Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-05-27
Remarks Of -Hr. CAPERTON, in Cg,no.itt, at II.
Whole VIZ

Whole ''
Mr. CAPERTON. If it has been allowed n =
who have preceded me in this debate to co,nIr; :
embarrassment it will readily he conceded ,La, ian
much more cause for doing no. entering ~ do n, ~
discussion, when, if the subject is not the patirncs "
the committee Is almost entirely exhausted Ini..;
feel that AIN exposed to the inputation of ,rro,c.
in preSuni!ng either to engage the attention of the NJ
mittec or to add anything to the light which has 49,
shed upon the subject during this long, and may ..r
very able discussion
L feel embarrassed, for an additional reason ~,
position has, within few days. been announce! r ,b
able and Ingenious gentleman from Halifax iMr F..
MrSDs.) which if it speaks the sentiment Of the
members of this bsdy, who an acknowledged n.;
lily, would seem to preclude all farther discussion /; ,
be. rs that gentleman has claimed that We ar. hr >,
represent only local constituencies; tia, We ~.
bound b. their peculiar local interests witho, the now
authority to look beyond thcm-it tina, be the ,rr
doctrine aud if such doctrine is to govern those wh
constitute the majority here j, would have been wei,
1t had been sooner made known, should tl.r.Ly
have been saved this protracted and might almost "a
painful discussion For where is the necessity Of b
ting this question if gentlemen have preludsei it,
have here with their minds so completely made ~
that they deaf to all Arguments and appcalst 81
have listened atenvely, to ascertain how far ,ha.
sentiment to meet with the concurrence. OF o,h.-
members and until yesterday evening when the gentle
from Grecnesville furnished us with his view. th-
mas been no one as far my observation served Il,
who responded aiirmativcly the extraordinary pro
position of the gentleman from HALIFAX. Tha, sen,ls
affirmed that are here as the representatives
districts, and declared that he recognized allegiance
his own district, and to that alone. Is it true tina,
are thus bound that We are thus tralumclcdl Can
be true that We have authority to look berori Il
wishes of local constituencies If that be the l.
depreciation which the gentleman gives to the comm.
sion which he bears, beg leave to say that clam :.
the with which my constituents have honorcd he !,
somewhat wider scope freely admit tina. each .s..
gate Is bound to represent the wishes of his pnrticu
constituency that lie is bound to make known their r.
cuar circumstances and desires, and to promote tho.
desires rs far as they are consistent with the great c
nos OF government. When, however these canons u.
TO be vioated-when the wishes of his constituent. e,
not be carried out, without injustice to another porto.
of the people of the State his obligation to do 20 cca
His first great duty here is to aid in the construction
Constitution, which Is TO operate not upon hs cuI.
uents alone but throughout every portion of the Con-
and upon the whole Of her people So
here rs the representative in part of the peop!. If NJ
district. must, rs aithfnl agent represent Ia ,t
body their true condition, their peculiar interest. a
what it Is they desire. must do all can to promo.
their desires But. sir, in doug SO. must keep Ii.
great political decaloguc in my vew and be carea :,
violate none Of its solemn commands mus, bar can.
stantly III mind that my first great paramount .y
To contribute my efforts III organizing form Of c.r.
ment Tor the rhoe people, upon such principles & aay,
met the approval Of wise and. vir,uous men inrg..
endeavor to have the whole range of observation il
before me, to ascertain the feelings, wishes and cmTr
OF the people of other districts besides nv own su
when have made up my mind to what is goo! III
the whole, feel bound to act upon nv concl!s;ya
though the peculiar wishes Of my constituents in.r
IN my way. This Is my idea of representa- tv" otiL,
ton; and if the constituency whom Represent W.,
propose to limit my commission to the extent gg:ec
by the gentleman from Halifax, nav if they were 10
ny 1t the latitude which have here claimed wo. b
INSTANTLY and unhesitatngly restore it Ia their hag!
am not here rs member Of the ordinary Lca,latGr
depuied to obtain some special enactment that ha rr
ehte 10 my constituents alone, but nv comis,a
make Constitution for the entire people of tie Stat
ana Sir IN performing this duty We should not only h
beyond mere local interests, and take INTO view
Try Pirs anu portion but as our work is 10 opera:"
an Indefinite period of time we should endcayor % IN
range IT, so that it will adapt itself to the yryn.
cGmstanceS III which we NAV hereafter be fo,m! 4
trusting VT Chairman. that the gentleman iroa Ii
lax dii not express the views of all those who COZ
pose the majority of this body, shall venture ,oa
iress HlySet to our friends Of the east. hnr;ns tha
nay' III my imperfect way present something, VIII
:tPfe''' W their Judgments aud to their -ci-" ..
'ee III a',P"sinS OF the subject under eon>i'"a:a
In whatI lashal say, my anxious lcayor wi 'e
',"iu repetition of the views which have beer r
,enteu by those who have preceded me- .ha f.
i"u'e me committee with any inquiries into he or:
u inc social compact. Nor shall go into an dis
:, VIM mt constitutes Sovereignty a. I" "hcI"
resides We all know that it NAV bc made 10 reside
one portion OF the people in one State nnd in another
I,oh III ai'lereht State; depending upon tie rx.n'
iuallcatons and exceptions which the several St
may determine upon. But for all the purposa. u
discussion there has been enough conceded to rritg,
rom further controversy upon this point / an CONT,
~ 'th' the Gehn'tion OF sovereignty, whIc ha. =
furnished Dy rho rpnt fr,, L. 4
Ii under'tood him correctly he deposited the
feSntY IA that class of persons who under tn. .y'
constitution, exercise the right OF suffrage sa:. II
win TINS definition OF the gentleman from Farqgt
ha ADOPT 1t Us the true in enforcing the views 81
propose to submit
Mr.. SCOTT, Of Fauquier If the gentleman II.
10" me- dld not undertake to give he.liiioH &: E
what constitutes sovereignty / think | ar.uri a
80 lar rs the powers Of the government wer" coac Ia
Ine governmental power was vested in those Hho' &
ciae the elective franchise By the sovereign d Il
people. did not undertake To define vino r0n.'' -
!he people ASSUMED that BY the sovereign art O "a
people the powers of government were c0mii-l 2 III
hands OF those who under the constitution eXr!e" III
right Of suffrage E
Mr. CAPERTON. May ask what peoplo-''' N
creign act Of what people rs
Mr.. SCOTT. The people of Virginia II
Mr.: CAPERTOS. What portion OF he pep" E
Virginia. IL
M 49, l. J. uiu HpL undertake. to ,"I'!' M
Mr.. CAPERTON. ! make the inor;ry:. ~ III
tleman's relief, as well as for nv oxa .i.iar' #
What portion of the peeplel care 10, Il ar NIt8
it in the manner in which understood liz. . A-l a
Where does the sovereignty of this State re;ei IL
is the inquiry which l PROFOUND. An inquiry - Ia
had supposed was unnecessary, and which :.' III
insist was answered in the remark of the .tn;e>kS
which have referred His remark was that ~ III
ernmen'al power consists in majority OF all tha, t%
who exercise the right of suffrage" Il tie Ia
gans are the source of all governmental power,
not represent, or more strictly speaking do heE La
stitute the sovereignty can give no other ~.
tatlon to the remark-I can draw no other 10 d
from 1t. 1t IS true that the gentleman ONLY NV
TO define what constituted the governments!
This ne could not do, however, without ncce''ar.'
ring to the source of that power and when -
reached that point you ascertain where the SOC
resides submit then that bv hi own sho"1=
sides In those who exercise the electric !r'nfI".,
being SO, our next inquiry is how IS Tie
voice to be expressed How is the soTeft'-
be made knownl There mis-. be Il NODE y:
is to be ascertained. To require TINT d" c"'!i
sovereign mass should speak. would 'e uaFefy
say the least; and it would be prcpossf3S", ,h,,ar
tempt to give expression to the will Of n;+
Continued to Second Pegs! &