Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-03-18


And permit to invoke the attention of my eastern
democratic brethren-mv eastern Jcfersoian demo
cratic brethrcn-and alas my eastern Jeiict"nian e
ocrac, republican Wing fiiends-that they may ',Ih
Thus man could have had no sectional motive ~ os
influenced by desire for western supremacy. nc"
hear him. shall not speak of the declaration Oh inu1
pcndcncc: for, although l regard it as beyond al
real doubt Us to It's true construction y1t
| expressed i'll general terms and may be 'ai!eu ~
stract They are loast subject to cohstrnr M
consequently, subject to msconsrncsl"'' mn LIN
which shall read (his letter to kerchcVsi II n"p
exempt from all charge of abstraction ana ,al''' "
no msconsructon |, written III irccl !ei'
the reformation i'll the constitution oi 'G'' -.
We called upon To make, ana sh"aiu iu y, az,
at rest all question to the constructor VI WV '
rights Hear him:
At the birth Of our republic, COMMITTEE that "pi'''
ION to the world i'll the drnught oil eons'''"'' 'i'
inserted for representation permanently equa! me
infancy of the subject nj that moment ana our lheSt-
rence of sefgovcrnnent occasIoh'd gross departures,
in that draught from genuine republican cahoils IN
truth the abusea OF monarchy had :" n"cn hen ai me
space of political contemplation, that We imagined every
thing republican which not monarchy We had not
vet penetrated the mother principle, that govern
nents are republican only in proportion az they emb"dy
the will Of the people md execute H. Hence or hrsl
constitutions had really Leading prnc pie in them
But experience and reflection have but and more
confirmed in the particular Importance oil the eq'
representation then proposed
But inequality OF representation in both h"uscs "
our legislature il not the only republican h"rrsy III '
first essay Of revolutionary patriots Ut FORMING a
constitution For let i; be agreed that government =
Republican i'll proportion every member eohilss
has his equal voice in the direction OF It's concerns WV
indeed i'll person. which would he inpractcapie o's
the limits of cty or small township, butt by rertese'.
tatives chosen BY himself and responsible to hm al
short periods and let us bring 70 the L." OF 'i'' '''''
every branch of our constitution.
lin the legislature the House of Represents: YES u
chosen bv less than half the people ana NOV ~ 80 ~
proportion to those who do choose The senate ar
more di,noporonate, and for long terms OF i'''l
btv. c,, NJ,
where then is our repubcanism 10 he found 40,
in our constitution certainly but merely IN ,e pm
orr reople That would obgc even deep"t l" govern
~ raml;,auy Owing to this spirit, and to nothing III
the form of our constitution, MI things nave gone
But this fact 80 trumphantly msqnoted ny e eie'e.
Of reformation is the fruit oi our 'ohs''l"'' wv
has prevailed in spite OF II. Our in'' '', ~ m
well. because generally honest men, - ''
/ thew feared To >hew H. ., .,. :.
Bu it will he said it is easier to ind ian't' 'h, :
amend them. do not think their amendment 40 d'ni
cult "a is pretended Only lsy down true pilneipir" '.'
adhere to them inhrxb!v. Do 10, be frightened 'h,'
their surrender by the alarms OF the t'm OF 'c ,''"
iays of wealth against the ascendancy oil the P'opc'
experience be called foappea to that Of our 'ech %
twenty governments for forty ana show me "hcr'
the people have done half the miTchei III tn's' W.
wears that single dcapot would have dohe u, s'.si
year or slew half the riots anil rebelllons the cthc
and the pumi-hments. which have taken place III M,
single nation under kingly government dGihs' ''' '''
period The true foundation OF republican So'erhmeh
i he equal right of every citizen, III his person ala
nronrr,y and in their management. Try by this Is
.lIy every proysion of our constitutions, and see
hangs directly on the will of the people Reduce you"
legislature To- Il convenient number tor iu, but orderly
discussion Let every who fights or pays "xercis'
his in.t and equal right ill their election bu' 1910"
principle and the knot untea itself
9Th. sum of these amendments Is, |. General 1u'
frasc Q Equal representation N the legislature. "
An executive chosen by the people l. Judges elective
or amovale ). Justices nrore ana Sh'riliS it.''''
& Ward divisions And /. Periodical amendments O
an mo; among thoze who fear the people. Tho
and no, the rich, dependence Tor continued ire"
!, dom.
- Each generation ia as independent of the one prr''
LING rs was that OF all which had gone before J: ha
then like them right to choose for Itsrli the FORM
government believes most pronoti'e "i us own nap
pne.s consequently, TO accommodate TO inc
ce in which il finds itself that received from It's rrre
c.ssess and il il for The pcare and good 81 mankind
tina, solemn opportunity OF doing this every nineteen
or twenty years should be provided by the constitution
80 that i, mas lie handed with periodical repairs
from generation TO generation to the enc =" ie any
thing human can 40 long endure
"Ihcsc Sir. are nv opinions Of the governments We
see among men, and of the principles by which alone W
NAV prevent our own from falling into the same dread
ful track have given them al greater length than
vo,r letter called for But cannot SAY thing by
haves and contid them Your honor, 80 I" use them
as 10 preserve ME from the gridrons OF the public pa
pcrs If you shall approve and enorc" th'n NJ y"'
have done that Of equal representation ,hes ms 40
some good Ii not keep them to y"nrs" aa the emu
scns OF withered age and useless time.
BRAY. noble old friend. They may bs the cfisio9 OF
useless time but they the i.obleet truths that ever
fell from the lips Of patriot or philosopher ih"y may
u,o that fading brow but the deep worn channel "i
v,rs Of thought for the rights and happiness OF man
and are wreaths Of glory 10 thy memory They may IN
deed he the illusions If thy eve Of life, bnt {" most
golden and cluudleas sunset.
Pardon me- for trespa-slng on your patience thus on
with single authority it is all that shall gave.
might quote others but they could not influence my own
action or strengthen my belief and will not ask thai
they should those Of others W" beiirV" IN tn" primer
1e, of jefferson and plant ourselves upon his M
thorv alone upon their operation and ruc'er- W. -lak'
= our sil-,he happiness {" o Us and our- They have
been handed to legacy from our inthert"e me,
r time. that tried mems souls. They h"vegfown viii
orr growth and strengthened with orr -trengtihel
we're the theme of boyhoods fondest dreans-he ar
the dictates OF the Judgment of our ripper year--th",
have h.,ooc la US deep life long convictions upon whlci
We mean to act aud which appealing to the J''agmen
and sympathy OF enlightened country, '-v dHr'
mant1in with unbroken front with sccpless md cease
.,, energy now aud for all time TO come in DEFIANCE
al, odd ana if need be- in despt" Of all consequences
rus,;u 10 Heaven or the result And here one w"ul'
: npose If have been successful i'll showing til" justice
uf nv might close. ftihs, ""u'u ~
~, r. i;ny my cause within Il; rule Of right and rca
.on. il would seem can answer no scrviceable end herr
can yiy, no inch of vantage ground III l7 grc: su;
M are BE- looked TO alone and iofe re
suits are be as'ertan"d by the party IN power IRON
ih. conflicting assumptions Of tho feelings interests t
pr.u,c.. of different sections of the Stae-ar" I" b.
preiira,el the fears and protested forsbons, of pow
= r. rather than based upon the fundamental prnrPle
: ri repnbcanism and if 10 wither NIL hope and sal
q the very foundations of principle We have been t9i'
y by those who are rcgardeda. leaders on this floor INA
opinions and principle. tho result Of locality and IN
# terct l. il possible that can listen To such Ia .ag'
4 unnovei-trai can hear such sentiments wi'h"h,
deep shrinking Of establishment under 'hs nIa
r ness Of the charge sl deeper sense OF oichd'.
manhood and whitening condemnation oil the sentiment
it procaims ! am prnde, no Fermonlzer, II" s'rnish
laced morast no lover of rickly ssntmality "a ho''
who know me can at,.4t-and Yet declare 10 y"u Ina
when heard this sentiment ann"inced. The thcrh"hi'
Ter Of western hopes seemed To culver upon zcro-t
,remb. ON the pon, IF cunuauiation-m very blood
, ran slower and colder
what such = sentiment as tbs promulgated as II
w.ro with smiling malice uttered with the indifference
NJ nm ey;omntc truth-in deliberate dcbae-in an Ell
! rl,o,l or,befor, an assembled nation Of frconel--