Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-04-22
THE TIMES, TERMS
Speech of Mr.. Hunter of ,Jefer SON.

Speech Of Mr.. Hunter Of Jefferson.
The effort of Mr.. Hunter of Jefferson before
the Convention on Thursday night last, furnished
a remarkable illustration of the truth that strong
mind becomes weak in bad cause. We have
seldom heard more inconsistent or more an
swerable argument. He set out with flat deni-
al of the Jus maoris the cardinal principle of the
white basis, and yielding which, that basis stands
without even plausible foundation. He conceded
that government was altogether conventional, and
maintained that there was no abstract fundamen-
tai principle to regulate the social compact This
concessum carries with it a total surrender of the
doctrine that the mixed basis is anti-repubcan be-
cause not in conformity with the ratio of voters.
If the slaveholding portion of the community
think it expedient to demand protection in the Or
ganiZation of the government as the condition of
the compact, Mr.. Hunters principles entirely sup
port their claim
But this genteman's incongruity of reasoning
did not stop with this strange departure from the
ordinary premises of his Western coadjutors
He took up the Bill OF Rights, and declared that
it was the grand chart by which the Convention
should be guided. They had no commission, he
said, to disregard the primary political truths
which it proclaimed Then citing the often quo
ted clause of the Bill of Rights which declares
that 'a majority of the community" have the right
to alter administrations, he undertook to ascer-
tain what majority was intended, by referring to
the views expressed by George Mason, the author
of the Bill of Rights, in the Federal Convention.
George Mason, he said, was the great Mentor bv
whose counsels they ought all to be guided He
then proceeded to qnote from the Madison Papers.
sentence by sentence, commenting on each as he
read it, speech delivered by Mr. Mason on the
18th of July, 1887. In this speech he sought
to find sanction for his proposition that Mr. Mason
held the doctrine of the jus mqyoris, which Mr..
Hunter himself began by discaiming. Now. in
order to show how strangely the speech had, for
this purpose, to be distorted from its true mean
ing, we shall quote The whole of it, as reported
by Mr. Madison, together with the proposition to
VIII ich it was addressed and whichis necessary
to proper understanding of Mr.. Mason's remarks.
and also an additional portion of the same davis
discussion, in which Mr.. Mason defined his opn-
ions so explicitly as not to admit of the slightest
question.
Ax WEDNESDAY, July IL, 1887,
In Conuention.-Alr RANpoLPH's notion recurring
the Legislature to take periodical for the Dur.
pose OF redressng inequalities in the representation was
resumed.
Mr.. SHERMAN was against Stacking the Legislature
too much. We ought to choose wise and good men and
then conhde in them.
liking proper rule OF representation the more unwil-
ling ough; we to be to throw the task from ourselves on
the General Legislature. He did object to the con-
Jecural ratio which was to prevail in the outset; but
considered revision from time TO time according to
some permanent and precise standard essential to
the fair representation required in the first branch Ac-
cordng to the present population OF America, the Nor
them part of had right to peponderate and he could
not deny it, But he wished preponderate here
after when the reason no longer continued. From the
nature OF man may be sure that those who ha We
power in their hands will give it up while they can
retain it. On the contrary, we know that they will al
ways wren they can rather ncreaseit. Ifthe Southern
States, therefore, should have hree-ou of the peo
Pile oT America within their limits, The Northern will
hold Mast the majority of representatives. One.
fourth "Xl govern the three fourths. The south
ern complain from generation to generation
without redrss Unless some principle, therefore which
will do ]ustlc to them hereafter, shall be inserted in
the constitution Ndsageeable the declaration was to
him. he must DECLARE he could member for the sys-
tenn here, SUPPORT in his Stale. Strong objections
had been drawn (om the danger TO the Atlantic inter-
ests from new Wstern States. Ought we to sacrifice
what we know to }be right ITSELF lest it should prove
the Western Staesi are be admitted into the Union
they ARISE they MUST he would repeat be treated as
equals and subjected to no degrading determinations
They will have the same PRIDE and other passions which
have and will either not unite with or will speedily
revofrom the Union if they not 10 all respects pla-
ced on an equal footing with their brethren 1t has been
sad they Will be poor, and unable to make equal con-
trioutions to the general treasury. He did no know
but that IN time they would be both numerous and
more wealthy than their Atlantic brethren.
The extent and fertility OF their soil made this pro.
SDqiu Cbt
or the natural outlet for their productions yet she will
because she must hnally yield TO their demands He
urged that numbers OF inhabitants, though always
precise sanard Of wealth. sufficiently SO Tor eyery
substantial purpose.
Mr. WILLIAMSON for making it the duty of the
Legislature TO do what was right, and not leaving
liberty 10 do not 10 do it. He moved that Mr. RAN
DoLPHs proposition be postponed in order to consider
the following that in order ascertain the alterations
that may happen IN the population and wealth OF the
era States census shall be taken of the free white in
habltants and threehs those of other descrptions
on the first year after this government shall have been
ADOPTED, and every year thereafter; and that the
representation be regulated accordingly"
Mr. RANDOLPH agreed that Mr. WILLIAmsoN's pro.
position should stand in the place of his.
Mr.. BUTLER and Gen. PINcKNEy insisted that black.
be included in the rule OF representation equally with
the whites; and Tor that purpose, moved that the word
''ihree-flith" be struck out.
Mr.. GERRY thought that three fihs of them was to
say the least The ul proportion that could be admit
MIR. GoRHAM. This ratio was fixed by Congress- az a
rule OF taxation Then, it was urged by the Dele
eales representing the States having slayes that the
blacks were still more inferior to freeTnen A; present
when Inc ratioo representation is be established
we are assured that they equal 10 treemen The
arguments on the former occasion had convinced him.
mat three-hhs was pretty the Just proportion
aud ne would vote according to the same opinion
now.
Mr.. BUTLER insisted that the labour of slave in
south Caroina was as productive and valuable as that
OF freeman N Massachusetts,; that wealth was the
great means OF defence and utility to the nation they
were equally valuable To with freemen and that con-
sequenty an equal representation ought to be allowed
for them in government which was Instituted princi-
pay. for the protection oil property and was itself to be
supported by property.
Mr.. Mason could not agree to the motion uothwitb
standing it favourable TO Virginia, because he
thought it UNJUST 1t was certain that the slaves were
valuable they raised the value ofland increased The
exports and imports and of the revenue would
supply the maans Of feeding and supporting an armv-