Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1820-07-28
Your most obediept Servant,
EDMUND PENDLEIOS.

Erfrdct from an Grafton deiirered at Charleston
on the lfh ~ july, by Mr.. Ramsuy, son Of Tie
celebrated Historian.
THE MERIT OF VIRGINIA, THE REAL CAUSE OF
HER DISTINCTION IN THE COUNCILS Oh lliE
UNION.
Ii has been the cause sonnet times of com,
plant aud sometimes of admiration, that iuuI
ont OF live OF those high spirits " lao have guild
ed the vessel OF stale 10 Tie calm of peace
dnd amid the storms of war, should have beeu
takeH from one family in the Iepuilic. Envy
has denounced her with stale aristocracy and
state succession, while those who admitted AZ
have wondered at her fertility la geuins aud
III worth. Let MS Indulge in few reflections
upon this subject 1t has been remarked bv
Tie historian, that those splendid types OF eve
~ thing bold and every thing viftnuus in the
character of freeman, who commenced the
oProsliiOn TO Great Britain, retained as thew
deserved. the confidence OF thsir countr, 10
me emu OF the contest. The wonderful men
who were commissioned w Heaven TO direct
the energies and to guide the destiny of Ame-
rica, beautihed The yigor OF action with the
pnrity OF principle; rot merely regardless, of
self but pledsing their lives. their fortunes
anu their sacred honor 10 redeem their
country from oppression; having done their
nigh duty and flashed The great work OF
deliverahce. received all that is claimed by
The patriot heart, the vehcration aud conf
oence OF grateful people. The stamp act
OF TIE mother country was not only tIespass
upon our rights, but was an iusidious master
piece OF subtle policy il was well known
ina any direct attack upon our liberties re-
curing force 10 support IL, would he resisted
ny ioice. by this act no contract could be
made, without carrying on its face conclusive
evidence that we had contracted with COVE
nlence TO reinquiSh iiberiy-no Interchange
OF property could take place without a. EIatk
ana proof that we had compromised with
NFahny aud exchanged pTinCiuiPs Tor profit
The press which communicated our ideas
while II Shonid have dwelt upon our rights,
ana stimulated 90 action, aud indicated to n.
hahImity, would have furnished melancholy
but unpueStOnable demonstration, that while
wrong was universal, there was no uuaninty
Dnt IN rear. Snch were tho features of this
ouOus law. Connecting itself with the frst
principles and the FIRST object of the social
compact, The sycOphants of royalty exulted
In scheme. which whiIeit executed itself
would acqnaint us with Tyranny aud make vs.
familiar with poilntiou. And is it wonderful
that the native place of the infant Hercules,
"ho hrSt TOOK The monster by the throat,
'huuid nave been fruitful in sous of greatness
aud of gioTyI Had there been nothing 10 al.
tfact the eye OF history 10 the sc0Res of Nir~
GINA but tho earliucss her opposition TO The
stamp act, she would have poiuie ID her-io The
observer as The birth place of patriots, while
she woHid have immoI ialized Henry as the
first among tTpcmen.
Bni is II wonderful that he who prOposed
The convention which established The coNStilY-
ton, shoHld have been remembered by his
country, when that constitution enabled her
TO give the hOnOts of the republic 10 tie most
worthy lS IL wonderful that the apostle Of
liberty from whose lips We have AIKEN the
gospel OF freedom and tie creed of our ma
tionai faith, shou!dhave been called TO guard
over those rights wbcl he so thoroughly nm
derStOod and so eloqnenily assertcd1 is il
wonderful that he who so literally snenI his
blood for our liheriy--and who has devoted
the whole inAnttty OF his HE 10 The service Of
NE rePnbhc, should have received the highest
Iewaid OF tho people No, my friends, il il
not strange that Virginia should have been
The mother OF the HeiacIidsc; for as long as
Potomac rolls bis mighty tide 10 the ocean,
the voices OF ifeemen will miugle with his
soar and the putty Of honor-and the fear-
lessn'AS of chiySlry-and I've majesty Of pat
liO,lsn-wiD eyeI tind genial cline III the
birth place Of WAsuISGTOK."