Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-02-24
Virginia Legislature.

Lond9nr, by sody of amendment 10 the Su6
stHnte fir9Aosed by Nr. LEIcH, Of Dinrvid
die, 10 the Preamble and Resotutfsns. on IN,
s"oieef offhe right Qfthe STATE Legislature.
10 msfJuct the Senator's If their reshecfipt
sfSfeS, IN the Congress Of the U. States.
CONTINUED FROM OUR LAsr.)
Such were the opinions, and such was the
conduct OF Edmund Burke, in relation TO Tho
doctrine oil instructions, from which, il cannot
DC inferred, that he admits the authority ~
instructions, however ''soberly and deliberate
iy given" -"
10 this authority, on whici, this Assembly
mas dwait, at greater length, because much OF
TIE srgoment, IN which it is found. eorroho.
rates tie general doctrine laid down in an ear.
~ part OF this preamble, it capnot forhcar al.
ding, that of the elder William PITT opce ~.
fayorise of this nation, as his memory is st;JI,
ana ever wiu be, honored and reyered. bv eve.
ry FRIEND OF rational liberty. 1t was under ne
GUITAR circumstances, and somewhat different
rom those which attended the situation of his
ca2atr9ctf fiSmund Burke, that William ME,
dentetl The authority of The instructions of the
oorPora'ion OF bath. 1t was in the year 17o3.
wnen ms virtue had been, and continued to be
tried, py we only infallibie test, adversely.
one ct his biographcrs relates eve b.ve
'.seen the end of this mans briiIiancv. ne n
MINISTER. We now view him in the character
OF single member Of the legislature accom-
PANIED by no influence, nor followed. bv o-,e
Individual OF that obsequous crowd of rcrre.
g scntatives, who had lately given him mimi
f" ted confidence and unbounsed praise. He
" retired from office an INDECENT man From
all ms places, he acquired no possessions, and
tne htss duty OF ms retirement was retrench-
y inent OF his household" The tide of ,,on,,
lar favour which so recently lifted him to the
skies, by sudden ebb, had left him atranded
on the rocks OF a cold and barren shore Pros
perity had tried, but found him incorr,1nt;b,e
and adversely now folded him in her iron eras,,
as If to bend his sturdy spirit, but found that
spirit to have the Greatness of trut, and the STA
bility of virtue.
The nation was exulting at the termination
OF tDe'seFen years war, when his constituents
the Mayor, Aldermen and Common Council of
the City of Bath, transmitted to him and b;s
colleague, Sir John Seabright, an address. to he
by them presented to the king, congratulntinr
and huinbly thanking him, for the di.eracefill
pc ace which had just closed the memorable
war, in the conduct OF which, this great states.
man had covered himself, and his country. with
untadirg glory. Not satisfied, with PERMITTING,
his colleague to present the address, alone q
circumstance, which he was apprized, had not
attracted the notice of his constituents ard
dcllCaCV
might have seemed to require no farther con.
sideratior The wrote to one ofthe corporation
two letters, from which, the following nara.
graphs are extracted:
Having declined accompanying. Sir. John
" Seabright, in presenting the address from
TO Cts, jointly, ty the t,y>yo
7" clerk, think II, or all accounts, indispenss-
aiy necessary, that should inform you ofthe
'reasons ofmy conduct. The epithet. adeouonc
given to the peace, contains, a descrip,ion of
the conditions of it SO repugnant to my ,lnal-
terable opinion concerning many of them.
" and fully declared in parliament, that il was
" rs impossible for me to obey the corporat;-
/" on's commands In presenting the address 40
f" It was unexpected to receive such comm;s-
sion. As to my opinion of the peace. i will
" only say, that formed it, with sincerity. 5c.
$ cordng to such lights as my little exper;.
" ence and small portion of understanding could
I" afford me. This conviction must remain to
"mysef the constant rule of my conduct. and
|" leave to others, with much difference TO tbeir,
:. better information, to follow their own iude.
" ment Give me leave, to desire to convey. tbros
" you, TO Mr. Mayor and the gentlemen of the
!" corporation, these, my free sentiments. AVID
" with t1e just sense of their past goodness To-
(" wards me, plainly to confess; that i perceive
:. am but i'll qualified to perform pretensons
" to the future favor of gentlemen whoarc come
" to think, SO differently from me, on matters
+" OF the highest Importance to the national vel
" fare"
In second letter, to the same person. written
three days after the preceding, he tells him.
: knowing how much you approve an open and
= ingenious proceeding, trust that YOU will
" see the unhtness of my concealine from my
p" constituents, the insurmounta5Ie reasons.
: which prevented my obeying their commands
: AS their servant, owe to these gentlemen an
c';plaHation IF my eo,idEet This occasion"
To addto the weight ofthesc author;t;es 4
possible, would be superhuous. They are de.
rived from period of British history, when the
House of Commons, assembled in early times
at the pleasure ofthe monarch, for the sole p,ir
pose, OF supplying, by grants of money, his
wants, or his extravaganza, had long held the
rank OF coordinate branch of the Enpl;sh
Fsriiament. They are moreover, furnished. by
two OF the most resplendent luminarIes of =
constellation OF talents, learning and eloduence.
unriyalled in any preceding or subsequent are
OF British history and it is proper to remark
too, BY men, whose attention, throuehotd their
lives, was constantly directed by tho current
OF events, which they, sometimes guided, and
Whlcn, sometimes, carried them along, TO the
spirit and maxims ofthc constitution Of orave rn.
ment, under which they lived. The FIRST sneecb
which William Pitt delivered against the tne-
moraDlc stamp act, dtscloses prevalent discri-
mipation, among English statesmen. between
taxation and Legislation, which, when applict IN
the true character of the House of Commons. Ia
the carly age Of its existence, and to ehat OF ST.
nilar assemblies Which arose in various parts
OF Europe, from the same cause, about The Same
period OF time VIII reconcile to the doctrines.
here commended for all the anticnt authorizes
winch seem to initiate against them. 10 com
Inen nt gron those OF more recent date, after ne
authorities Arcade cited car s,,,..,..f.. n
qumed. To account fer the various opinigps.
or the stih more discordsnt speeches and vofes
OF members Of parliament, oflittie note, v ifi,-
out Knowing the particnlnr circl.rn.larrca ~.