Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-03-14
,e.,c .;,,a,,, IRON, rs Prs~.i

o,.ha Troy wo, c entitled to the Sane represen.
taticn and therefore they we're a1vocati7s tie White
hasis- upon principle The gentleman from Jefferson
followed his example and wen: further After pay
inc mos; ccouen, trbat 10 his generous consti'uen
cy and describing his country rs beautiful gar
den in which nature and agt had been most iavisn i'll
their decorations he concluded hy declaring snS '"
were "rch iii the recoectons Of the past sat'ea y 'l'
the condition OF the present AID to US" his own
language wanted nothing. asked nothing. ana oeseo
nothing !" and tina. gentleman therefore assumed Tue
right to counsel and advice without the inpu'aii"n OF
interest or prejudice. His constituents are '," PSu
ing pure abstract principle from inc i"Ve o It. :,
do not mean 10 claim for my district sc entire dis
;ntero,tain-ss Nor can claim that II oceUpe, 80 Ell
yiabe position in MI respects, u, t.se :" nc gentle
men Il is true ny district ! rich III iisiorlea! reIi'
oences Perhaps il we're Inclined. might claim
rreeminence IN ts regard, tut iorbcaf. iiis Is ~
time 10 speak the eu!ogy 81 her distinguished s'ns
Bat i. mus, he admitted my people have want and lie
Stree and things remain present and they Will at
counsel Of m they will be Inc doors Of the treasury
seeking their qualification. Eat il is my pride !" say
for them tina. Notwithstanding thee wsat.nl ;ne,
are many-they are prepared 10 sacrifice them ali iol
the common veal aad 90 with Inn who s"s' itnoe
in providing efectual restraints upon The aproiTia''s
power &C =" government; ;,
Nor arc Inv constituents cLgaaoi IN mere ''''' y
for nol;rcsl Iower They will receive the some number
- Jlar..o. ,non either hasi, ani Halter myself az
as fee from improper bis npon this question - Those
vino boast louder. -.
called Us together, question winch lies Ut THO '"H'
ton of a,i oths:7
10 treating this question. do not feel called "Poh u
;ou;rc ir lie merits OF the controversy between s'ii
Rn.art Filme. AMI John Locke. r. 10 whether man w"'
originally free or born in state OF snhe'tion; sun II.
INQUIRY may have been mor' appropriate III 'i''
oraen;zat;oi of government N this country certainly
- ia decision can lead 10 practical ra-u!t al
s .o,at;.n, are in the view wii.ci inhS OF this
,h;acf idle AID Improbable.
Il cam. be denied that the r.opie "i srsnia are
-. an organzed community. What their rights
I'm .h.y entered Into such community AMI became
.rhect to the existing government 90 not mean 10 IN
nura The present government, was constructed ~ 'he
aosnts approved w henselycs. and they therefore ON"
+ allegiance ul ..od.icd or changed ~ tho same great
power that gave ii beingthe Peops Tue
san. IA here &c consider Of amendments - CT IN ei'te
Lca in this form, Q; government. shall i"t go hatA
% o,:re into the popriev ., the &c; under whci mus
Convention was called. II i s'inelen' i'r me 20 '"
,hot i rec.iveo the sanction o. iaSe 's3"''! "a i
aoa &c ,i commonwealth. and in virtue thereof am
on,esen,;uo portion of those people aGs ny Inc
,hor,tv Of large majority Of til" whole; AM !; Is 700
late 70 90 behind the act of assembly authorizing uc
shn,;ssion q: the question to the people laAhs tm'
80 ~ ,bs question stand here Claiming 40 superior
view =. obsr members of ,hi. body and Welding no s
sr;ori,y 20 any in point OF right We are Aii mere 20
cnte high public trust, and each Is rs-p2n>ie irF
the manner in which it is performed, primarily 70 III
own constituency and sccondarily to the people oil IN
whole S.... What il that trust
l. 70 prepare for the people OF the commonwealth
e V-,o; suitable constitutions not for the people 81
~ ,Sr connf,v but for the people o. TIL, ilohic "!d
Domnion. 1t 10 this grateful work that snail at
rsss myself viii. al ha devotion OF so; IN tepf'-
80. - mi. du,y--shc viii hot discard The iin"~o'
81 IS b;.torv-1ie practical workings %: cher cons,
n;;ons and forms Of government. based upon principles
frent from those upon which We have been accnsoie
- relv ye, canddlv confess Nha nlne my gaze 10
orcat exten, - Virginia. mad will s"i.a"or /" -tudy
her cond;ionpi.vsiea end m9fa'-t''c e'ar",'', mri
bahta of Lsr oco:r and from them wilt try to learn
Tho, form oi government il best adapted I" SECURE to
naonle the en- ol I'll good .ovcrnment--Sccurity Ia
rea, and property. 1t has been SAID thar ~ We are
ar,: 10 ST.; pest a form Of government !" the peo
~ f- mir rat;cation ,lla we should leave this great
Pte ~. n,a,n Cav ,ia ,.crs5ion. We have been nTi
"a 70 tb;s test For ona deny the pr"prie:y OF any
suh course We are here to diso!srye T'ry important
ar,v-;t i. 70 suc-es. form Of government wh'ch ~
or judgment ia best adapted 70 he people OF rgaa
Let US discharge that duty Nhe i, = LONE , S' y
aecst or reject it, That is their duty 10 hcir decs
ON ll cheerfully bow. l, wa folly in thein to seat
hara n rsier questions OF this Kind back to them
shall not do II.
;. tsta notice OF the remark oi The gentleman from Bar
honr Mr. CaRLIlE) who las just taken his seat. ! de
sire 70 express nv strong dissent to the views with which
he closed his speech 49,.
nnde--., him to declare That the people of this state
have nc inherent right to meet IN PRIMARY assemblies
al convention and change alter The constitution a
Ihev NAV think fit without the agency oi the existing
government and ye; such proceeding would h't "e rev
e,pon. No man means TO deny the po"cr OF revoiu
,;on bu. il the gentleman means to say such IN ac
ud IL less than revolution. tell him be IA utterly
,.rat. Ii was precisey such principle that led te
the rebellion in Rhode Island. Il was SUCH
Nv CANINE II he gentleman vii. allow ne IL
;rterrunt hin 10. momcat will sa" that ind tha;
,ba nrncpe for hic have contan!ed vas never ,c;ed
(. -as,A I, 6Ilpflsf
frame government not b majority but minority Of
~. CONWAY. /, vas certainly not called in the
r,oda ra,..-nized By the government Of tue state II
was called in opposition TO the government under
a;.h ,hev then l,ed aud the number of persons en-
gagged in it, canno. ats NE qcss."n " To-. " m
ny;ety A raio1.iy may maze suceessini fev"!u'"n
bnt i does not make ii les, re7'Ltioa a"d, tha' !
ths neople here Iasior,y 9. minority shonia eau
convention wiou, the conseat OF the cS1iig govern
yrent it would be rcvoit----- , :.
Nv CAPIILE ask pardon of the gentleman io!
;ntar,rntin, him again but desire 10 know Whether
oroy;sen in calling this convention j. to he found IN th'
present constitution. .. :, :.
a,s,l,orr Seh,,e What say, repeat. the g n!emai
snnS.lla lar h:s own views | hold that the peop,,
- 1T Sat. of.o- 'o. -..-f.....-@ {, .crn
rnent eau onlv throw il OH III one Of two way one II
...,-doncc with the existing government, "ich Is IL
49,. v-av and tho other b. revolution which j. TN
Or
=. a;,nc,lr ana am responsible for that oplalon tina
+bs new doctrine i. RATHER m"rt nor less than Dor
Yjsm" : -,; . =,
rrnose for which this Convention was called aud assn
ming that we understand for w'n thus government
- ha bl;she2 the question Grises wh. Is /" be III
character OF the government :,
Ts;s win Is have before remarked depend upon tn
char0c,er end condition of the people to be governed
Rnt there is an inquiry preliminary to this 1t Is this
Il there aav ats,.ic principle which must be applie'
10 all government. without the application OF which Ii
.,o-.rnmeut is republican il lis nature 80 II Is assert
ed The bill Of rights has been ',ucisd and relied uPol
hv tho advocate. .. this view, AID We hay" been rarYc'
With gross dsre ,ari Of the principles embodied IN tina
ssr;es Of fundamental truths. BY oar proposed basis
renresontation big Leave say tha, cordially .'ib
scribe to every doctrine aaolrce, III the bill q! rights
according 10 my Interpretation OF len" Gc'!cin
have been careful read that portion OF ,i'a bill o
roAts which has reference to the rights Of ian ind'
nsndet of government, hut have omitted that portion
1rvhch shocd form guido in the construction OF
,nrrnn,anf The articles most commented upon are th
lst, end and 3rd.
,sndent snd have certain inherent rights, OF which
When they enter into state or society they cannot b
anv compact deprive dives their postcrty namely
,he enjoyment Of life and liberty. with the means Of &C
.I.I