The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1813-02-26

and reverberated by the pulpit. Ministers
OF the Gospel, forgetting their high Office
and sacred duties, delnded themselves, or
wishing to deiude, have cast their holy
vestments over an imposture. which party
spirit alone, subtle, ingenious and active as
1t is, never could have shielded, for Il mo-
ment, from detection, exposure & contempt.
Nirginian influence! What is it, where
IS 1t TO be trscedf h'ny is it exercised, and
by whom is it felt? ask of these deciaim-
ers, what is the specific meaning Of this
cnarge! Let 1t be distinctly stated. The
supporters ut this accusation are deied to
give an answer, which shall tx an imputa-
ton on the character of the state / do not
ask for the precision and certainty, requir-
ed in criminal prosecutions; but / have a
right to require, that the offence, with
which Virginia is charged. shall be so de-
scribed that. If innocent. she may repel at
once the accusations and the accusers. But
this description has not been aft rded. 1t
never was intended to be afforded The
charge as mads,s-in term, too general to be
met. except by general DENIAL This, of
itself. is sufficient answer 1t is proof
that the accusation is not believed to he Just,
BY those who make it. This is not the course
OF the friend of truth. Conscious of the
purity OF his motives, believing what he
says and advancing directly to the point,
he speaks to be understood, and disdains
" TO scatter ambiguous words among the
people" He will not, like the Assyrian
monarch, in the insolence of prosperity and
power, require that he shall be told" hi
dream, as we'll as the Interpretation there
Off
ask again, what is this dream. What
is meant by this charge Is it intended
to be avowed, that Virginia has larger
rPnrecPnf IN "a oh. 4. III
ed? If this be the point, to which the de-
nunciation leads, on whom does the cen
snre fail, II censure be deserved Not on
virginia. She only exercises right, qua
ranteed by that Constitution which she is
pledged TO maintain, and 70 which it is her
sacred duty To conform. She only exercises
right, which was Conceded to her by that
wise and august assembly, the most vene-
raoie members of which, having contribu-
ted to bestow upon their country the inesti-
mable blessing OF independence, endeavor-
ed In spirit of amity, mutual Difference
and concession TO secure it for ever, by q
hrm and permanent union of the states.-
Whittier has this spirit fed? Does it vet
hnger on the earth or did it ascend to
Heaven, with the soul of the hero and the
patriot, In which with kindred virtues il
loved to dwell?
The people of America ought ne4er to
forget one consideration, on due attention.
to which much of their future fortune and
happiness depends they ought never co
forget. that the principles of our union, are
of TWO de script;ons, between which there
is an essential difference. In the first class
are all matters of political arrangement,
equally affecting all the members of the
contederacy. Many of the powers of the Ex-
ecutive, the to term Executive, Senatorial
or Representative Office, the organization of
the Judiciary e the extent Gifts Jurisdiction.
are points among others, in which all tn.
states, whatever be the amount of their Do
pulatlon, or the materials of which tits COM
posed nave an equal interest. These NAV
be corrected or changed without exciting
Jealousy or alarm, and in some instances
have been changed greatly for the public
good. But There IS another class of princi-
pies founded on comhromise, which can ne
yer be touched. or even approached .y;th-
out endaDgering the peace of the Country
and the safety of the union principles
which constituted the very ground on
which each state, sovereign, and absolutely
independent OF the other states consented
tobecome member of the present great
confederation. In this class, the criterion
by which the actual population of the south
was to be, q has been reduced in the natl
onal estimate. holds a prominent station. BY
this arrangement, Virginia, it may be said
has obtained what she had no right to ask.
Be it 50 for the present but let us go one
step farther. In one branch of the National
Legislature, the Senate, which possesses
power executive and judicial, as well as
legislative; all the states are placed ex-
actly OH level. Rhode Island and Della
ware acceded to the Union, under this ex-
press stipulation CT senatorial equality with
the great states of Massachusetts, New
York, Pennsylvania and Virginia. The
wisdom, the justice of this stipulation has
'ever been and ought never to be question
ed. But again the constitution provides
that the number of Presidential electors
shall be equal to the whole number Of Sc
nators and Representatives to which each
state may be entitled in the Congress-. 80
ihus while this provision makes the vote
OF Delaware three times as great as could
be given on the score of population, it does
not add twelfth part 10 the electoral in
huence OF New York. Yet on this head
there is no complaint. Objections were
made when the constitution was un ser
consideration, but since it's adoption they
have not appeared. The reason is obvi.
Gus. The compact was ratified. The
principles of Union were settled, and
trust for ever. These, say. are the fun
damental principles on which the pillars OF
the Union rest. Disturb them not, Woe
be to him oseuDhallowed steps approach
them. There is mischief in his eys. There
is treachery III his heart. No matter wha,
language he may use, what disguise he
may assume; deep and dark and deadly
/ - 4, ,e IL.