Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-04-25

,r, and cnrro,iin. IL % max. them evcn dstrusiHl
nj own cj.ieS and disposed by constitutional l!mi-
,,t;on. 20 clrta them oil their proper representative
r =. tev wish 10 10 Thai oi tie western portion 81
VI. safe. Int Tor my par and far my own
,,niof are concerned ec no difficulty in protecting
t.. ,unraltc. BY still further limitations upon the
.,,y,.r, ii lie Genera! assembly. should be willing
IA .l,a rlia suggestions contained in the report OF the
c,,,,,I.. Oh guarantees which while they leave TIE
-; zion open fr amendment upon all other points,
;,hl,,i these particular limitations, adopted sort
mac, between the east and west, frCin any rowe:
e I;:-urLanc. bv the legislature Or should feel 70
in declaring thar if the constitution which
a.. ,nw irainin. shall m"dt: the right ." suffrage
.nal lhn governor, circuit judges and all comfy ON
Gers: cecive l.; the peo9e-l!ace just and wholesome
Limitation. on the taXn. and appr"pra'ln" powers Of
,,, ..r!rl.n in ali which reforms there i general
concurrence "l opinion in this bod an: shall l!;ee rep
rr,,.iul upon lis true republican basis; that VIII
iot I..rft:!v vote FOR provision to be iiiscri" IL
,hc tuition orbhiiny the legislature 10 call any
f:,t,,r. Invention ." TIC people OF this State, without
h. coz. rrc!cc ui tw".:Iirts ot the members ciectc u
III. Goitral Assembly.
an perfectly aware Of the terms ri affected snaG-
clarion with w!:ich this PROV il"n was net ~ the
bass advocates when suggested -"ine week" s.''
~. ;I. -cHtl ,an from Preston, Mr.. i'poH:) 81 Ter
i a.,! icrcrotis indeed tci- onslaught upon II
,j,t No ,n.. la- had the holiness advance il since
Cir we'll becomes them 10 pour their icrccs; artillery
ipI u IL. with tlc tiI'
i,ax:n alI apprcprating powers adopted IL ',ncc
cr- from under them every pTcieHt upon which they
lean longer maize ;ppe. 20 Tie alarms Of Jealous
land ,i.;y,lstIIIl constituency.
Sir &C.. objection such limll ION Oh the con-
,it,,ian uiot tie GROUND, either Of principle Of ~
rc.!,ay None uIrn the ground of princp PIE whatever
md none upon the ground Of expedcncy ii Ill the re
form asked h.: the people accorded TO them
u! " j. al; i not this limitation Upon The power ot ths
G.isrd i~soaiiy t" call convention. except b. the
c.uc ace q" two-thirls i'll conflict with The principle
yh!r i, cars that majority OF the j"opic nave power
10 al.r and abolish their government Whichever loun
Inconsistent with their happiness. Rv no meats. Tn
a.,s.;- 81 ,h, people must not he c"nt"mdr'l with the
r, iiarl-,ye- and limitations upon the trustees al
government must not be mistaken for restraints upon
.rr,,; rights which belong To the people. to b" eX
e. %" ~ them whichever the emergency dcna"!. H.
There arc but two modes under Tie principles 81 gov
er,,.lr:,t which prevail in this country, bv which any
.yi-t II. cc!l.'triiun can DC changed.
First. In nc Eodc winch tie existing constitution
pre-. criac- oT the actual government consents t".
Scc"G. - thai great RICH: "l revolution winch =
i,,;cmat. and intclcasibc- which oniy be cyrr
ni..t b. lie. ,,Jplc Themselves i, il:r- sovereign ca
=: 49, am! o which they can never, Gy ANY compact
lii:..; themselves.
Il! irv,.n;n. a government it i, perfectly competent
1, , }.oj.ic impose upon that G;"nmc" a.i. IAN
i.niirn which they may deem c*ict!icri and "hsth'
tcs. Limitations result from Go>" 10 i"s'.rr rrc:
stability :!G Icrmarlcy The established! guycrnncn
or t:ura Il compromise nf conflicting interest - any
state !. perfectly competent, and often wise '; "
pci,n 20 ithc from The legislature ir pave: "l cali
ing contention 81 III" people without the ccnc;rrcrc
ot more ihaM ma ;ority oil that body. This IA;
become IS tXc, and thoroughly established principle
ut o, political system rs that other great imaNiin, Tia
all power ci:naics from, and belongs 10. the people
.ooh at the constitution d: tic United States.
change take acr IL that instrument. u"!cs, lhi'ia
. IS rvui.ird- OF both hn,I,r- OF tung:"s b: lht
4. !, ir,. { r,.r,. and
lie acryi.. ratified hy threc-omrths UI the STATES: =
t, i Ir snail Sllss should slhinr against any pa
c., .tLr.icn. c.-;w. .' par; u" the rrci'r oi tEc
lr;trG Statr- coGl e,trat T. And 10 state. without
,> own CONSENT deprived ol its equal suffrage II
the :sc:ac.
But admit that The .lcral Constitution Zoe, not a.
ford . fair ,Grrc,c:'t for the construction 6" domestic
Il rc government. Look then. Ia TIE Constitution, o
liz. several States. and YOU will End that GcGrria
%u:;h Carolina. Sou' Carolina, Tennessee, '."uisana
III. ,issippl. Aahau!a. Missouri. rloriI. Arkansas
T.yas--li slave States and Illinois, Michigan. Cali
orli. mh Ohio l., her constitution a,:up,td on the
lHtt i His ilonII--aII prohibit the call al CONVEX
lion. or any change in their organic tw. excerpt ny
;r, Of tnn I'd Of beth hrir rhc> OF thcI" leg Stature
Here thea. If! ,taics-ccycn southern ana "!i
..l.,-"i.ic contain this provision. a these States
l,xc.ui PERHAPS, of them. have planted ',;cr con
t,'uu!!un> upon the bro:G Pati"""l of popular soy
rr, il'y and political equality. ,rt thcy find no dit
Iiicrv in imposing these rest . upon the Legislative
II , o,;.l agents. These Limitations are ii al time
, :.-ijurs d; cXrciicECy. merely, To be determined
:. oily IA refer 10 the character Of The Instrument
it-c.i 20 thai. il the constitution "!::"i %c ar" rCw
framing shall r"@ The .inands i"g popular reform no."
:al,iD pu! and nI"c s go'crInri ~ al matter
IN which ne people have general concern. govern
i!trii al tn people shall feel no difficulty in with
sra,.iu. lro the ;con OF tie general assembly. eX
crpt hv orS vote, the power of disturbing. ~
any Issrre, That compact which may be agreed Gror
here.
Ten. sir with i constitution framed =, to Secure
rnr:.l equality in all the burdens Of taxation with ;c
deb, creating and rcvcnucapproprating power OF tho
.uycrlu.cl 81 regulated and controlled IS TO be pro-
icicd from :b>c: with power RESERVED 10 tG;rscl G.
L. check an. changes III the system. Without YOU: 0v:r
ro..4rlr and concurrence. what Justification have YOU
for licking 20 concentrate the whole power of this GOV
c:nucnt in tta hands Of sectional minority "i IL
:rn!r l. j! protection alone von ask Here l. pro-
lection ample and sufficient In the cvent o: Tie
ii 81 sr PROPOSITIONS. can yOi satisfy us thai II Is
u"; rorfr ai"ar "hc; you seeking l., retain: Can
y;l ;.liiy Yourselves before the people IT this Com
.ro.,w .a-5c;"r,, the wOrd--in cEging to of
lrn-y" scIcmc OF Gnverrncnt when all the protection
w:.;.; YOU need, and all which you have any right Ia
,cm.d, 10 extended Ia you upon principles, cor
,i.rni with The established iIsagcs Of popular goy
rriu,II: No. ,ir there is nothing 10 Justify il. There
nothing in tie condition nd circins OF Er
.uia--irha-; in the cf.i.t Of her population
Jiaia- IN the i;ncicI diversity t.! her interests L"
Justify TN. revolution 81 The principle, of her govern!
meat. 70: assert thai since Existence people.
hi. principle 81; the mixed basi:-h, principle b,
which legislative power Is 10 he apportI"Hc amongst
ihr different sectors OF Inc STATE according I" PopHia-
and ;aSr, combined. has been wholly unknown %
G,r organic law. But. The contrary. wherever, IN
,,:rHlU;.s history, these ;y:c contcndnr principles OF
:, presentation have been brnu.t III conflict the Prin
=" i. OF the !Ird basis has bccn far. unii"rmiy re-
icc.r and rr,,.,iiartl. /, this the time and age III
"!ic It can la successfully introduced: Docs tn" fact
Il Is Il .g,t, i,H ltFp