Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-11-25


on urged by Ir. Henry and his friends
10 The adoption of the constitutions, and OF
The answers 10 them, as IL lac were Ia pc
ruse The reports the debates themselves
taken IN short hand by Mr.. Robertson. IL
would be doing injustice to The autlior
and tie subject, to attempt 10 abridgc tire
synopsis he has given us, or select ANY
particular part Of il in preference TO the
rest, Ia lay before the public. The fol
lowing fine description OF t,iesr.ne which
TIA, celebrated convention exhibited, is
the only extract we shall make from this
section. II reminds us so forcibly of
Mr.. Erskine's beautiful representation of
what took place in the British parliament
OH the iRipeaclinient of Hastings, that we
cannot but persuade ourselves that our
author had that passage of his speech IN
favor of Siockdaic in his minds eye
when he wrote the following passage:
Z" The convention had been attended from
its commencement, By Il vast coicourse of citi
zens of all ages aud conditions. The interest
so universally felt in the question itself, and
not less the transccndant talents which were
engaged i'll its discussion, presented such at
fractions as could not he resisted. Industry
deserted its pursuits, and even dissipation gave
up ITS objects, for tue superior enioyments
which were presented by the hall of the cost
.
neigiibourlood, but gentlemen from every
quarter of the state, were seen througing 10
the metropolis, and speeding their eager way
10 the building (which the invention held its
meetings. Day after day, from morning till
night, the galleries oft,e house were continu-
ally hiled with an anxious crowd, who forgot
the Inconvenience 0ttheir situation, in tI,fs sN-
cess OF their enjoyment and far from gSiag
any interruption To the course OF the debate,
Increased its interest and solemnity, by their
silence and attention. No hustle, TO motion,
no sound was heard among them, save only a
slight movement when some new speaker a.
rose, whom they were all eager to see well
as TO hear, or when some master stroke Of clio.
Quence shot thrilling along their nerves q; ex.
torted an involuntary and inarticulate muir
muir. Day after day. was this banquet of the
mind & of the heart spread before them, with a
delicacy and variety which could never cloy
There every taste might find its peculiar graft
hcauons-the man of wii--tlie man of feeling
the cntic--tIe phi!o.npher--ihe historiai--the
metaphysiciaD-th lover Of 10 gic--the admir-
er OF rhetoric-every man who had an eye for
TIE beauty OF action, or ali car for the harmony
ct sound, or a soul for the charms of poetic
ldncy--in short every one who canld see, or
hear, or feel, or understand might find in the
Wanton profusion and prOdigality of that attic
feast, some delicacy adapted to its peculiar
taste. Every mode OF attack and of defence,
ot%hlch the human mind is capable, in deco
rons debate-eyery species of weapon and ar
mour, offensive and defensive, that could he
Useu Will advantage, from tnc Roman JavPlln
10 the Parthian arrow, from the cloud of
Hncas, to the shield of Aciilles-alI that could
be accomplished by human strength, and al
most more than human activity, was seen ex-
hihited on that celebrated floor. Nor did the
debate become oppressive byits unvarying for
maliiy. The stateliness and sternness OF ex
tended argument, were frequently relieved by
quick and animated dialogue. Sometimes the
conversation wouid become familiar and friend
ly. The combatants themselves, wond seem
rcIf nf. 10 fsl,o
enemies, and by sort of informal truce, put
OIL their armour; and sit down amicabIy toge-
ther to repose, as il were. i'm the shade ofthe
sarse tree. by this agreeable intermixture Of
coloQuidl spriehtllneSS and briliancy will,
profound, and learned. and vigorous argument
--of social courtesy with heroic gailantry. the
audience, far from being fatigued with the dis
cnsson, looked with regret to the honr of adj
jouTrment.
In this great competition oftalents. Mr.. Hen
rvs powers ofdebate still shOne pre- eminent
They were now exhibiting. themselves i'm a new
aspect. Hithertohis etierts, however splendid,
pad been comparatively short aud occasional
In the house OF hurgesses in I7Oj, in the con
gress of IVA, and the state convention of i77J.
he had exhibited the impetuous charge of the
gallant Francis the first but now, in comb.
nation with that fiery force, he was displaying
all the firm and dauiYtIess constancy of t,barIes
the NTH. No shock OF his adversary could
move him from his ground. His resources me-
ver failed. His eloTmehce was poured from in
eNhaustlble fountaiDs,& assumed every varie-
y OF hue 81 form and motion, which could de-
light or persuade, instruct or astonsh Some
times II was the limpid rivulet sparkling down
the mountains side, and winding IFS silver
course between margins Of moss--then gradu
a'iy swelling to holder stream, il roared in
the headions cataract. and spread its rainbows
to the sun--nOw, II flowed on in tranqnii naies-
ty, like a river of the west, rejecting from its
polished surface, forest, and cliff, and skv-a.
non, IL was the angry ocean, chaied By the
tempest hanging its pillows, with deafenins ella.
n0nrS, InOiIg the cracking SIN oudS or hurting
them in sublime defiance, at the storm that
frOWEcd above"
II is known that the question of ratiii-
Gallon, after hard struggle, was carried,
IN opposition TO Mr.. Henry's wishes, BY a
majority OF fen votes, out Of ii house COM
posed OF 1853 members-Hel had, however,
SIM influence enough 10 induce them TO
agree to bill OF rights, aud series of a.
mendments providing for his objections
10 the cOnstifution.-Man of then, have
been since adopted, and they all eyince
hla deep foresigh, and wonderful saraci-
ty. At the next session of the Ierisla-
lure, he had lost so little ground by The
course he pursuedin convention fiat we
ind hIm carrying every measure he pro-
posed, with triumphant success.
lnsectlon 8, of our author, he has adj
verted TO the great case OF the British
debts, which came on TO he argued be-
fore lie circuit court of the u. States in
1871, and he has furnished tbs with most
interesting abrldgment from MIR. Robert
sons stenographlc notes of Mr.. IEenrv's
arguments On that OCCASION. Here. loo.
we cannot but admire the skill and iudg-
ment with which this difficult undcriaS-
ing Is accomplished We think il renuires
talents of very high order TO arrange
taslpfully and UNANIMOUSLY The materials
furnished by a long discussion of a com
pick and difficult question, so as to give
To every class of readers in small com
49,. :. ..I..----.--l ~ -. 3: !" 'n.I NVNL