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

F.~s;st,I 10 RoaERr II. GALLAHEn "ot'S"eI - "e
| c.nrent;oa, BY WIN. G.. Bisaor, Official lsep'rsr:I
.,....., at .Nr. HOGE Of -N""tg"m'rg, 0" tie '"s's
ii,e-e3 in Com.ait:cr Of tie Who'r r""''"-
t,.n, .;y,ri' Isl, 1851,
n. Chairman, i, ia under = deep sense OF the very
h,,yr responsibility am about !" ."ee pH;
n.y." h,r he,n induced to venture INT" .n.s a'scos
'na' 't ll in view of that responsibility from
So. w. ;sn,ss Of my inability TO do adequate JUS
va ..,ac nf So m,ch magnitude But occupying
',N' - Ia a. one OF the representatives rom
~ nf the State sought 10 DC p''N'''.I" ~
- ,,n,ples nnw attempted I" DC i' ,''s,
- ,; law. must crave the E'ni Indulgence o.
t,'' Ear little while IN humble defence CT
~ ~. md principles 81 these who sent me mere
~, t,,,l am fro. that portion OF tie State now al
tcmptcl 10 De deprived 81 lis ruai o.itcai iiS'S'
shall not approach this question with local lecigs
enter upon IT. DISCUSSION III sec',oI.! s.,' t,,
= vir-itian and have the proud satisfaction OF know"
inv tnat represent this floor, those VINO ''t true
,,;,e whue.suucJ Nirgiuians shall therefore co.
"a the discussion OF this deeply nomentous sn"ect !"
The spirit o: Eirginan, TO view ITS bearing w.
,uriic State aud not upon one S.et,o" r.., ono
, ~. Il a treat question and truly II Is great one
,, ~,or Of this debatc, the ilnmetSe ability uspIayed
:. discussion and the towering, burning eioqn"nce
i,,l. 10 bear upon it, all attest Its maShitude nj
violence of the mighty bearing It's tina! settlement
,.. have upon the ultimate destmics OF this Ola lom'
."". j,b We are assembled here to reconstruct the
'' Inv. II The State, and in the discharge OF the
ir,;.s assigned us | consider 1t our imperative
- COX for fundamental truths, ans! to ~. just the
!; RI, government shall construct, rs to pro-
80 .s greatest amount of good To the greatest num-
'rh.t form of government that most nearly APP
''' a,.. hi, result consider the best ouc-irdced
f"Iy ,r,,, one Ii we abandon great principles to
tii ;nr sectional interests, real or imaginary We
b,- ike removed from that savage state that claims
h roi : 10 ia. victor. If We deny the existence OF
s,t ,r,nc pies in every well.reguated government,
". are y; cuce thrown upon the Wide deSoiatons o.!
,rrh 10 be tossed and tcnlpestdrvcn by every wave
- VISION and prejudice that possibly enter the
Jns.s II u,.n Bat it to me that the very fact
.Lo, ,s Convention called and that we have been
mere organize The government, anu 10 pre-
,r. ,I. ionds within which that government Sho;liu
.oyc was the declared opinion OF our people that Srr"
do exist and should be brought 10 bear na IN,
,;.ns Y, sustain towards each other Is the people
i sovereign State Its true that different kinds OF
,incnc appertan 10 the various governments Oh car III
~, j, oysrnmeut as in everything else there Is true
,r;nc;ne AMI there are false ones. And whilst III ih>
at in this land of ours II would not DC prudent OF
r,nr 10 institute an inquiry into the correctness "i
ihe different principles upon which the var"l;s govern
,n ii earth rcposc. it our imperative duty To seek
nm, Io, fundamental truths thar most clearly approx
NAT. Tie design for which government was instituted
j., ;iap,atic 10 the wants and necessities oil the cou
tr: and the promotion ol Tue il''s -' VI "
people
and it was the love OF that principle that nerred
III. strong arms and sustained the patriot hearts OF our
rvolu,joar fathers through all the darkness OF that
eycnt:ul struggle. And that principle, rs they h1v.
,ar arl il; is that all power Is vested IN, and conSe
orently. derived i:oln the people. And, under thu
oner:tioa oil THAT principle, this American nation has
advanced with sucn unparalleled strides i'll power @nc
greatness that it has become the mshtie>t natol
mon carrh-the wonder aud admiration OF the world
rue that principle has been perfected in all it,
Ills in any of the sovcreignties of this Union anc
- rams never will be- for the science OF government
Ike every other science is progressive. But that n at
nn,r. must have truth its basis, and resting upon
lin: foundation safely defy the winds ana the
waves Then Throughout; the whole 81 tnis vas: con
-inr5 the principle is received true, that all the
,,,.ysr Of Government are derived from the people
'g; i the declared doctrine of our declaration OF III
t,,.u.lce and bill of rights; and ooth those s;ereG
Irmu}eu,s recognize men equal and free hat 1t.
;h,.. instruments mean whnn they declare thal Aii
men are bv nature equally free and independent y
,h nat mean that all are equally enttledto the pro
. a., and Blessings that flow from the government allG
IN, n. should haze an equal voice ana be entitled u
a., son, ! weight in dealing out the powers vested III
Them: II does seem To ME that our fathers nave ete
declared the fact tilt man Is an absolute sovereign ue
connlr,c a,bter Of his own destiny upon eaft' AM
,n i,n- sovereign are all equal i'll that sovereignty
AMI onar, from society and its regulations, he stti,
~ did the first man upon EARTH the absolute MONARCH
of all Men, then. III coming t"Sc'hes 10 IN th'
Fundamental principles of society IN" I" determine ;'l
arrange the laws for the government {" 'h' Soei"'
came together as many equa! and ahs" ute sovcrrs
ch nss.ssed ut penary powers 10 act III the premises
1,,,. canning together with what show ot reason I"
rnn wh,. principle Of right could one portion OF then
d.ny 20 the residue the right to come III upon equa
J. rms ant, to possess equal powers with themselves
In oiher words. suppose the whole people assem-
1iup thp
tied for the irpose 81 "'g ~ aI and in that as
.,oI,arc the minority should declare that though un
coma; IN number. vet possessing greater amount o.
IN l.ct intelligence AM! moral VIRTUE they "n"''
ri.r.f,; contribute much more I" the general welfare
ai Il uld consequently have greater amount Q, l"We
:n,v were larger i'll stature, possessed greater o"
II ,r>ir.l power and were better skilled III the Use I"
rms and could consequently contribate nnch more
=, IN. General defence in time oil war or o an iFasol
.,I h,.d therefore have greater amount OF power
:: - :, Government Would any one LAY that such +;
roosn was nj MI in accordance with the great prln
INF. of sovereign equality wiki which 1t Is adintfc,
,hny came together! The answer 10 such Il PROPOSE
,i,n | think would be clear and overwhelming In
r.,o,.. woul burs; rom athou-2rd tonguee-We c"t'
together rs many equas I" i"ri He compact u, 20"
,,,, i,r tire benefit aud protection OF all; and iha
r,.,. when framed will not derive it entire sup
-, mr. defence from any class vi which the c";n!'"c
,,,,,scd but from each in h- respective @Ph"r" "
.ri,iu.ss and from all in the aggregate II then >"c
,,;,n would be secuted in an assembly OF me pc"p'
themselves with what reason and ProPriety can We
t, representatives do for them what they would mol
,. could not DO themselves. We are the representa-
,e 81 The people in their primary capacity, and wh
,ro,d we do for them, or they do through us VITA
nv. wl not do directly fasscmblcd in their priiHar
ra,aci,v. That which it would be unjust or lmproPe
:,r hen, 10 do themselves, cannot be justly or VIII
mr. pricty d, ne through their agents And any atte'p
-, ,r part to restrict the powers OF suffrage IN on
ca. BY rnargingi in another, Is rs clear .iolati1
ii c great principle of sovereign equaiy rs ~ mos'
l.. !, Siv. greater number OF votes 70 one thai u
,.t,r IN N, Urinary assembly of the whole people
AMI the fact as alleged by many, that We are as
.r,tcl under the existing compact docs no, ch'''S
H.. ,ri,c;:e or d, away with its Injustice. Prncpe
ar. .n;lntablc and eternal and their p'nonS op'is'
, xte,,d through all time ana TO all circumstance,
DIN. existing government under which we are a.
,r!,.d extends oaly to ON assembling Ahd we nov
.y. In. AN. right of action and are as lhach '"'
l.. H.. .,ipo;encc of eternally amut:b.e truths II
Tho formation of the government, as tholsh III
goyr!.ac, had ever existed III the state. ol"h VIVA
,-irepr ,!ra or with what show OF just!ce shaii w.
agg create. power Of suffrage to one class oil c'ti
z,r. ;aa HE oinersl And that the question now ul
,i.r VI Immediate consideration Is an effort TO draw
distinction between the citizens IN the power OF suffrage
is :c; thu; presume will not be denied by any IN
;eliigc.t man.
VIA. is .1i:rare. Is it not the right aud power t
T. Ia