Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-02-11

slch restriction upon coWunalN bThucH VI the
government No power Of restriction upon tins great
officer According To the advocates of this cxtraord
narY proposition he ID 10 for life. If he can 81 man
az, "a TO secure his election for long period and
in the mean time he snot To be inhibited from other OF
better offices Yes sir elected for life with the privilege
according my colleague during life Of being elected
10 the high office Of Senator do not concur with my
colleague in this respect greatly prefer the propo-
siton Of the committee the original proposition Bat
the argument of the gentleman was that his proposition
advances the privileges OF the people The Argument
the legitimate arguments. whether ii advances the
rights of the people whether endangsrs the rights
OF the people That | submit 10 be the true question
under consideration.
The gentleman said that should not restrict the prl
yilege o the people in eecng this officer time and agan
aslong rs he shall live
The gentleman also said something about the election
oi the distinguished General Scott will draw an IT,
-tratlon oil my humble vsws in regard that distn-
guished man. ask of my colleague whether under h'-
Idea of extending the rights of the people. lie would
have them exercise the privilege of electnS the disn
guisled gentleman alluded TO bv him. the office OF
Chief Magistrate Nay, 90 further. Will the propo
sition allow the people the privilege Of eecting the illus
trious sage oil Ashland to be the Governor of ha native
state Are they not restricting and combining cleo
ton to the citizens III their State And not that
| restriction upon the powers OF the people. l. moi
that restriction much greater deprivation linn
restriction which ,l: contne election for nite
period and bring the incumbent back To the masses
ths people. In tho nature ol things il becomes the din
ty OF th, body not only to restrict the departments
the government but to restrict the people themselves
For this Convention ID the representation the imprrsoa
ston OF The people. We stand here representing III,
people III their sovereign capacity and what We do
| they do The acts of this body the acts Of ths
people. The people certainly have right IL re>trc,
themselves, II We view the proposition in tia;
| light.
If We to have proposition such as tli---if we
are IL have Constitution like this let 90 the eli.
tire figure. Let tl Constitution he opened 10 the en-
tir. world and allow man I" he elected whom the
people oi Virginia may think proper IL elect. Ii
there b. restriction in regard I" the Governor.
LIT it be- said that any man may BE- elected Open
the door IL old Kentucky; open the door to my old
friend Winfield Scott open the door, II YOU will, To
koSSuil open the door even To Lord Brougham and.
perhaps, SOME gentleman might like open it 10 II
menbcr of the royal family, for believe that this pr"
position. in the end will lead to ROYALTY king
Laughter
What | have said. am perfectly aware has been
very mperfecy delivered. Ny health, my personal
condition, and even my mental condition. l. not iavora
bic an address of this kind rise Ia address
this body without II very sensible" embarra 1-meht. Il
has uniinued will, during the entire time have
addressed This committee The gentleman over the
way while he made the object of his particular no
tice few DAYS since took occasion 10 say that was
done with all imaginable kindness What have said
WIS in Il similar spir-in all imaginable kindness
But will take occasion, IN conclusion to say, that
regard it excessively dangerous for any gentleman
however popular he may be- IL conceive the ld".. that
his popularity will stand everything. will take occa
-inn IL say that whom the Lord 10 destroy. hr
first mad
\ MEMBER That il not the quotation. Laughter.
Mr. DAVIS. | will further say that have. ever since
have turned thirty considered doubt A. the beacon
of the wise. have ever considered that the Opinions
oi the man who doubted whether he was right and
who would reflect and ponder III his mind whether he
wa right wrong. more apt to he night than hr
who Selling upon the first mop ri an idea. Is ever
afterwards looking Ter arguments. specou- or otherwise
t. sistan him in error.
". are engaged in work which ought excite our
affection. .u, our verv best uo ment- Tor tho people
The gentleman from Accomac thr. Wisr,) has spoken
in regard The people in terms Of eloquece which iew
here will rival. And will not that gentleman perceive,
with his ample knowledge ct history that the pe"I'"
often require t" be protected from ambitious knave-
Aud not aud all, appraised OF the tact that
hanan nature j. the same in all countries and at all
| tines: al. not appriS"d OF the fact that no
p"op.e lost their liberties by tha strong arm I'll
power alone: bu; that they have bowed then wiling
n-c.- The yoke misled and misguided hy their great
fayurites, Was il not 50 in ancient times Has 1t not
been 10 in more recent times Has II not been ST.
every where; God save from IT. being 80 here.
| Sir Bolts have very little I" say III reply to the
Gentleman who has juct taken h,s seat yet ic"i III"
necessity Of throwing myself for moment upon the
innlrenc. of the committee very much r"gr", that
this discussion has taken the turn II has and While
have nothing rc9r-, of what the gentleman has sad
haze great deal II regret ri the manner ana oi tue
spirit in which he has said il. And have sui more
to regret ii nave been unnteloay the cause o CIV
iny any good grounds Of offence Ia that gentleman II
will be rscolcctcd that when the gentleman speaks o'
taking the ball at the first hop, that my worthy col
League took my propo-o-as still SAY II Is FOR Il
st,,d- IL n,y proposition be"r" the committee" aid
stand responsible before The Conyenti" for it--ta' he
oil, I.t, AnI "a
gent enan did not d-nounce ME IN terms YET lac Ger
toIy did enoucc that proposition i'll terms wnc III my
opiniort were very exceptioae II had chosen |" ake
exception to them--espccally coming from what WIN
no, oroct-a gentleman who laS been Tor long t'hr
ma, only nv personal but my warne,t political Tread
liz certainly made the declaration that il did civ" hll
infinite Main to hear such II proposition A. that submit
ted Tx Iii. colleague presented i"r I'll" consideration I"
tli- Convention; and he spoke oi the INFINITE pleasure
thai il would giy, him to voie asa, lle proposition
~ III. c,.ap,irs And in using tl"s" terms w"hid
r,o..k il wis not by way III wtticisn, either slm
nj, referred TO The g.ntleman Language" aud .aid dd
NOT know whether tocouralu iat- or osympahlzc wi
hns--o congratulate him upon the pleasure 'ii'rie
him in voting against my proposition "r t" 'v"if'"@'
with hinl for the paiu 1t occasi"led
Mr.. DAVIS. lapPeal i" the Convention" 'i'' "7e'
nu -ucl language.
Mr.. BOT1S. appeal to the reporter whenever he
shall publish this debate
Tn. CHAIR Wien gentleman Is ocr''ps'nj The
hnor the conversations are VET 'uilh'Pei'
Mr. BOLTS. IN regard To the origin oil the prol".
to;, certainly a.tacl, sort II Importance I" IT.
nm v;ll;rr ~ transfer all the credit AMI honor belong
M, ia il l., the gentleman from the western part oi th'
sI.,. Who il seems had submitted a proposition oi Y
;I,r character hut 81 whi'h profess l" nave brei
| nti,cly ignorant al the time. | Knew moi "i H. At
though Ind the paper inny pocket hn' had not wi'h
i,, il tl.r.lrom from the moment when thu, document
ya, ,;rst handed round TIA members Thus no having
tsI.n no for examination and not expecting that thu
on.tion would come Up ut the moment i did sub
United the proposition without any kn.wledge OF th'
art ,h,t similar one Ind been before offered sleal
# i - my proposition because stand responsible" i"
:, b,.ors tn. Convention and the people. And yet
nm no, disposed to claim it, paternity The gentle
man then iocs he injustice also IN supp"sne that II
,t;na G,r = proposition not made hy me. but by Tia
| .,,l.man from Whrrng--
| 4 MEMBER From Barbour, you mean
Wr ByrTS. NJ. sir the gentleman from Wheeling
Mr. ,cou) -ai;l that the list Of members should IL
called in alphabetical orer, f"r the purpose oil destroy
inc the sectional aspect given every question wh'i
cam. before IN. Convention that because my name le
can with the letter i, DESTROYS The leader !" oS
| ! think That was the gentlemans rhyme asrr" L
no -rrh Office ! would he glad il my friend w"ul'
Mace himself under somebody who would lead hin Il
,nnr. democratic view. than he has expressed here DH
as know him 10 be = very nnruly horse and one w'
i moi 10 kick on, Of the traces beg leave not /" 'S