Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-04-11

eurty for it BY representation then he would give that
hard rs it would he for him to do it. The gentleman
from the county Of Preston Mr BEowS) admits this
cessty and he has looked little deeper into this sub
lect than some gentlemen who have addressed us here
lie offers us the guarantees of the constitution against
oppressive taxation and unequal appropriations But he
Knows perfectly well that whatever guarantee you
put into this constitution against unequal taxation and
appropriations will stand there and be protection only
50 long the guarantee is protected By the constitution
itself And he went step further, step that no man
nn his side has taken after him. Seeing this difficulty
he said that for his part, he did not pretend L"
speak for amy but hnself-hc would put into the
constitution provision that there should he II" other
convention of the people unless bill calling 1t could Inc
got through the Legislature hy u twothlris vote. l.
there single gentlemen here amongst those who act
with him. who colcurs in that No, not And what
do these bnastcd guarantees that offered us amount
to nj last Put them into the constitution confer pow
er the legislature take the basis of representa-
ton numerical; majority alone without reference to any
other interest. They pass bill to call another convel
tlcn upon that basis The constitution falls and the
guarantees embraced III II are swept away as matter
of course
There are other guarantees rendered to us-guaran
ties of which heard something at home. | told
there aud my constituents told, and it has been
pcatcd again and again this floor, that there no
danger III the world Of another convention because that
when that question came up the Valley would be found
arraycd Ill the same ranks with ourselves having COM
mon interest To protect. was of opinion when heard
II At home that it well founded. feared So
then. ald now know it. l know it from the lips of
gentlemen who have spoken here upon this subject.
anu in despair of getting aid countenance from
t. Valley in resisting the call of another convention
If gentlemen speak here, know they do, the voice
of their constituents this subject the is hope
less one, utterly hopeless. And why is it so In the
eloquent address Of my friend from Jefferson Mr. LucAs
to which listened with much pleasure what did he
tell us He told us that he and his constituents were
committed rs matter Of prncp pie TO the doctrine OF
the numerical majority that according to his coIstruc
ton Of the bill Of rights ority in numbers OF the
whit population of the commonwealth Of Virginia had
li,lenable indefetsble right TO change alter or
modify the constitution at their own will and pleasure
And now let what support We are to get from the
Valley upon the doctrine avowed here by my friend
from the county of Jefferson. Calculations have been
made hy highly respectable gentlemen in whose opinion
have grea, confidence although do not fully and "u
ircv in them, that in fifteen or twenty years
the country which lies between the top of the ALE
Charles and the Ohio river will contain majority OF
the free white people of the State. And when the voice
Of that majority shall come up demanding another
ventun where, upon the prncple of my friend from
Jefferson will the Valley be found!
Mr.. JANNEi here gave way for Tho c"mn!ttce to
rise.
The Convention then jourcd until tomorrow morn
ing 10 o'clock