc-
Ter ccl pass tlrcgh the Olcal prcScrIbcH by thcSc pro
rin4tcrs The n"xt result that would loow wt"Ht nc
the cr.Acaton the halls OF legislation oil ihG WhGe
r,ctir.. uf leg rolling and the entire system OF lobby
Srmb.rshir The third result that would follow VoHt
S the Of the energies ami resources oil ms
s,,,r ,,ou ,hn grcat works oi internal Improvement
. Cl arc alone worthy, in my Judgment ol 'nS Po
tE s,,,, and " hjch certainly alone could receive
th so,, ion Of voice Of the people III tho polls 90
" knrI how srnc gentlemen may regard the Idca o
lmitln questions Of this kind TO the dirSc! Eo oi le
NIL Int il always been viewed win laNoE Dy me
r. I;cr ta, s,tarv Influences would result from bring
ina th, minds 0r the people directly to th1 comPeheh
.51n ai siy t.; these questions OF inSrna concern AMI
;7,ncs " ro., and that they world be Gnnd upon All
osios t. po->ass intelligence aud lIecrahy enough 70
cd ;pc AM, rhcmc worthy Of their consIdera,ioh al
all wt ihgm"n: and fairness, and 0t SviHG 10 !. c e
:srIy rl;a support which it would be entitled ana no
rorc. lave tscmcd it proper 10 maNc u'!s ,I
,:,anat in ogii. that gcntcmcn may tanu '
*Icmc rroucr, a, consider it upon its merits; and
vonId sac hold myself prepared to abandon !. al
., ma:ncnt ir Hoihcr scheme looking 10 INC same re-
ora which, in INV Judgment, will better accomplish
,;c ob rs designed, all be presented All desire Is
tyat IT,. c, which pr pose TO remedy sh" receive
, g. sIcra,i a ofthis Convention and be acted upon
in ONT ioTm by IT,
AIR LUCAS. l certainly should not ask in
Jalreure of tie committee ii could reconcile II
~; nv sense nj duty, to give silent Vote upon
,Ec important subject under consideration. teeI
nv crnziby my individual humility IN THIS
tEy w., and am ava C | cannot hope to requite
! ii, the time may consume in expressing my
,,ws did not aspire or expect to present my
sllf ir.,hc position circumstances have placed
II, in having 10 succeed the able and Distinguish
c,J rent!eman from Fauquicr, (Mr ScorT) bnt
= vas rnt for nc to forego my intention to speak,
: i tho fay hptOTl he rose. 10 o.
! Tsin the floor and fall back from the attitude
! MI osrnmed II is not my purpose 10 attempt
! ~ f,IIow that gentleman through his long and
( v,;rv ab.., spccCh. Yet, | do propose TO change
| tc; some considerable extent, the course OF re-
mark | had attended to pursue and to notlce
! s;,,nc Of the principal arguments which he sub
Il cnme from ,he lower end ftbe valley, where
! rtturp las bcefi so kind and bonnti!ul-where
! .hc rich woods" so called, attracted IN MS
y1uth theFalhcr r9fhsCountry, before nc hau earn
81; that name rfany part of his renown. "hete
o,;, The homes that wore Of many OF the most IT.
liStTio;is hcroe. of the TeVoluton-ihe oraVe oio
/ EaaneraI NIorra.i and Gates, and Lee, and Ste
plicns, and DaEk, and others li,tle less dlst!n,
Usishct all fnt. their homes within the dlst'c'
which have }:e honor in part 10 represent
Md the re the mortal remains OF the most OF tle ~
nfty,, rcrase in peace beneath the green turI OF
,eir own favored valley, their memories n moI lof
| rStten nor their achievements; these sun lIVe
3s;r has ;he gcI,sus of their immortal splrits heu
That too is Sill with us, sitting in eternal wake
W. fon,liy trust. keeping ceaseess ygils to in in
spS1e CDR hoseHs with love OF liberty ant ant
i eo$,ality. Thisis the district from which have
tIs honor to ceJde ono say rich in soil ana re-
nf;yn ard in all tho beauties aud bountIes OF ma
ina which maj could desire for heritage and
be$ne upon this Garth.
S deem it ne ter bad taste nor inappropriate &c
btfug uFthese "reminiscences, in alludlng 70 !ne m
ncf Mia! sitnatiGn and various advantages OF my
dSs rict Indeed, what heard YESTERDAY ana sGs
mo-. naturally arise and connect themselves wit
n4view Of the very nature of the subject ant
tl,S grest principle Involved in the question IN
4sp I gdiscnssion, which hold to be what IS th'
tr,bs republiean basis Of representation toF I'M
~ j:5esen,atiye gavernmentof a,ree State, an'
,,j;ci I5verily believe involves the very samt
nTEScipIe for wklch foreathers fought an'