Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-03-14

thing should occur 10 bring in question, or requi
liz defence
.,oz. an one CT hose Who believe that the r.sh
Of the STAKEHOLDER are AZ firmly fixed IN this Commo
wealth as tho rights Of the soil. And am one of tho
who believe that the rights Of property in this Cor
monweath not dependent entirely or chiefly upc
the amount of money power which each one may ha
pen to be able to exercise in the government.
Wy friend from Spots lyania saws the people
safe foundation upon which to to the government
There is just where desire 10 place it, right at II
source OF all power. believe that, the Cover!
meat has TO look TO III" people to support it in al
emergency, al the constituency Of that ,oycrnmc
mast loo. IN confidence. and only through the medu
Of confidence, 10 lie government and the people IL
| the support and protection Of their rights.
| vii! not however discuss that question but | vi
merely throw ont the idea that gentlemen may I'll
doctrines which announced here b. di-til
lshcd member the other dav, that IN comraun
tics governed by interest only and not BY prir
ciple feeling Of Affection sense of justice. Ii tla
doctrine be true, and ii the people Of Western Iireni,
WHO large majority Of tie people Of this con,tno.
wealth hostile the rights Of the other portions
is citizens merely bec.sc they Go net happen to he s.
mech interested il! that species Of property say ii hi
be true | sec result IL the argument The br;n
oi which have not the moral courage to look slud
der II Tie result, Of such p!osophy sco IL il hop,
and wi- spca. mildly my heart shrink. within me t
hear TINT the virtue and intelligence of colstitucnc,
the pubic opinion ui our State BOT equal the pro
lection Of ali it, interests. do believe in MAJ: ia
a!liblty but do believe people capable o seli-gov
ernmen', and that the greater portion, quite as good
and safer than the ie Bat fmv friend will come and tax,
with inc the true sound liberal the noble and heart
carsoling doctrine ii confidence between man and nam
and confidence in the people, can find for him u rciae
~ against all evils Ia these forty thousand slave hold.
| RS of Virginia, OF winch ! am Though there be
| distinction in kind there shall not be in interest,
will secure for him community Of niiecon--a comnl-
| nifty Of depcndcnc.a corn!nanv Of State patriotism,
/ ',fp Il M,
cission 1t home n bind hearts a. that Of on. nan
! IN deeic. "f THEN ,'i,> agains, the common world
=" "" have n"' cone here clainin. power because
W. love ii, hu I" lac" it whore it belong, The prin
cp" by which withhold that which is another world
IL The end taxi from ,.c,! that v, mine W. cla
'hrmlority because, So ete majority have the right,
ai rc lapst Competed: rulv direct. th. who'll while
;!.ca osrniel.; We also isi-; IN common with all
that , iirecoL,c ,r which! government Wa instituted
III protection a. liz. liberty and property. should be-
-acrry Respected. i neither 10 the prejudice or de,ri
ii"i q" he ohcr tiii th"r" i no guarantee which gen
tieha MAY rie>'' tp AK desire which will no; place
man on political inequality with another man in
!i- commonwealth, ~ not perfect; willing Ia give
y il Is int necessary s'a mol refer thu different
,ii- ii guar"n'.> which have bec,l III, red ,r the con.
-i.raIi'a "i liri> C'ms'ioii Tor il would the
hort nc l- mc /" conclude ny barren and de-.
ut"fy remarks.
But propose 10 mak. one Two suggestion. in that
relation. The supe:ior, at guarantees an
r"r' m! susceptible majority whose conservatism is
founded upon some supposed interest IN line particular
section II the Commonwealth from which il comes is
think manifest. Ia reference 10 public expenditures
#c lind thai the majority OF susceptible
all The various influences that be brought 10 bear
upon Individuals that in their representative ca
pacy alter having taken upon themselves the solemn
Responsibilities, and obligation, II 4 general oath thew
do-and The history 81 or Legislature shows that they
"ano help swcryins from the fearless conscientious,
discharge 81 their duties. whereas il they had had
'iin! a rule ol action prescribed BY The constitution.
- That rs whh they shou! 20. and n., ona which
h"v -honld not ga, there womb hc possibility OF
departure. except 10 tan - The people might in tie I'm
iitni;. ahd gilar-!r. give ,!cm discretion believe
Il = admitted here ~ gentleman the other side that
e'iari:i';'> would b. good and better than
!ort; without, restrictions. provided !icv had any as
suranrc lia tie, would lee adhered Ia. II seem, that
tie, imagine Tia! the policy oI gentlemen This side
j. ir,t 10 ~iecale Them out III the power. and after
wards cxcrcs" that Iol,er IN violating the obligations
under winch ti.cs have placed themselves. Now, sup
pose Tia; incrc. IL br the object Of members beyond
The mountains. wish 10 know hat reason they can
assign Tor srpposng that the valley would not be a
hostile To an :necc-ar, cal: of a convention as Pied
moi. OF ic water. WHY. aside from reforms in the
executive ami Judiciary department., OF he govern
mcGi aid the limitations upon suffrage, what motive
have tEos Tor hr;n n ihi, Convention advocating the
popular basis: II Il nothing but prncp pie and viii
scnCigra .el Int that the whole population cannot be
united upon an, III" subject without being scli>hiy in
crcst,d ~ il, except ii matter ii feeling or aec
ton viii them What does the vale. gain by the
port ~ me committee: Comparatively nothing, il IN
deed any thing 81 all. II does not exceed delegate
but considering tn large proportion Of the property
owned III this STATE that she has does any suppose
thai inr the sake Of that delegate she would he here
now advocating the popular basis that for the sake
oil ono more she would call Convention again; !
Know that gentlemen say there i no such thing as
principle operating upon nen in tbs Convention. This
Is moi sirprsing--coming. A. il does rom pArty-a
portion whom after the manner oi Mr. t'shcr. have
pcnrd this debate with the declaration that govern
men there are no srch things principles al all. Bat
r"rel IA" ch1it.' 'n = = = which II made
aiid beg 10 I.i':tr myself Ill lra, al tumb.
ce'on. There i no,hir-. nothing 70 actuatc me eN
rcii regard Tor the principle al tie popular basis
and belief over and above il. that Commonwealth
il suffering from the want Of an infusion Of popular
sisor and strcneti. Why, tie county which
represent 10 Tar from gaining any thing upon tho
popular basis, the probability has, until recently
been, that she would lose Il delegate. expect 4
ttlc credit 10 b. given us tor principle, 10 the
extent that it has been manifested. if more. Nov
the yallcy Of Virginia i, inhabited by conservative
people, they lave ~ dca Of calling convention, Tor
sport ard when YOU re this people the RICH, If suf
fra =. when YOU give them the election OF their OWE
ud-r, II ta, he What they want and tie election of
governors ~ hc people and all those popular reforms
which the mass 81 The good people Of Virginia have
been demanding in VAIN Tor year. past, they will hare
nothing lci then In. 70 rest IN peace the Subject Of
conventions, and apply their energies doing the best
th.y under uur constitution for the promotion Of
tneii interests. will warrant that 80 far as the
district ot Loidon i concerned YOU will have
call convention Soon AGAIN. provided Civ. them
Liberal reforms ana come about the mark Of hu-
mainly You d III this present stage of progress
wish imply 10 address few more considerations 10
the committee and then shall have discharged nv
duty Gentlemen have called upon us 10 depart from
a plain and we'll understood rule Of republican govern
ment and they have assigned 10 as reason that if
tie representation OF the Commonwealth, or the dilec
ton Of the government. should not b. placed in the
:ar.- OF i minority upon the MIXED basis that
would have TO guarantee whatever against an cXtray-
agant aud danger expenditure oil lie Pablo money
Now, think ii fair occasionally give fca reasons
- well a, 10 ask Tor them, and SSH gentlemen 10
mp 10 ;hi, question and demonstrate 10 that IN
any Instance whc! possibly Lr aliucr,i the mixed
basis ha' ever answered the pafp1>tr - which 1t i
SAID to lac wei adapted. Il ceriain, Is not the
in regard to STATE. Candid gentlemen the
other ids hayr acknowledged hci- disappointment in
The results Of this ungnciped, though wonderful, nvei.-
tom and they have To come over 10 u, and to admit
ha. they cannot e:en 'rt-, their owl majority owning
all the property. rayu all the revenue. and holding the
key Of the treasury lthout adopting this principle Of
guarantees which We have rroposedto tie fullest extent
10 follow the adoption 81 our basis # representation
Now ii ;he>c GUARANTEES will su'Scsva the purpose
vii! attain tie olsec; ii the sen'lFn WHERE is the ne
cc,sitv 81 iuliong up"i tn public Mud and feeling Of
Til, state thr naked basis. Ii ,h- contrary m.
nike. basis will accal. !i-h al TIA i claimed or !,
what il IT,. q: these restrictions upon tho le.;,a