Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-03-11

out tie consent OF those sno hold tie rcwefno alter
native IS left, and remedy fer the e.h' 1'
to those great, eternal Inherent rights IN 'i.c
Of the people, outside Of ard indepenach. OF I'M. ..
stitution Ard the hardship is that the inequality anu
injustice of the present constitutional arrangement
still increasing, is growing worse, ana becoming s'
more aggravated the longer We live uhoer IT. as
by the results Of the census ana assess'ient -
laid before Us ard The dissatisfaction of the west mas
increased, and is increasing. and must continue " ="
crease in the same ratio, without change, II co',
rd to be endured forever Yes this "eterna clanlor
tor right, not for plumber Tor the SAKE o. l'e s
get hold Of the treasury, is increasing. lremenioo wv
honorable gentleman from fauquier, eApia'eu d" ay
the supposed u.e Of these terms, and certainly 10 my
satisfaction. Blu. the honorable gentleman from man
fax certainly insisted that the par, oil the |es his
wa, but naked question Of power for the lust oi
power and for the absc of it. scout the lnpu'a
tion and tell gentlemen that we WIN NOT SNe " ~
despair We have resources from which to draw ION
courage and consolaon we know, as the giant leeis
his strength come as lie grows impatient 'indef re-
straint that this great and growing west must now OF
yery sooa and thank God, pcaceahly too, dra" pow"
er to itself upon any basis. Those Brvarian arms
alluded 10 BY my friend IRON AUGUSTA, wen ' rer TN
has aided in extending, at an enormous cost, LOT 'no
benefit Of this old city and the east generally will AID
us in rising into power.
We think this change should come now. Appealing
to oar own bosoms 10 Our ccascieices TO our sehse
right and wrong TO ON notions Of natural right and tho
hand that made us to the teachings of those immortal
British patriots who wrote and bed in defence Of the
same upon British soil. which served 10 INSPIRE our
forefers who fought and blcd for the same rights IN
the revolution. bill CT rights, 10 the declarations
Of rights in the thirty constitutions of the thirty Tree
and sovereign States OF this glorious Union and To their
constitutions based upon them, and to their practicable
experience under them. by all these considerations
and principles We feel constrained TO insist upon TINS
change now know We have been told with an AIR OF
,bo nI Tho t1cfp
have called this. They prescribed their own terms
and conditions as the honorable gentleman who ad-
dressed Us yesterday admitted. Upon The unequal
terms Of UNEQUAL representation was the last convened
and they called this upon the same which gives them
majority in this body, although the west has
maiorrr OF sore m;net ythree thousand white popula-
ton thus securing them the minority, and a section
al minority ard therefore the less to!erabie, still the
power to retain the power The numbers 10 vote us
down here in this reform convention and still to de-
feat equal Representations the extension of the right Of
suffrage and all reforms they choose 10 deny and
pcrpeluate their minority government the ma or-
and this is the character OF The report B. and OF the
proposed amendment OF the gentleman from Fauqucr,
offered rs a substitute. IN this body numbers count
here numbers give power. Here numbers riie-hcrc
The msoritv principle is correct and right, and is &C.
rosnscd as the only correct principle, flowing from lie
;rs ala ori. that the majority Lave Tic right to rule,
because j, enables the majority here representing
nory Of the people possessed OF The government 10 hold
on 10 power. while denying this power al numbers TO
lie the true principle 10 give power ut The polls the
majority when the play would come to Us. The majo-
rv of the people of the State. of the free white popu
la,ion are powercss herc-the minority all-rowerful
here-becarsc this rule. this fundamental principle r.
inr al tie root of the right of selfgovcrnment is de-
MED in the basis oil representation, upon which this
government rests and has its power And yet this rule
works and is the only that will work. does gork
in every other save and excepting this single
of taking away power from this sectional minority in
the east, and giving it TO the ma ory not in the west,
bu: over the whole State.
This is still disrcgarding and rejecting the appeal the
long continued appeal, of the majority of the freemen
&C the Conmonv ealth for equal rshts-one that will
continue to increase in earnestness strength and pow
cr as the majority in the west increases, and that will
grow louder and louder the longer is dsregardcd and
Justice denied For it is swt ling beyond tho
iaHs and echong in the valley, coming up from old
Accomac, and heard rcrerberatns at the base OF the
Blue Ridge upon old Loudeun and, it speaks the
mighty trumpet voice Of truth. it niu. at last pre-
vail.
My constituents, occupying The position they do
hare described, lacking nothing, wanting nothing, and
desiring nothing, but free and equal form of govern
mcl, based upon people and equal rights, aud peo
pie and nuct,la,ne. pershable, souess wealth, whic
is like tie that is always running in and out with
various volume TO secure us in the enjoyment Of our
personal rights our lives and liberties, we'll prop
crv which though less our ALL is az dear 10 us
YOURS 10 You. have looked abroad over this slo!e
Commonwealth, surveyed and contrased all its great
interests, narrowly inspected and deliberately consider
Cd cur rresen. constitution and fran" Of government
fron its base up .a1 I've condemned the foundation
upon which il rests as well nianj Of lis parts, and
haze Instructed me declare and to OIL ain if pTac
ticabe me desired reforms, and they have in eject
charged me 10 proclaim, that in coming TO the conci
sion that the white basis is the only true republican
basis They brought 10 the consideration OF The sub
iect minds free from all bias, arising frcu sccuna -
teres, or influence or feeling, regarding iher brche;.
east and west alike, allowing neither the ue Ridge OH
The one side, nor the Aleghanies the other 10 in
tcrposc any barrier tc the free and equal o| Of iha
affections, but feeling towards all and regarding al
ts brethren bone of thci: bone and flesh VI their
flesh part and parcel, ali Of snl the great
family and body polite Tie sun rising in the Eat,
and setting in the West, always leaving them as it
found thoin alicnated from none lu bound up in the
same bond of life with a sealed with the ties
Of common kindred and common blood, anu they feel
towards each aud ever: portion of this grea. common
wealth alike They have charged me in effect, to de-
clare these sentiments and in their name and tits
spirit of kindness remembrance and complaint: b not
with reprcach threat, my breast upon my lips
10 nsi this Convention how much Longer are cur eaal
rights 10 he denied Us, How oag yet TO wait
Low mgeh longer is The time, or il there tine IL
come Then. it il never. Never ne9er. which in
wolves minority power. j. patience then forever grow
weary aud faint. while hope, already "locg e:arrcj
should lie gathering, daily and hourly strength. from
increasing numbers and, instead of becoming sick OF
DELAY, SWcinR stronger, thDse
fleeing shadows-for like fleeing shadows are those OBJ
jections which hcar-tlia gentlemen would interpose
in the pathway of superior power to It's rights, its just
rights that power that petitions and las long Pc
titioned and demonstrated i'll vain, although ble or will
be- ere long physically able, to command The rights
bu: which, / pray God, may be attempted
Tell us Lot that those thirty orbs Of living light of
which tho gentleman from Fauqaier so beautifully
spoke whose vcstal fires famed by tia breath Of
lin who sTake Ill things into being and holds them
in His palm may burn in vain for That we shall
rei.ln in political darkness, in their midst That
the gloom of despair must gather and cea j,on OH:
alters ms we crow stronger and stronger in power ard
OR love OF liberty with this llghty constellation baz
ing around u.s. nh our vestal fires grow di,n
or 80 out in the sunsh: and glory OF these eternal tenn
pcs of liberty, rradatng land ocean. Continent uni
verse.
Tell Us not, tell us not that this cloud of cur dscon-
tent t. grow darker and darker, The logger we live to-
gether till it becomes even rs the frowning heavens
when the warning clements are ranging; while voice
breathing ethereal light from eternal source the God
who made us is coming up from near one hundred thou
sand majority proclaimng success, success already
within their grasp ii they would bat stretch forth
their hands in the spirit that sets people free that
will rs their fathers did, Who goaded By wrongs too
ong endured when that voice, of which the gentleman
from Halifax spoke, Numbered before the STERN. drew
the sleeping sword and threw away the scabbard and
periled ali for liberty