Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-05-09
i;c:."y5. 81 'Ir. Eti1Z ., t"@mi"'s Il hc siho'r,
ca Ip.@d,g .HrIch -:M. 1851.

Mr.. Tu:.lZ. Nr. Chairman, have ro TIE :an;;::
10 suppose hat any aE caa say. IL !s :;c E"H:. I"
this discussion vii! in,c ac.1hors Of this ccn!'.H'
20 c:ac their opi::iCS IN relation 10 the great ;d
pcralt question now under consideration Pcr@ ~
result Huu! have been materially different. i.i -"
.:r hcr akcn On this question without discussion. h!:
Gentlemen on the other >. have thrown down Tie
lil.; aud have challenged II lie combat: md larln.
undertaken convince others i is !i ia: 20 prc>iinc.
that liberal and generous at'";:::ics--aS We KNOW
lhc!a 10 Ecthcy are open to conviction themselves
am therefore led 10 deliver briefly IN: views Oh
this vitality interesting question: and in doing ~. do UI
intend 10 20 the grcnd winch has hcc already o.,
sipicd b. other gentlemen. but will content myself witt:
presenting s0mc few additional views Of my a;,
carr, :. ont soInc,hat Ia detail ine oi ' ar!-
na.ts advanced by others. SHALL also attempt 10 an
.:cr so:.c of the arguments urged By gentlemen on Inc
other side.
have been pleased with the frankncss and good fee!
Ing which has characterized this discussion. Ii Is right
and prorcr that we sho! deal candid. with each other.
and thereby correctly understand the positions occupied
by gentlemen this floor 1t is necessary that We
should talk plainly each other and that what may be
laid should be received in good temper in order that II
nav be properly appreciated and duly considered.
am more than graed to find That as this discussion
has progressed the difference between the gentlemen o'
the other side, and those with whom II is my pleasure 10
act ,pon This floor has :. grown bcauIy less. There
is now according nv humble conception, nothing be-
twccn the two conlrnding parties here. that ought |"
,cnara;c Gre family There - ro,hin. thai o!igEt not H.
be sacrificed upon the alter Of patriotism. Their" /
unlhi4g ui difference which may not Ia surrendered
,EoI disunor. or yielded up wili:ni sacrifice Fl
trrr,l or u violation Of principle. This i tn" iiS'i n
., lc:l have compelled 10 vlcT Ia" great >ir -
ia, is nos: gong on Upon L j. TO- r. ard II siia o }!
:hrtc in The .icst degree I" convince The iEIl:- 81
hers of he co,rac.EcS, Of this view, my object VII
h . beer C implirt,d
MIR Cha rna.. will not folio" the example OF nii'ei
l.,rl. T.,
ccs under which the act passed by the "ti-:a'r
converting this tptv will not stop 10 inquire whether
That act was LIBERAL and rise. or whether the legislature
in the cxc:c oil lis Legitimate powers had right I"
,as. law providing; for the organization ct co'c:-
ion t. amend the orgauc laws upon basis dl''r:n:
from at uI,an winch cY derived their powers. These
r certainly very Interesting questions III lac abS:ra:
IN. taken III connection t!cy ARISE here III whatever
yay thew may be decided. II seems to me tcT can have
but little bearing or the great question under cosera-
tn. It cauu,t however, be c9ntcndcd IL" momett
that the legislature in fixing the basis upon which TN,
hoy la, been convened, dealt ou even handed Justice
10 the people Of all parts OF this old commonwealth. !
10 mol hesitate say hat II eastern ctnt!c;cn conc ~
;,,l themselves of ier p:c-cohrei'ed MOTIONS '" h-
subject they would be- constrained 10 a'i ii;'i "H"'i
and Justice has moi bccG done The western people 1t me
orsiniXariln Of tins body.
Bat W.: a;r been convened 10 amend 'hc organic 'a">
an, ~ rr, imifIlry to the disciIar1" OF our tcS, 1t VI"
m wei . 2d.r-and what j, or true position, and vino
Ii,s dn:ics 10 be discharged:
Tin. existing constitution cnnicrs no power nron the
r a,rc 10 pass the act ~ WHICH we have h--c.ncd
herr. Il va nullily until ratified by the people: ard
when ratified by the people. 1t dcr'cG lis validity not
rrn,n n. constitution, but directly from the people.
m ,yc-cis;. OF that sovereignty which they had
ry,, 10 themselves IN the formation OF their govern
mrui Tni, act u;,;il adopted by the people was no
;rc binding. upon them than The act oi an ulih"rI"si
aeut would bind his alleged principal. As The rat!-
,,l, RI. lI,..tn r,n i'm fb.
one case s., the adoption Of the act by the people con
,rs Tie validity in the o:IIrr We are here therefore,
o. rudrr the provisions of the constitutions but by an
,utu r;ty paramount TO i. We have been called into
ii cpc, iIy ;a; supreme power which the people never
nave !rtcI with: and when cc convened, we have tlc
.,lc rowc:s and occupy the sauc position in every r.
,rci rs il VIC were the rs. bod, assembled III this ; n,
=, frame organic Law i. gentleman from London:
t!r JAxxEY) says that this body na" he dispersed II
!; moment hy the procama.ion al lIc governor cana"
,;,r with hin. Tie governor canHo; properly exc:
cis. any ocr authority than i'a: conferred OH hi:,
,. Tic constitution and Laws made III pursuance thereof
[. clear HAT Inc act IN question has not n' 'i' l.
accordance ";,i any provision IN the constitution. ~
derive. Is fOrcc and validity - hay" 'H"%h from ~
sane mover whic. created the t.tuiioa: u !, ':''
l,r. rc ono u those o-..rlr, laws. tc r&cclt,"t
which deyuvcs the executive E2a, t'tt II NJ
won. l.. this. the gentleman aus, sill! i'3 II! tF.pi. - "
made ;. Itr o the executive 10 see l' me -" III
enforced. AMI il This ordinary act o c-I>'o''
a,.I clrtls would net hc acting within !Ie 'c"' ~ ~
,l,y by !r,;ni'"s tie purposes o The ac' y i''''l5
PROCLAMATION - dispense lis Convention
Il has been ursca by s.at!rac Oh the o''sr sac Una
t.o people O; tin, commonwealth! by 'o.:'- t t''' '"'
y..l io ratified and aprtorc.! o. :c Ic'~llI u repre-
son,aticm which exists in this BODY IL u.s. my ar
wholly mistaken 1t is iacl vel! known 10 az u.
yesel lG lany Of the eastern members upon ':i' i'of
that out of the large vote cast III me I IN 'so
o; this convention, but very few il any. approves OF u
Basis upon which this body la, seen organized IN
great Inequality in representation 5 'iic most Pfoi;l
ncrt evil sought 10 he rcaedch By tir western people
md il coming into convention seeking rciaea: aSalH
this gross injustice it said that they have tcTeh! ~
ro@c Of that inequality which lo::l's the burden o. '''c
complaints. r >,
While We freely accor; 10 the gentleman from '.o'
dom sir JaSyETi the rig. to speak Tor himself an
t, show how he was returned 10 tins boa!, from
Basis county, hope he will extend to western ntH'oe
the rivi!cge of speaking for themselves and 'hcr col
uen,s can tell the gentleman that there ! nu' VI
opnion on this subject among the western Peop'e, d!
when they voted for this Convention they OIL" ho urea
mat tley were sanc,ionns al cSi! of which they mo
:. complain. -, ~ r.r-, ~ !.
,. ir His ,:.cre h, ines. between private 0i'hsia
m o,l he disposed TO a:t not only just Dnt iihcrai
ad generously towards his western brothers. but IN