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


operation of its laws soon dissolved ami Il i's'
fragments the accumati"u Of year,. -,
We were told by the gentleman '"'' "','''r ''
CT characteristics Of arisncra:y toulh u''. t.I
tuition Of IS, was the Limitation "i s"'i',ss " WV
hn-alld The gentleman informed Us ihi i' ~ our
separation from England The King with INC p'H"'e.s ol
two regiments had forced upon The c'.,'.'s t"' ne.
hold suffrage. FROM whence this scrap "i h':lo's ZINES
or where il is found, am III less t" lt"'"" ''' !"
the crown with its two regiments c"Iic i'd NC 'e'
pie of tia; day Ia establish freehold err'S" pray M"',
ask did the same people do III tie very hc',o u
casting off and breaking .unlcr XII c''i'r A'i WIN ~
subsection t." the British crown: What 'i'd 'l"Y y" III
the formation of the government and u" ''' % 'ne
constitution itself! There II" "T"ie'' t''.' /"
dictate and prcscribc-nnnc to Iakc lli'h ''''i u"
control The free exercise Of their will The. Wtf" a'"l
ln, just sucl IN instrument nj government ~ ,''s "c
sired, and though il may have bcc 'i'"lr ,''''S inv ''
of artillery and the storm, music 81 tie atl''' lh'S
were sound which ill,lc of alarming. rc'ii'nr'' mem
un? that they engaged III struggle ''' "'i
Tor pr:Ic PIES sacred to them :ri Us ~" '
~ then established create IN arls:'tr'!i'c ''G " "
then government: What wa. it! Why your '''',' ''''">
might tci have been purchased for NV" '"''s NV '''
,lrcl acres or iva cents an acre fE acres " ,''i-
proved land gave u,i. the right 81 -"r'S'' N'' 'h'S
nly rirn,, ."Ils us j, part al tn, st"''
erected in Niry inia in itl ars"rcS l' "'''' '''
couitl buy Il patent for sin, Il" dollar ,
Mr.. LUCAS. Will the gentleman a'''" nv ="
:piain Wv charge was not that property III" "'ih'i-
lated in lIi. hands of :. few individuals i' ""cr'ncE
la .Ilo% that the governmental !r"cr VI ~
the hands ri rw individuals. and II have; h'''''' any
Ihir i, relation 10 The history oi government nave
I.arnr. that where The oTrr Of government i acch-
lated IN lI.. hands nC small minoril: oi Inc "h"" F''
pie Of a Stale, !li thai docs constitute lcrh'cH a.:
,ristorracy That wa, ms charge, Tot 'ha' property
had accumulated in few hands
Mr. SOlirIIALI. did not say Thai 'c Sr"!'c =
had charged that property had accumulated III le"
hands, hui he said HAT tho government had hcc sf'NH
ari,tocra,y from The period Of The 'd''" {" 'h' con
stit,ltion down TO lSlO.
Mr.. LUCAS I'm li~ scM.l I'm olislrc:l'
SIR siDUTlIAl.l.. b., where are ne i''inf's 81 ~
Ir,rhv Are They il The urcanl: law =" Nc %"'rrin''
which VII. bIl ~ al that tim i!nnkl are '.''H -
n. Gr;,d in III, imagination III the a'nablc
Gentleman from Jefferson TIE gentleman say, our ance
ter, h:,l 10 mode. h: which to make ir"'' simply
pure and pi uli3hlc republican government -
model Why the, had precisely the m"hc that Is nov :"
rr., 10 .-ic rs here They had The ill 81 rights to
which al parties !ui pay homage. They inadr ana 'd
before them thi, great beacon light which IN. ii c;'
tell. lis is The g?r; Fundamental la" upon "c' Al! gov
rrnul,i,,s should be based. Do !o'I dtslf; i h'i
Ter model than your fathers han; II 'nrs WIZ ';'S
bic Of inlitns and adopting, this bill Of rights - Furnish
ing !, great ldan.nal platform upon w't'cn they IN
tended To erect . lMildns that was TO protect 'hrm
and theirs, desire inquire oi The gentleman "'i
other mocl could they desire;
Lot me however come directly 10 he issue Ecorc ~
W
abstract principle, Of government; as everywhere ana
under all circtls to INSIST upon ini'oi'g them,
without modification into the oGanic structure ul eve
~ government, leading, rs i; inevitably Would III Il
majorily of case, in the formation 81 rcluhir'' 10 the
most ruao'is and disastrous con- cIucnccs; yet am
free To- admit that in the erection of the political .thce
TO every reasonable extent. indeed ~ far a the .airiy
and welfare Of the community viii allow. what may lie
termed fundamental principles, Should b" incorporate"
mo Aud, far as the question bci"rc Il, Is
4 Ill fall p. II
of those principles. insisting at the same limc a. J
shall that upon every consideration oil pnlIcy-2cHtlc-
men need not be alarmed al the wordupon every colt
sider.ion of public policy, o public sact: OF h" rights
of the community, and Of princple-yes, o max; az
tract unqualified prime plcthc basis OF cvc:y free and
stable government i: upon combination OF p"r,o;'s and
property Or other words, that taxation and represent
,to constitute The essential elements OF democratic
republican rti.r Sc ttv: goy":nI sii.
am not isensiL!c 10 the influence which, il, III" '"r:l-
ton of government the term people commands. All
Of US who claim be advocates Of the rights Of the people
feel and acknowledge the potency OF 1t and if govern
mcnt was formed for no other purpose than secure
TO It's re pie their indr DIAL pc!s ma! ri5ts-to
one ,anst personal outrage fcm arothe to pro-
tcct the few from the oppression Of the many the basil"
Of such government carving out your laws Of nature
would be a s|o lid he the uaivc, sal p pu.ar will
Men ald women. adults aud nIi!urj -hui each aud
all have az equal voice and ca; a. weigh; in ldin- up
such pot cal ediiice. If such the sole object o.:
creating the body polite, il no other consideration, II"
other element existed or claimed projections. such =
government having but single aim, erected bu, fo: y
single object the personal rights OF It's citizens. would.
repeat. be based upon one soc and only element
that of population Yielding them do, the full in
lucucc which may be due to the term ..pcorc, while
that in the construction OF Tin. organic
system with additional views and aidilionl' OBJECT
than have supposed, it i, calculated to inlscad us
let Us approach the main and great issue :ich the
competing propositions before the committee present
the examination OF question deeply cuIistr. hr
feelings and interests of this body extending y, il doe
through AL the rami' cat ms ri Dcicy rj,lsIr The anN
iecs and exciting, the hopes and fears of Il common
constituency, II becomes us 10 approach its cyt"Ga-
ton aud discussion with al! proper ctmncs, and .rhc
ration; to avoid all other weapons hit those nf fruit,
and Justice. ami while firmly aud manluIly maintaining:
the principles which may respectively aruw 10 r;:.
tivac spirit oil mutual courtesy and fogcarlrc 2,l
as cidlci OF one common parent. alike. hope. dear
u ALL II look alone to he. general welfare, her
liy ;nl happiness.
In the Investigation of tIIi. subject, shall avoid
all local geographical considerations. as we'll
the existing constitutional divisions If tie State.
with their res pcctlyc population aud wealth Shall do
so because desire 10 look to- and intend 10 be guidcd
by what deem 10 be great principles, forming. AZ /
conceive The true elements OF all sound AMI practical
governments and which everywhere in every land.
when man cncrscs rum state Of nat-, into that OF
society, necessarily ought and must he looked TO in order
TO himself the blessings Of .ia nj pJiticni
safety and happiness. shall likewise decline y,
necessary - my argument, examination Into the sta
istic, Of the State whilst the and result Of them
will fully bear out the proprety aud cxpc,licncy OF tle
basis for which contend, yet am willing ~ test
his question upon prIncp pic, irrespective of figures.
shall neither fatigue myself exhaust your pa
ence by tho examination into them.
What Is the proposition and amendment suhntrlb,
the gentleman from Fauquier, which the gentleman ir"
kanawha, Mr. SMITH. has characterized as olious III
all It's features, aud declares that the ;neneGIcnt, II
adopted, would deliver the west over niuac!cd 10 the
tender msrcles OF the majority which that basis would
be in the House Of Delegates 1t established period
the gentleman told you, at which reapportionment
would be had.
Could the gentleman from kanawha have been serious
IN position like this. Could he have supposed that
the craftsman OF tlc amendment any who act with
him, could have intended what the gentleman all"se:
the words OF the amendment imply The amen rueli
presents, and was only intended 70 present the prnc
pie Tor the basis u your Legislative department. It,
therefore omitted the filling Of blanks and may re-
quire some Change Ill It's aseology "a t. elect The
design aud Object i'll view. The details are TO be set
tied alter the basis Of representation is ascertalncd
Settle the principle settle the foundation upon when
your government Is TO BE- erected, that you VIII nave
point from which you max. vour calculations 4
point where you leave your mooringS, point td
which You can rcarn and arrange the suPerslicturt
upon This peculiar basis foundation, aud the detail:
can afterwards bc adjuated-a period fixed when the
hrst rc-apporonncn shall take place. But the gentle