Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-05-27
NO. 81

s,uuisasl to ROrsRr Il. eALLAHEa. Publisher to tn
Coureasion, BY VIZ. G. BISHOP oHe'al Hepo''erl
49,, of Mr. ANDERSON IN COMMITTEES of tn.
Whole, on Tuesday, -April 10, 1851
;, ANDERSON, l may subject myself to the charge
h' 60 ;n,nrn,ence if not presumption, i'll rising
OF Nt. rsr;,a in this debate TO address this com
Al :" i"e ,bs very able and elaborate arguments
iS wa have heard for the last TWO 1noh'hs ana IL
rho very eloquent and talented young gentle
an rom Essex Mr. NJ. G!RSkrr') VINO nauressea 'he
man - ON Yesterday II were to consult my own
c':n!I hnnld not have thrust myself upon the atten
tee.''Ss,, ,,,;ttae at so unpropltioas moment. II
''" u now be takea, upon thus question, would
VIC ~, ye|d all the claim that nave To the moor
vN' ;:s.s h,cn determined b1 the committee that
l;' ~ y Ill No, be taken until Friday next, and a'
The wee s'' nlearues have addressed the committee
neither :" ~ ,,n / feel that it is due to our common
Upon 'e'> La, ,b,v should he heard upon this most
,, subject last our silence may oc construed
1,r,nness or Indifference 10 tue ue'S'oh "a tnts
o,S.ton shall endeavor 10 approach the SUD
-, not ~ sectional man, NOT e' e'' 10 .ai ',"
,,,h,,-h am AZ much attscheo S'u ueu '" .'e
' MN nnon this floor, but shall como us
,":: =" o. . whole souled Nirs;nah because to
y;r;.;n;a alone do supreme iea!'y. A'a aaii
nls,~or in the course which snail t"Ae upon THIS
h;sct 10 promote her interests ana hsr glory alone
-
IA h;oct sh. do it looking alone to the pros.
w. ''1r :, snd rlory of tho "Cld Dominion
Pr -; ~ .tt.mpt 10 entertain this committee with n
~, WI nd metaphysical disqusition upon abstract
;rs will not undertake 10 discuss the natural
I.bts oi roan. will enieAvor to submit 10 the com
nals u is consideration fcw plain facts and prac-
, a,,t;ons The great question involved in the
"e'. dor consideration is, shall the majority or
rnls the dcstnies of this State Shall the
ar. ~ The minority of those to whom the right
sball bs extended hold the rens of government
-. 10 me that this whole question Is solved by
~ So r;,cnle Where resides the sovereign pow.
eWhare is the supreme power in this State Is it
IN mon is it in property Can property speak or can
,'r,sr.r exercise Wilt And is it not essential that
M ..rssra,n should have both of these attributes
sal nlsnt myself in the discussion OF this question
rpon our bill Of rights that great charter OF our hoerty
snail not attempt 60 behind It, That oil! OF rights
- nch wa all p:ofsss subscribe is sufficient for
~ I, shall b. nv polar star and every vote affecting
,,cal mower which shall give here shall be control
led hy the crest principles laid down in that chart Now,
hat is the principle settled by It. as applying to this
caste, drectlyi You will find it in the Bird clause
h !, i useless for ME to call the attention of the Con-
van,;on again to it. Bat il may be important to
fra N the memory OF this committee with the peculiar
nra,eooyy of this clause Of the bill Of rights, shall
take leave again to read It.
common benefit protection, and security OF the people,
oo,;or or eonmutitv OF all the various modes and
forms OF government that is best which IS capable of
the greatest degree of happiness and safety
ana which will most etectualy g,sr, against the dan
psr OF maladminstration aud that when any govern
aept shall be found inadequate or contrary to these
nnrnn.e majority OF the community hath au ndubta
bic, nalienable and ndefeasble right to reform, alter
AMI abolish it. in such manner as shall be Judged most
conducive to the public veal.
Now what did the framers of this instrument mean
by securing to the majority OF the community the right
TO altcr amend or abolish their for of government
l. has been contendcd BY some gentlemen that the term
community" did not mean 1.-The people, but
iortv of iuterasts This idea is Of modern origin The
first time that ever heard Of il in the great de-
bate Oh this subject in 1929 think that the commit
tee will be satisfied upon examining this clause and
carefully weighing all the Phraseolog-, that the term
Community means the people, because in previous
par; of the clause the terms people nation,
or community are used as synonymous. And imme-
diaely afterwards in speaking of the right of the ma
oritr to govern, it the term community thereby
showing that was used only in this political
SYNONYMOUS with people and nation This is the
fair interpretation Of this clause according to every
rule of construction But the distinguished gentleman
from Fauquier r. ScorT) has conceded the PROPOSE
tion that it had reference to majority of those who
held the political power those who exercised the
of suffrage will not stop to inquire whether 1t en-
braces t. whole people. 1t is sufficient for me that it
should be conceded that it embraces those who WELD
the political power who exercise the right Of suffrage
7 ask .hen who are the individuals embraced by the
nresen. constitution 1t is that large class of c
zen. who now exercise the right of suffrage 1t is vel
known to this committee that the Supreme Court o
th, State has decided hat the bill Of rights part
the constitution and is obligatory upon all the DIFF
ferent deprtments of the government, the Legislative
and the judiciary other part OF that instumen!
submit then to.the deliberate and candid considera
finn of tbs committee whether the legislature did
f,1a MT or of
hill of rights in the passage of the bill authorizing vot
IN he taken on the call Of the Convention and for TIL
nurpoe of organizing this Conventions Were they no
required by that clause of the constitution to submit
l.; The majority Of those who exercised the polltlca
newer of the State in other words the ma ory of thu
rrnl6ed votersl Was that donca Will any gentleman
non this floor pretend to say that this clause of thu
constitution has been complied with in the organization
of This body Why, If the people, TIE community, OF
qualified voters which it has been conceded tbs clause
If the constitution embraces had been eqnally repre-
scented in this Convention it would have presented
,.ry different state of things. Instead Of giving the
eastern side o: the Ridge, with some 10000 voters more
than the west side majority Of II upon this oor
would have given to the west side some 10 or IL ms
jority.
an willing to conccde that the majority Of those
who WELD the political power majority OF the quail
fed voters have the right in forming the organic law
to adop. any basis of representation they choose
naco the power of the government II they see lit Ill thu
hands OF the minority. Aud II 10 the formation Of THU
constitution the whole Of the qualified voters of thu
State Of Virginia were equally represented upon Thu
floor and the majority of them should consent to pac
The LEGISLATIVE power of the government in the hands
. n,nor;tr, n, one would have right to gainsay it, n
+ would be- voluntary act, and one which would b
,hatorv upon them all. large majority of the gen
tc.n who have discussed this subject in favor of tn
nrotscon of the oast have conceded the general pro
position, that as general rule the majority have
10 govern in republic. Aud how do they attempt
themselves from the dilemma in which the
are placed By system of special pleading which
did not expect to hear from as able and distinguish
Gentlemen as have taken that ground upon this floor
What is the position taken by the very distinguishes
gentleman from Fauquier, (Mr ScorrD Why it is tina
aIthourh he comedies that the majority of those VIII
WELD the political power have the right to form con
stution and to adopt basis of representation yet
that that majority have already endorsed this prn
Convention. Now l submit it to the candor OF tina
gentleman and of this Convention to say il such pie
rs thai could be sustained in any court justice in chris
tendon What that the people of Virginia by the larg
o;oriry that they have given in favor of this call for
Convention have endorsed the principle of the nike
bas nave decided that they are willing hereafter t.
s ruled by minority; and that too IN the face OF tn