The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1810-05-15

o. Virginia, IN the councils of our union
bat q man must have taken a very partial
view of our late history, not to perceive that
t,e occurrence Of party politicks with Vir-
ginian policy, is accidental and temporary J;
that il cannot long continue, and that there
is every prospect that those engines, instead
of operating in concert, wall soon be In oppo-
si,ion to each other. II is not party, but the
present Constitution which has given solid
and permanent increase to the influence OF
Virginia and il this was not foresccn when
the constitution was adopted, 1t was because
consequences which after the event are found
70 nave been Inevitable, and extremely obyi-
ous, are not often anticipated, by the foresight
OF the proloundest statesmen. Under the
old confederation, every state had the same
powor ia the administration oi the national
affairs. Under the present constitution,
popular representation was introduced, and
. the most powerful branch OF the Legislature,
was 30 composed, as 10 give the greatest In
influence to the state of the largest pepnla-
ton. see nothing in this which ought to
affect or TO alarm an American patriot nor
can l subscribe at all to the opinion that the
ascendency Of Virginia has become uncon-
. troIable. fN,s4 a ,#a-t t55sl
II is also great error to reason upon the
hypothesis that the State of Virginia as such
has steady, uniform premedi,ated system Of
policy, hostile 70 the general government,
which she constantly pursues under the chan
ges OF her own administration. Mr.. Ames
gives as little quarter to Virginia frderahsm,
as to Virginia oiiyarchy. Hs would have
us believe that she adopted the constitution,
only from considerations OF policy and in
hope Of success to her Intrigues. This is the
very wormwood Of local Jealousy. The fed
erAIisn Of Virginia, had at tnat day. the same
obstacles to encounter as the federalism of
Massachusetts. Its objects Of pursuit were
the same, and il succeeded by a victory as
hardly contested and by majority of about
the same proportion. The first President OF
the United States WAS a native of Virginia |;
but il is not iptimated that during his admin
istration of eight years, the State of Virginia
. had an undue ascepdcncy in the government
of the nation. Go the contrary, Mr.. Anes's
4 great complaint is that she was constantly
thwarting and counteracling il. Al length he
says she fatally succeeded in reducing 1t to
the imheciiiIy Of the old confederation.
I shalt now undertake the tssk Of vindica-
ring the policy OF Virginia, while the govern
rnent Of the State VS. in opposition to the
general government. 1t rcscmbied too much
that of the present rulers Of Massachusetts,
TO harmouizc with my ideas of correct con-
stitdtional principles. But reflect upon the
transactions of the Jefferson administration.
Reflect especially upon the transactions of
the two last years. The part Of pcrplcxing,
of ohstructing, Of countcracting the measures
ut the general government has not been per-
sormrd by Virginia. She has no otherwise
.itcrfered in tho affairs OF the nation than to
pledge herself in the most solemn manner,
70 support the national authorities, at a most
perious crisis Of our affairs. The "sHLEcr"
ind . EXCLUSIVES" friendsof Mr.. Ames, have
exchanged weapons with Virginia But Vir-
gina in the most viruIent extreme of her OPP
position never joined the banners OF foreign.
enc my to strike the standard of the Union.
The state policy Of Virginia, like that of
MAssachuseus andof every other State in the
Union, huctatcs according to the issue of her
annual elections. In the great party division
Which has pcrvadsd the whole union, and
,waich existed long before the federal consti.
tusion, Virginia, like all her sisters, was divi-
ded against herself. One effect Of the con-
.situsion was to new organize these two par
ties, and give each OF them rallying point
in the person Of one individual. The indi.
wdial on 6otb sides, was native of Virginia.
WAsRlNcroN was the leader OF tho federal
lists. JssrxasoN, Of the Republicans. The
Virginia representation in Congress was al-
, ways partly federal and partly Republican
Al ihc second presidential election, the vote
of Virginia, like that o( the other States, was
UNANIMOUS for Washington. To this day,the
Caiel Justice of tho Unit.d States, and a.
nother Judge of tho Supreme Court, are na.
Cges of Virgins, and fedcralists. Both of
them, as well as the present President of the
United s:atcs, were among the active suppor-
tcrs Of the federal constitution, and members
-Qt the Virginia State Convention which adop-
tri Il. In the election which has just taken
place, four fcdcralists at least, and two or
tree others, as far from the political system
OF the President, as federalism itself, have
Aac oh oc -, ~r d.