Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-05-13


Mr. burgess. Mr. Chairman: All who have noticed
my member Of Ibis body will acknowledge
that have been solic;los 10 mingc in its discus
sol> have preferred the position o an auditor will
ing 10 ten 10 tie opinions -: others rather than give
~: haze however, some views in relation TO
.t Question pc!rus before the committee which
desire AMI propose with their assent briefly to express
Il may b" tia whose pursuits i'll life have not been
favorable. il, indeed they have disqualified me for Il
DISCUSSION {" this character who certainly lave had no
training, Tor slIcii apology for mingliu-
i'll the debate. II 80 trust it will be iou.d in the fact
that lave not before time vcuturcd to trespass
even for moment on the time OF the Convention and
III consideration Of the great and important Issues in
VOWED IN the question .,:cr consideration. 10 not NJ
FEET {; ran,,o; which have hot. when | -av have
fear views to frcsr!l wit. ici; lie special aten
tiul OF Tit. committee. which lay claim to the
character nf originality Whc: re,cct upon tho am.
pie discussion which the question has undergone in this
nall the :..cnt and riDqcicc which has been brought
u h ar upon the debate. au orchiy impressed with
81 the difficulties ui..r which he abors who at-
tcmpts 10 bring to his aid, thi, coal>io arguments
that have tot breiI priority and more ably adduced
The question which abSurb the attention Of the
committee l., u!lapp!iv but necessarily of highly en-
citing character i,T tie obvious that grave sec
toua interests involved in lis decision and becas.
it is manilrs,ly on The iaEd contest for the nc
QUESTION 81 political ascedacv in the State, and on the
other, rriiggl. retain it, | appreciate the ulagu
tuc vi the .s,I"s involved. They are of grave and
momcntous character, am! in view of them we do in
deed lock nut upon troubled horizon The portents
OF the storm that may arise daily sccu around U.s.
and heard i'll the distance do not affect tn be supe.
riug to the Influences which such state of things ia cal
culatcd to Bait am that desire to meet
the difficulties which present themselves. calmly but
firmly and far may be. wise Y. The brief which
1 propose 10 take 81 TINS question WILL matter of
course by embrace IN all its various bearings
With Important pi,-e 81 il; Tor instance that which
atc what may iuapropgIatc!y be termed political
arithmetic. shall incdic satisfied with the
calculations made by others of statistics DC, &c. Of sta
ts:Ics which however Important, and indeed, essential
they nar be I" the occasion, can never decide the ques
tri ut !,s:c have IN, enough 10 fill TO replson the
most ardent voary Of political economy. The princi-
pie upon which decision il to be worked out il that
/ which propose something about, and | need
hIrdiy define particularly by wing it involves the
que>on Ought propert' 70 form al elcneut in appor-
tirns the .ss of representation ought representa-
lion to l., based numbers alone, or i'll other words.
white population! Adopting do, an imprcgnabs
political principe Tic nrst member OF the proposition.
may remark in passing, that to OF plain apprehen
/ sion like mysc-unacquainted with the popular views
of representation which have obtained within The last
quartz: 81 century, aud who had not heard this dis
ca,>ion, it would clear the light Of day. that
the cance of Il contrarous proposition Is mt war
with the established not only o our own, but Of
al good stable and continuously prosperous govern
crs That while it is mt all times desirable TO con-
clite opinions and especially III the present instance,
there does exist that acknowledged cxigency which
be difficult To portray in coors sufficiently strong. That
i. would involve Gerclicou Of great principle
tended is and established BY the stages and patriots
known to our colonial history and the inception of
federal government and without the full and ample
cugnton of which they would have consented to
number Virginia among the co!edcrated states But,
passing from this general view o the sub ect, desire
ut this stage of remarks, to notice more fully than
has been uc TIE proposition which seems To be lead
in and tyorc with many gentlemen here which
they derive from the Bill of Rights especially the first
c.usc That I'LL men are by nature equally free and indie
pendent There is gentleman in this hall, probably
who does not acknowledge the Bill OF Rights al In
.ru:nrt of the ii. he.t authority, placing upon it that
construction which he deems the correct have,
perhaps much respect for it tho1e who profess to
make ii their political handbook certainly have all
rcspcct T., the heads and hands from which 1t sprung.
In ,,.. unnr tie yai,ic Of the clause the Bill of
RIGHTS to which hav" alvcrted Oh account of its in
app ab:.ir" in practl n point OF view to the pur.-
poses Of political compact, feel that IN the view OF
sIns all ire tding upoi' forbidden ground 10 cues
ton IN" aspect that which has been sanctioned BY the
highest Authority, and canonzcd by the transit of gene
ati,,s is indeed cuviab!e task. speak of its ap-
plc.tion To governmental purposes 1t has been con-
ceic,! iv certain gentlemen hcre that this clause APP
pies 10 man in state Of nature. expected rs much
to;p the c:.dor and intelligence which characterizos
them BIZ. why then has it been frequently urged in
relation to this subject and what is the object OF its ap-
Dicationf Sir however soundy and inteiligently gen
tcnc: here may construe that clause, think there Is
to apprchend ana the REMARKS OF 'he sentIenan
who SO al,v addressed the House to-day (Mr. HoGE)
corrob1raes my impression, that III It's literal or lau
dnaran sense has been thrown broadcast through
out the VALLEY and beyond the mountains OF Vrs1nla;
We l,o.r that in this form it has taken root, germnated
and r,ught forth fruits not advantageous to say Tie
Leaf If it. in the northern portion OF our coniederacy
We know that the principle involved IN an extended
and ex,ravagant form, has been nrtnred ana cher''hea
- an exotic in Europe. In this point OF view it may be
ueI,, 10 discuss and examine the true character and
I fhatn nj len l.
- e. and RI expose the consequences Of its nisappli
eaton. ,ha do freely In the language of another
tru.l !. rny aim and whercsoerer 1t points the way DO
~. s.ar 70 follow To consider more Immediately this
clause a an abstract truth, as it has been termed All
,s,rsc trushs in political science founded on esi
natc nhlction. arising from experience or long usage
nJar various forms OF government For principles III
,,,en otherwise derived entitled TO that res
o.ct ov which belongs postnates, and require e, Tor
their proof the test Of practical application. i"St
which i so far wanting in the automatic character as u
Continued to Fourth Pase.l