Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-02-07
her national philanthropy but wherever
she has thrown open the doors Of her ma

shu WINE iapplauu her magnanimity am
forced 10 condemn her prudence.
Heretofore, Virginiahas, in great mea-
sure avoided the consequences of this
growing evil by prudential restriction OF
the Hight of suffrage aud if comparisons
between natural friends and allies were
not more delic;'e than proper. l might
draw a contrast between Virginia and ms
the political wisdom and integrity Of the
Old Dominion particularly in relation to
the superior purity of her public elections.
But it is supposed to be disgracefuI to yir-
GINA to refuse to throw open the doors of
her political councils to all who NAV choose
to enter them! Merely to censure and
find fault is perhaps the humbest office
which representative wisdom can perform.
1t will be time enough to promulgate the
disgrace of our native State, when that
disgrace shall have been eatablished.-
WHO framed the Constitution to which
this disgrace is imputed f--The very men
who conquered the freedom aud happiness
we now enjoy. And were they really less
wise, less patriotic, less devoted to the ma
tional interest than we ? hspe that none
would sully the reputation of hls ilustri-
Gus progenitOrs by any such insinuation.-
Ihey were the most glorious, most devo-
tional aud enlightened patriots of which
history makes any mention; Patriots,
In the display of whose exalted virtues their
humble followers must hide their diminish
ed heads in profoundest reverence and
gratitude (; and before whose wisdom and
intelligence the scantY and crepuscular
lights OF the present day so out of them
selves like the feeble glimmerings of a taper
merged into the mephetic vapor of well.
Yet these great and immortal men who fig
ured with so much eclat and usefulness up
on the public stage, are accused of having
imposed disgraceful thraIdom upon all
those whose want of freehold denies them
participation in the pabic affairs. Had
they done this. which is so confidently as
cribed to them, instead of being proclaim
ed as the wise and patriotic reformers If
abuse, and the founders of their cOuntrY's
liberty and independence, they would
nave been sung and proverbed as fools and
parracides throughout the Universe and to
the latest pOsterity. Those men, in
whose lives are to be found all that is most
great and glorious in our history, never
thought that we could accuse them of hav-
ing imposed disgraceful thraldom upon any
portion of the human race--They never
thought that the Constitution which their
useful labors had prepared to protect and
comfort us in the hour of misfortune and
distress, could be regarded as the poisoned
robe of Nessus which being given as to-
ken offriendship and affection, had most
cruel tendency to eat into the very vtals
ot those who wore il.
1.-THE injustice or imperfection of ami
law can be fairly traced to restriction OF
the Right OF. Suffrage, then | will admit
that there may be some foundation upon
which to advocate the change which is |
nov proposed. Until that can be done.
and as yet nothing like it has even been at
tempted, must believe that the griavan-
ces complained of, are more imaginary
than real, and can by no means Justify a |
Convention of the people to alter and dis
organize the Constitution, thereby expos
ing its most useful and valuable principles |
to the most inevitable confusion. when. af- |
ter long and tedious conflict of interests |
aud opinions we should ultimately be COM /
PEELED to settle down under the guidance
OF a much worse Constitution than the one
Which 1t is now proposed to improve.
| shall depFecate the haur, when the yes.
sci of State in which we are all embarked
and interested, and which has lust so no
bly, rode out the angry spirit of the storm,
and now displays her gallant and glorious
Tag upon the fall tide OfnationaI prosperi-
ty, shall be driven fiOm the even tenor of
her course out upon the high sea of anarchy
ahd faction, where, yielding to the bod
mrs OF astorm more furious and fearful,
she chance may founder and 90 down {:
While we, even should we be saved. we
viii have parted from all that was most
dear and precious to us, aud must be con-
tent to rove out our sad and Ioathsome
days in general bereavement for the me-
lancholy wreck.
Sir, if it shall once become an easy mat
ter to disregard the policy under which
we have so long lived and prospered and
II spirit to inn0vate upon those princi.
pies which originated in the deepest wis
dom, and which have been.conseorated by
the most happy and successful practice
shall grow up and prevail among us, lett
me ask you with most sincere and anx-I
lous solcItude for the future destiny of our
common country, what is to become of the
pca5ted power and permanency Of oar fee
institutions ;--what eau grow venerable
either from usefulness or age ;---what will
he held aaruroI ,,,I - Al,