Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-05-13

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gard to collateral circumstances as thlhk nasnces
Sonn here without due observance OF those ih'iu
which disturb their adaptation to the par .ak Il
intended to be subserved, it is unwise, ANU he
with discourtesy of spirit, opinions in
cause gentlemen in this body for whose d;fs,e emf
General have an unfeigned respect have ~ nnI;ca
times indirectly ut least as think t prpanic
ton OF principle III the construction " hot ibovc
law whichII cannot view in the ligh, 'no mnerfectly
ventured to discuss thus briefly, and mo5' tbont
admit this mooted point. And may NJ S.ra ~ =
offence say that gentlemen on the otnet NV retreat
great extent if fully yielded tne Tn tho
nc from, tho broad platform Of white population ~ W
b,s;s of onaIfed voters, Well may those VINO nav
b,ped 70 tbc;r hearts the phantom OF ehtie po'o
equality look to their friends IN inns louSt ' ;-
ct tn Brute, then fall not KING C'esu ou' mug '"'
| bers ., ,,,on +ba question
,Lo.i. ,aronortv ourht to form an clement IN estaG
fishing the basis of representation III uoi"s >" ;,
en,|eayor to avoid, n far ~ can, A'SuH.' 49,
were used occasion s.l, y. 49, s' lei tho force
r en- inclined could not press them with Inc lo.ec
al ob;I;tv with which they were employed, anu DE-
c,nsa they are familiar all present ana mere per
nit me 10 turn aside from my immediate oDeSl u OK
nras, NV regret that the labors OF The august oooy 10
which Ibaye alluded do not seem TO have commended
tseIrcs o the respect not to say veneraton OF some
have ~ think they ought to have done we are tod
that we were sent here to revise the constitution
TO alter aud reform its provisions Iwentyone years
h,v. ansc since the formation of the constitution
rndcr which we now live; and as nothing human Is
nerfec time in its light has developed the fact that
hare are serious defects in it. which require to be re-
NEEDED Beside., as all know, public opinion has
nnfnrpone great change in relation to the organic law.
The nnpular voice has demanded in tones too wide
snread md distinct not to be heard and Needed that
the people must have more immediate agency than
they have yet had in the selection of their representa-
tves stand here them prepared to obey and give ut
terence TO that voice. far my best Judgment, aid
ed by all the lights which surround me will justify me
to mys self in doing. While make this avowa, trust
shall be pardoned for expressing the hope that in our
zeal for reform We may not give an exemphcation OF
the apothegm that all innovation is not Improvement.
Detective as the work of predecessors is it is still
the text book of this Convention 1t Is the platform on
which We must stand to rear the superstructure we
have been called upon to erect. know that gentle
men here have said that the men engaged IN raming
that constitution brought to their work but the rehcc-
ton of their former greatness My friend from Cabel
(Nr MCoMAs,l whom / do not see before me, pro
nounced it the rotten hulk Of constitution aud the
distinguished gentleman from Accomac tMr WISE
who emncty possesses the power OF concentrating
the strength our veraacuar tongue Tor purposes ell
thcr of praise or censure called that work. feeble
wreck of mind would ask tthe gentleman from
Accomac if did not understand him Alright
Mr. WISE. Speaking of the present constitu ton Of
the state of yinia, did call it wreck OF mind and
Il crush of state
Mr. burgess l believe l did not quote the gen
tlemans language LITERAL Enthusiastically think did
| Dir. WISE, lin his seat1 Yes SO far is YOU vent.
Mr. burgess. Of course SO far rs went Sir,
it may be that of those who composed that body
may have endured life too long for their fame, and
some indeed may not have had any fame to sacric c
still must insist that that convention had been sub
ecc. the process of defamation, the selection would
have afforded body of men which might not nappro
priaely have been termed the representation of intel
lectualtr. And ut time like this i'll view OF the loss
of the sage counsel of such men as Madison, Marshall
Barbour, Upshur, Leigh, Staunard aud johnson, We
might we'll adopt the plaintive exclamation of the
Poet
These set. Oh, rise some other such,
Or all is empty talk Of past achievement
And vain boas, Of that which has been"
The commmitte will please pardon me for this di,
gression.
Mr. WISE. VIII the gentleman from southamp.
ton allow me to interrupt him for moment?
! Mr. burgess. Certainly
! Mr. WISE The gentleman has done me the honor
to raler to expression of mine, which | shall stick
by. shall not back out from it at all But he has, in
reply to that remark contrasted those who are here
with those who have gone by and am thereby led to
ask him question and do it deliberately and in
der bring forth historical fact. ask the gentle
men to tell me if he has conversed with the members
ofthat last Convention of lSo9-30 With the Lcighs
the Stanards the Upshurs, and others, and whether
he has found Of them that approved Of the pre-
sent constitution after it was COMPLETED eau say
deliberately, that have talked with many of them
and the most distinguished of them, and with some
whom the gentleman has named, aud have never heard
that there one man in that Convention that
approved of their work.
! Mr.. burgess. have looked to the record, have
been guided only by that have had no opportunity
Of obtaining information, personally, on the subject
do doubt but that it is the gentleman says.
suppose that they did not fully approve of the consti
tuton but that they considered it the best that could
be made under the circumstances.
Mr. WISE. l trust the gentleman will excuse me
for again nterrupting him. mean to say that among
the most distinguished men of that Convention have
never seen the first man, nor have heard of any one
who was there suppose, perhaps, 1t was all they
could accomplish under the circunlstanccs-who said
that the work was even Hxell done.
! Nr. burgess Very WELL will not discuss that
point with the gentleman. 1t is imnateral If there
is principle in government which have deemed a
fixed one, it is that laid down by very distinguished
wrter-that property is element in every wise rep
resentation. Protection to proprietary interests IS,
may venture, | think, to affirm, interviewer with the
fabric OF every good and stable government aud is
element i'll every continuously prosperous one OF which
have any knowledge. Without intending any thing like
extended review this subject will remark that
the country which have been accustomed to
rate for its laws and literature if for its morals
that England, as nation was believe, never consid-
cred resting foundation until by the Wis
dom of William Pitt, during PERIOD of course, of
the reign of George the Third, the government was
made to rest Oh its only true basis-property in
binaton with the supervisory agency of numbers So
firmly cngrafted upon the mind of the mother country
correlatves, that in relation to the complaint of the
colonies upon this very gronnd rather than deny the
principle, she resorted to subterfuge, contendng that
this government virtually represented all know
! it not; sacred, inviolate was deemed the
principle The wisest, the most esteemed authorities
Of our country, unite i'll insisting that property is ent
tied to the most efficient protection. Hear the views of
Mr. Pendleon Of that galaxy of stars that shone
the Convention often alluded to here, that of 1888
am persuaded" suys that distinguished man, that
there can be no political happiness unless industry be
cherished and protected and property securcd' What
says Mr.. Madison who has been often quoted here
aud whose views, in all matters pertaining to govern
ment, are SO generally deemed oracuarl Govern
ment" says that profound statesman twas instituted
less for the protection Of property than the persons
Of individuals. The as we'll as the other may,
therefore, be said to be entrusted those who have
charge Of the government" But above ALL are gentle
men prepared to disregard the fact that our federal
government recognizes the fullest extent the prnc
pie fpr which we contend. Will they repudiate the
principle Will they place culver n ,el,nds of our
northern enemies, armed with poisonous arrows and
thus indirectly inct suicidal blow not only on yir
gnia but the whole south We are frequently remind
ed of the liberal features in the constitutions of some of
the States oft Union respectfully the younger
The oder do not to the purpose Of gentle
M ~ IN yvhir1 tbo MI