Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-05-09

l!a! . J., us li'N ,!!c lie Inc
propositions h. .ag coa:cn.! lof here Il t:iis hc tie
rue which eastern ,cn::rac. p:escrtc Tor lnci. con.
Guci here then there is but little hopc that We III ar
rrr at any salslactor. conclusions. Republican gov
eminent The offspring OF s';rh Of ,ea
ing the other hand, has Invariably bccn al his
tory irsliic: The fruit of Justice and concesson Of lib
crafty AMI compromise, and oil patriotic devotion 10
cOGnry
Tie gentleman from Halifax iTr. EpNusps) has in
formed Us thai he regards haSe!i a, exclusively lie re-
preventative If hi, immediate con>Icntsttat his '!%t
and o"iY dy 10 The people of his district, ard that the
r:t OF Instructions obligatory upon him here as if
he were in an ordinary legislative boiy He moreover
tells Us that he comes mmova5ir pcGGct TO support
me Mixed Basis Of representation. II ts be the trle
condition .. .c gentleman, why has he undertaken 10
discuss tbs question herc-;yhy undertake 10 convince
others, wien lie Himself bcyon! the reach of argu
nlcnt The rc ~ wEc. NC haze been convened, directs
tat wa shall consider discuss and propose a con-
ston, SC" Consider, discuss and propose where!
Here in Til: BODY most aSsrcdly Bi tie gentleman
has taken time BY the forc-ock and when he arrives
IL 20, h. informs that he has drcau considered and
discussed s question, and ha; his opinions irreyo
cahl ma:r Up. II the gentleman ne correct, and his
view, be carried OK, what will he tie result: By acci
cEt, CT combination o; circumstances tie whole pow
FRS Of this government have gotten into the hands OF
minority Of The people. The majority come forward
and demand tina: this inequality be: corrected and they
admitted to dte participation in the powers exercised
o. tins government The governmental majority under
colr o doing st!:e 20 the majority Of the people pass
a.; can.: convention 10 reform Ike constitution IN
this and ether respects: but III organizing the convention,
they nc spcca! care 10 retain 10 themselves that pre-
aoEs.acc OF powc: so much claimed OF by ahe
ory. and - doEbia security. ;lcy send representa-
.ycs the Convention bound Dy The right of n:trc
ton, and pledged 10 course which must rcTpetuate thus
preponderancc OF po"cr in the hands oil minority Tor
Ill tina: 10 ask gentlemen on the otner slde TO
point Oh. The remedy for tins Outrage upon The rights oil
the majority They do not afford 10 The western
rcoplc The satisfaction Of having their claims to equality
ialy considered by impartial tribunal! lfrrii rights
81 The lnost Iii !mpoltat kind aioiScd, the laws OF
TIC aud would SccnGe { l. and Impartial trial by
competent tribunals but lcr ,iis the most important OF
=. ::sis-;!Ic great and paramount right o: political
cq:a!I!;-tic:" 10 h. ~ remedy. Axe gentlemen
N tie Other size determined ha, ;Eic western people
,y.i lake Tic c'!aiccs oil certain decision aga!7S! ihe:
by bo!y Of men who have rtr;udssd their case ak
20 kos i! ticw ;ci! Ia ,l:I. 10 Tie western people
&c Alternative OF ctcra! submission 10 inequality and
coSeLn., depreciation tie Cnr hand or revolution on
the other: and demand II these are to tie
c alternatives the western people ;I not be long in
ci0os:n.. between them.
But the gentleman from Halifax MIR EDNrxDs} comes
here pledged, and hr aut Yield NJ. upon any terms,
particle o what - 81; his undertaking to his
co!s.c !cv Murcnyc:. h. recognizes 10 III" fullest
,S!cat .ir r-'t of Instructions this floor. We
.cre conceive 20, much the representatives OF
each particular district The representatives Of The
Hi:C.s people OF tbs commonwealth tGr The reasons
before stated, We are boad Dy .iat broad principle
;iizc applicable 10 ordinary legislative bodies In
view o. tie great mischief which result from RI
gid Application Of this doctrine to iris body, must TIC
perniIlr doubt, az least, is correctness here The
constitution, when framed, is operate, net only in ore
district but in ali the parts OF the state. H. therefore,
any Instructions imce:at.vcly binding ION The repre-
>catatvS here, think Ike. are such Only Is may be CIV
en- by Ii. whole people ol Ibis commonwealth Inc APP
i.ca.; OF this doctrine 10 body Convened TO reform
i. con.lou * without single prcrcdea. 10 sustain it.
It IS that Heightened statesman and tre patriot,
Genera! Taylor, having been induced 10 doubt whether
&c was accurately rejecting the sentiments OF The People
81 his district in tn convention of ~! SD resigned his
seat in that body Eut th, falls very far short OF csan-
iIs!D5 ;c doctrine conteEdci for. No instructions
gives hsrnonc have been given here's and VIII
be time enough discuss and d eide this question when
it shall regularly arise.
There is proposition, the correctness OF which VIII
not he t:cnied in terms while has been indirectly as
.ac; IL argument. 1t is The competency OF the people
Of this commonwealth, east ard r's 70 govern them
selves. After The most triumphant success that has at
tended a our experiments upon This s'birct. there can
not exist well grounded doubt p the correctness Of
his pr o position In fact, haze difficulty 10 con
rncc gentlemen on the other side, as 10 competency OF
Il ,,r:i. Of the people They not oni: admit the capa
o.. tie eastern people Ia govern themselves, but ss
t they are also rompctcn: to govern tie western people
c gentleman .ro:a fauIucr (Alr. CTILr"S) has re
icred hc French nation, for The purpose OF showing
,is The great evils likely 10 result from establishing the
MA ;or;l, ruc. do not know with What View this re
terence .:., made nlcs, institute comparison be-
tween tie people OF France and the people Of tbs old
Let tell the gentleman that this
,o!nS arson il unjust and G,0gs. While The ore has
.i;i6rai9 failed il ia effort, sustain republic, the
other has proved Itself most riumphany Successful in
living this great problem; and if there bc people upon
his globe possessing the requisite degree Of virtue and in
Hi sc!cc adopt and preserve. free form Of govern
ncnl, i. IS the people OF tins State.
i;ctu:. going into the investigation Of the main giles
ion let rs inquire il there is anything to govern in
nj, ,;r:Is sion Some gentlemen the other lie de-
,onccd tie Bill of ri hit, bunGc OF abtractions
,aa as unworthy oil any consideration III our dcihcra
ions; t:us presenting the great SUBJECT Of government,
A. matter OF mere policy aud cXpccmcy; while Others
admit hai it contains the great fundamental! prime pies of
rep ,t amism. The weight Of missions on tie other
81 e. seems Ia he tina! the iii! of Rights framed in
~. reviewed and rcadopc! by The convention Of
IN 30 and reported by al able committee 10 this body
without amendments, far as this question is involved
,;,rili guide in framing the government which we
arc about establish There is, however, another hea-
~ light To- aid lis in our deliberations to BE- found in
hat provision of the constitution OF the United States
which secures 10 every State republican form OF GOV
,rnrncu What ether better guides could wc have;
Bat tic effort wlci We making: 10 obtain equality
Of political rights Is pronounced by gentlemen ON the
other SIDE as struggle for power in This they are only
half rrat il is cmphatically struggle for power on
their part while it is struggle for principle the part
Of the advocates OF the suffrage Basis II is. no doubt
for gentlemen 20 GcMoinrc position which
thew cannot meet by argument
tl,
advanced in favor of the suffrage Basis by
imuutinr TO those who urged them, Interested motives
1t is said that interest is the main spring of human ac-
ton, and that it prompts the course hch the western
pool lie ur-ung OH this question If gentlemen OH
the other side intend to mpue, the motive Of
ton here selfish sordd pccuniary interest repr the
charge ~ alike unworthy of those who make it.
meritca by those to whom il is applied In political
ron OF view, il is well known 10 gentlemen here that
the district VIII have the lolor part 10 represent.
has nothing to gain lose by tie decision of this oie-
ton Upon III. ofpltica! power, they stand per-
fecy Indifferent between the Nike; and Tie suffrage
Bash AMI occupying this dis.ntecs:ed and lat* po-
,ition hm! supposed that motives won! E.;c
been Questioned here but tina: the justice an. ;i5c-T
OF those with whom con;e!in. w0.. ':re aiv.
"a Us ccGt for honesty .. purpose at Icas j! .!yrci.
ting the grca principles Of republican liberty. BIZ; ii
na;ngn WHO ch,rss interest the n.otve intend to
u. til. term in that i;belaiar: enlarged sense which
warrants and requires have inc rnrr to the well
far 4, the whole state AID looking tic permanent
Interests Of IL. shall "clp: TO pursue such
=, on tits question: a. shalt best the peace pros
pcry End happiness Of the whole people Then indeed
We .re p:onptcd b; interest. Yes sir by ilat patriotic
devotion to The best interests Of this old Commonwealth,
Which a!ore, can sii-taiu her in this trial
R..aatls q; Jfr. Fu= continued 70 >"Ep'cn2.a 70 So
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