The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1824-07-16

: lion once pnt 10 motion, was rolled from
one part of this country to the other.
But between the farmers of this country
and foreigners, there is no manner oil
connection. They are the men in
ahon, reside The sacred fire of patriotism
unadulterated by any affections for othei
Countries. They are the men who constr
inte the most sirtuOus, the most lnd.pen
dent If our citizens; who are the least We
nal, the least subsersient 10 the human
race who may justly be styled the chosen
people of God, aud the firm supporters ID
every free government. 80 long rs they
are the repositories Of our governn'eDt,we
need never fear that foreign influence will
'clogifs mheels'er sap the foundation of oul
republic.
We will conclude this essay with a few
observations On the danger of a convention
! II there are any of the citizens of Bedford
who enteriainthe opinion that we can meet
in convention and change our constitution
without endangering in the least our rights
and liberies il may not he unnecessary To
refer them 10 the eiirly part of the history
of this country. What vas our situation
AT that period which interviewed between
the revolutionary struggle and the adoption
of the Federal Constitution II was truly
aw ful and momentOus. The hearts Of the
friends Of liberty quaked with fear, and the
old nn0narciis Of Europe began To indulge
the hope that liberty would once more fall
the victim Of tyranny. We had found by
experience that the articles of coniedera-
ton we're a government too dislointed for
the security of our happiness and too weak
far the maintenance at our national honor.
For the purpose of adopting another con-
stituiion, convention WAS called. The
present federal constitution, constitution
which has fel its basis tire natural rights Of
man, aud for its superstructure the freest
principles of the English government, was
the proposed substitute. BW as admirable,
AS unexceplionalie as is this constitution,
there were not wanting men who were ,io-
lently oppos,d 10 its adoption. Some Were
for di, idipg Tie United States into .l,ree
distinct empires others we're for as many
separate and independent republics as were
states in the Union. All this Was seriously
proposed, although The inevitable conse-
qncnce would have been endlcss.wars aud
perpetual CONNEXIONS. II is true that the
present constitution was finally adopted ;
but we may attribute its adoption to the
h"'io'i-oi i'''Iu'''p'diy P"hI"'S WI" "'it
then existing, and who had acquired "A
boundless influence over the minds Of the
citizens by having fought for their liberty
and achieved their independence. With
this recent example before our eyes, can
We say there is no danger to be apprehen.
ded irtm convention May not an I'M
necessary recurrence 10 first principles give
our political system some fatal shock P
May not the headstrong passions of the
multitude create in our country those fatal
factions and divisions which lave always
been the fruitful causes OF the downfall Of
other nations With know ledge III the
destructive principles oiother countries, lei
ns not hasten to share their common lot
let us take their example as an unerring
beacon 10 warn us against "A similar ship
wreck, a Citizen Of Liberty