The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1824-12-31

marks; and shpnld ttsy Hsshtne lhe hiIea
ance of pathology, tire only arUiogy ran
oiirr my feiIow citizens !, fiiat they -fring
spontaneously from ono whose sfie Object h
10 pre-rrS. government 10 ia pristine 1writy,
aud " ho regret his inc. mpetonev To The task
The cogeni arguments That have been hlfeh
DIV dedicated 60 this subject will conhnc ~.
10 a very eoncise view aud however dull IA.
rrgsn,,.in may be, the subject II II must be
interesting 10 ollrriDg my sentiments as
sure the reader they are mol dependant upon
my circumstances. IN prosperity or adversary
the, are the same aud II elevated 10 tbc1iin-
naele OF aralpnce, or sGiii Ia The depth 81
poverfy, they would remain unnliered. nni
impelled by no motive but the public good
no desire but To perpeiuato Tie rights oil my
fellow citizens.
II l. proposed 10 abolish The privy council,
alter and amend our Jhfisprndence, enrlail
aud rqnalizs eur representation, aud extend
he right ot suffrage The proIriety OF The
two first propositions Hppear 10 be somewhat
doubtful / shalt therefore eonfne myself 10
the two last, which appear to he the only re-
needles for evil, generally admitted 10 exist
and, IN my opir;iun, are of such n prominent
aud increasing nature as 10 demand on most
serious cousi3 Grafton. Ii Is to'be lamented
that our ndversaries should have taken suei,
i,nins To signnlize their talents nj s"phisiry -
Even the elaborate argument at MIR. Leigh
lAhts rs Utufl tHlEhtN W VI IioN'
that our constitution IS not detective, rs II
gains by its gigantic appearance. lhe nppa-
rent difficulty Wudrr which he inbOfed 10
found his premises, " III sstiLy an unpre judic-
ed mind oi tho tallacy pi his conelusions.-
But he who Is prepos5essed III his favor, ar
who has not inc linnt,ou or cnpnoHy 10 nnhlyze
his argument will c.uclude that much Inns been
proven because much has been snid. would
remind such Of The old proverb " Truth, like
brauiy, is besi when pIalnest.'
Relative Ia the first proposition, will only
observe that The mode OF REMOVING the mem.
bers of the pr ~ council, is incompatible. " ith
the dignity winch should npperlaIn to The ek-
ecutiNe department.
Orr jurispfndenee should receive that nj
tontinn requisite forthc impartial aud speedy
administration of justice IN the various trbu-
aals, and especially in those OF cnch county.
turlhilugand rqnalizins our representation
in The house Of delegates, is n proposition
which involves the rights md Interests Of the
For, MS II now stands, II takes
unnecessarily from the treasury annually
very large sum and is calculated to destroy
the fundamental principle. of republican 20
vernmcnt, by eleNating the few over the ma.
ny by .uljectiug the viii oi the ma GRITTY 10
that OF the minority. II has been suggested
10 elect from the larger counties one repre-
sentative, aud So unite the smaller ones as will
would give our House of Delegates u number
sufficiently large ito secure the benefit OF
free consultation aud discussion, nndto guard
against too easy combination For improper
purposes" While each member would be
selected for his superior talents aud virtue he
would be appraised OF the interests and cir
cnmstances III his constituents. The policy
al the measure cannot he doubted when re.
garded IN pecuniary point Of view, and as
Ina IA l.sts Init 1 dad
that there will be found candor enough, even
among the most nveterate enemies OF n CON
vention, il such there be, ta acknowledge
that owing 10 the INV ieidincss of the house
nj delegates, legislation is greatly impedcd,
md consequently the sessions much protract-
ed But the objections 10 this plan are OF the
most nimsy and tins-l nature. 1Lcy assert
with the spirit OF prophecy, that the citizens
OF one county would not acquiesce in "A con
soiilation with another, To choose repre-
sentative aud therefore, the evil which il
partly conceded cannot be remedicd l. hi,
Judging Of lu,nre events hy past occurrences
II know any thing at Tue character of Iir-
riuiaas, they will bear in mind the primary
Object oi the concession of their rights, and /
wa not he tenacious OF AN advantage which |
time aud circumstances huyc gwen them in
our constitution. AT NIL times they will be
found ready To sacrifice pnrty and ambition
In their interest aud duty, mud make every
consideration subsers lent 10 that Of the pub
lie good. The dspropouion ia our reprrscn
tation Is os great ms one Ia twenty vet We
are told il IS II tivinl cause for convention.
Extending the right OF suffrage, Is an a.
mendmcnt IN which, the vital interests OF
sGrrcthing like two.lhirds OF the citizens are
concerned shy t"o-thifds, for this is about
the proportion that the uon.trscholders, " ho
have manifested u permanent intel in, aud
an attachment To the community, bear To
the freeholders; mud owing To the increase
OF population, the enhanced value of land
and the pecuniary emhhrrassments " hich urc
prevalent in this state, tins class OF citizens
must greatly increase IN number
II may br asked, " Int better evidence is
there OF interest in, and attachment 10 the
community, than "a ireehodl answer, none.
bht Is there no other evidence sufficient To
establish the fact aud should il prove IN the
smallest degree subordinate, is il To be Of no
validity What was the object of the original
concession Was II not, better To secure the
LIVES, isert", and properly of the people
The non-trc eholdrrs " no inherit two of these
articles, and owing to their mtsfcrtnn and
not their huil, do not possess the third, are
10 be gagged, mud made TO acquiesce in any
measure, however oppressive, that may lie
established by ihcir fellow citizens uotwith-
standing they contribute 10 support govern
mcnt, and in case of an invasion, are our
chict dependence TO rcpcl'thc foe. But we
are told in the same tone of speculation aud
supposition that has marked the opposcrs Of
n convention, that To extend the right OF
suffrage Is To suppress the agricultural interest.
They seem To view combination for this OBJ
Ject as an inevitable consequence and not
satisfied with having them dependent upon
the ireehotder Tor subsistence, must extend
their dependence 10 life and liberty. II is
tr"c there has yet been no oppressive acts,
but who will youch for thcir continp - Z as
wholesome in future. Suppose an extension
OF rigid is made, woud ash, should the num-
brr OF non irecholders be sufficient. aud the
disposition prevail among them, 10 Cypress
tue lrcchnlders, won'd moi their dependence
Tor land to cultivate, or in other words, sub