Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1862-01-21
sIN6lRlA STATE: CONVENTION,
TEN1.R DIR.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER %, 1851.
lcoNTlNuEpT

IoSpAY, NOVEMBER "a, iSol.
|coHTINuED
.Mr. MAsrEss, of Pendleton.-I have moi
heretofore troubled this Convention with one
word cf remark. I had hoped, as we were
approaching the close of this session, that an
opportunity would be given me of placing up
on record the reasons that shall influence
,nr in the vote that shall give but it appears
an destined to be disappointed.
Mr.. DoHMAN-I withdraw the call
Mr. MAsTsas.-I cannot indulge 1he sxpec
iatoa, or even the hops that shall be enabled,
* aaylhing :Eb;ch shall say 10 this body, to
iaaa.sncs The 7ote OF single meuber. riss
>!rclY !or the purpose OF putting On rcoorc
II. yeasoas which shall Influence me In giviog
tie vote which | shall give upon the 5ropas.-
,oa offered ny friend from Rsppaharnocs,
(N-. H.EFET)
S:r, ia giving :hsse reasons, shall not so
ts,k ,o ihs times Of John Quincy Adams, nor
Of AaG-ew Jackson, but do propose, With
t1- pernss;oa of this body, to COLL, by retro.
Epec.!or, their attention to events that ,rsn-
svirtd here Oh Friday and Saturday last
1t Sl be recollected that at former session
Of has body, question touching reform in
It's organic law OF the State was submitted to
committee appointed by this body. That
committee rcpu;1e at the last session of this
Convention their proposed amendments to the
Constitution as il is now exists These amend
men;s we're printed and submitted to the con-
sdsraton, no. only Of the members of this
Convention, bur, sir, they we're submitted to
the consideration Of the people themselves
The members went home aud felt the public
pulse; and although do believe il vote hs6
oren taken at the las: session of the Convention
ural .ae proposed amendments, that in the
nai1. !iiey would have. been adopted; yet when
III members came back frou the people, we
fGi that Eien Tho before were anxious to have
:lcs= reinrns ana who would have voted for
,!e1i bu: foc The cry raised against th einjustice
Of aeprlving the volunteers in the field of the
righ; Of suffrage, voted against the proposition
to rs.:ricE lne right of suffrage.
Sir. EN- an humble man, bat have ideas
q relation 10 propriety and right; and though
| ALI anaccuStomcd to the mode by which
changes are ,naugursted through the legisla-
tive 5ody, have that high sense Of right that
vii 40; permit me to do thing indirectly,
which ha7e not tho nerve to do directly.
il will be rcco!lectod that when the prcpo-
stica c.no up to restrict tie right oisufraga,
there %as q majority against it. The gentleman
!tru H.2pahann3ck submitted proposition
IN Saturday, TO transfer frotn the people to the
General assembly the e!ectioo Of Governor,
tns object, according to my idea, icing, while
they could not take away the right Of suffrage
directly, to render it imperative by taking
'rin the peopls the means to exercise thst
right Tots,i against tha. proposition for the
reason, tuat did not believe the Legislature
ap.= Competent to elect an efficient Governor
:a2;, ;te s7-as body of the people. Sir, il cay
experience havs found that, ss general
hing. j: is much more easy to o,rrups the few
Tia: IN: mary and do not believe that tive
ha.ired ana two men, composing the Lsgisla'
:iTc department Of our Government will be
les secure l:au Iie voters OF The State against
co:rl:'i,n and outside pressure which every
Old member ci this Assembly, who is faIrilsr
Wiz ;.sisllsiG- action, knows ,nust be brought
70 7-sr uoor the Legislature. / maintain
;aai .@a hGnared and two nen Toaia
E'i &c es secure from that pressure
nad iao,e Influences as 10000 free
7oier:, sc!uated by the highest sense of whst
IS osst for their Interests, and wbst will most
e5:c:pally tend to perpe:uats their institutions
AID preserve their liberties
New, sir, that proposition vas defeated. and
ae:e sc nave similar proposition coming up
in another form. Brierias like, it is extending
lis arms in every direction to trench upon the
rights Of the people and strangle the express
s;Ia nf public opinion. For my pa-:, Sir, |
neTe7 will submit to it. A proposition coues
~ NJ" requiring that the Governor shall have
lnsjoSiiy Of all the Votes, not Of sll the votes
cast as understand it Now now easy is it
70 oefea: the action of the people bJ The wire
"orhlng and engineering Of conventions such
s. aIJ iriend from Rappahannock (MA Nor
EEF1) sad he ~as in. You raay defeat the
pdoc sentimens forever by running hall C
do2ec candidates. and thus preventing any Of
tham from getting majority. Will not this
bg species OF corruption Of the worst kind
These are not times when We should tumpsr
with tie popular rights come from sec
'.an which knows its rights, and knowing
them, darcs maintain them. proclaim from
nv yIa-. here this day. that if that amend
m:n' ag adrpted snd incorporated upon the
Cohs''eI'vn which you propose to submi: to
Ino people: 'ha: my people will vote against It.
say 1. II bc the pleasure of the Convention te
atoPs that, NY mission hore is at On end
viii use e'e-y tEH:t from this forth 70 defeat
tns ratification Of that Constitution, care not
hoF acceptable 1t iuay be to me in other par.
ticuIars | know OUT people are not prepared
;'r This speak for my own constituency
oecause know them we'll. I know they viii
not submit TO this unless they are compelled
to 10 1t. 1--we wish to have the public mind,
'"hici IS watching tho progress of these de-
Dates, 10 settle down upon the principles which
Wc have endes1orcd to establish, and which
snail best promote our interests, / warn you
that you are ,readDg upon dangerous ground
when yoa attempt to restrict the elective fran.
chisc
| thank the Convention for the attention
Which il has bestowed upon my remarks.
Ar. saEsrEr.-l voted on, Saturday. toiretair
to the people the .sight Of electing, by thei
voice, their Chief Magistrate; and if Ibaliev
ed that the otject OF the effect of tho amend
meat proposed you'd be to disfranchise the
people Of that just right, should, without .
moments hesitation, oppose it, But whilst ]
have Zone for fhe propoaition that the people