Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-05-18
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:'o,assss, by" a Republican, Of %" MrLcishs
proposed Substitute for the anticipated Report
the Committee, the subject OF Convrn-
i.on.
Mol.
TO tte Editors Of the Enquirer.
Gentlemen: d. w. LEtcu ESQ. has recently pub-
kShcd in your paper his reasons for opposing the
cal of Convention with the extraordinary title
of n "SURsFtTCrE INTi:NpED 10 DE oFfEnED
To THE Ns:NT ME;:riN3 THE CITIZENS OF
RicHMoaO on THE SUBJ t:CT os A CONVENTIONS,
N i.,EU OF TaE REPORT OF THE CoMmIrrEE."
|, seems iadccl, little premature TO publish n
proposed substitute, for report, which has not
the light, and which possibly, when seen, may
not appear, even TO its predetermined enemy, alto
setiicr exccptionabc as he supposes. Such n
Of anticipation, would, 10 a common man,
be in some degree inconvenent but to 4 writer
OF uncommon fertility of ideas, and iaciua;ing cio-
quence, thi; mode o: proceeding, is the most conve-
MEN, INA gnable because il affords him unlimited
scope to display the exuberencc of his prolific mind,
the acutencis of his ostc, (cr Sopisiry) the beau
~ and energy of his wcll-turncd, harmonious sem
tences.-U uresraiued by the rigid duty of adhcr-
ing to points actually in controversy, he is, by this
plan, enabled 10 range at large OVER the whole
ground, that may or may not be the field of battle
80 attribute Ia his alversaIics, (by way of suyoSi
ftoh) any opinions or schemes, that he may disap-
prove. or can con.ute} to state them ull, i'll his
own wdy,-aud then, To defeat them, with as much
case and self-IcatuniOn, as knights and giants
were defeated o; Old by the sage HiiGigo " La
-aaaetr. 1t ismy intctou to make few remarks
upon this proposed substitute wishing them To
have no oihei weight than they may be entitled TO
by their intrinsic merit, when placed in the balance
of reason: and (witiout farther pfelisni.iaries,)
proceed ia the subject III discussion.
large portion of the introductory observations
IN this extraordinary substitute would q supposc)
be cheerfuliy subscribed to by the committee, and
by every discreet friend of convention but in INV
humble judgment, they seem to be strangely blended
with erroneous principles and conclusions. For
example, all agree that the subject is important,
ana ought to be approached with htaniiuy," but
we cannot admit, that we ought to approach it
with "G,ce!" IHei emotion is proper TO be felt
u the presence of the Supreme Being only, or in
the attempt to scrutinize object; sacred and divine
We have the hardihood to think that the constitu-
ton of Our country, OF, indeed, any instrument
Which IS the work OF man, may, without prcsump-
ton, be freely examined, and brought the tast of
the reasoning faculty of
The constitution of Virginia, though formed by
ths sages of l7I6, and certainly entitled, in many
respects, 10 much reverence and appreciation, is,
CATER all, mere human production. Tie pre- sen,
generation, thcreforc,-being like their ances-
tors, capable, like them, of Se!f-govcrnmcnt-and
possessing the faculties and desires of ha ppi-
Bess,-nay, il is hoped, without profla ne presump-
ION, consider and discuss the good or bad quail
iieS OF any woik their ancestors nave left behind
them. They should, il is true, advance to SUI, dis
cu5sion,wih GOODNESS &cautiun prudent circumspcc-
lion and sage dclibcraon should attend their stems.
but neither should they be deficient in mancstng
IN III! occasions, the dgniiied rmness OF eniigh,eu-
ed freamcn, republicans and patriots. II is not uro-
posed " the itiendS of Convention, that the peo-
Pile s'lo".d g. &C; in such hiah concerns
=" without strong and adequate motives, wi,bou,
"mcans safe ana Surs," without objects sufficient,
dcii'sai, S'tEc'2iJ important, unaucstionably good
AMI with n!3rat thocgii with absolute certainty
;s'tain1S!e Fine objections we have TO the con,ti-
tuition, furnish. a. conceive, "Sirone and a3c-
qtate "0ffH.S. for nG?pdtag. tho not for dsyi-oy
4. We thin; it Inqucsionablc shat a convention
co3lsisfS q Sltcit Rei2 tie people srouH elect
Would possess su.ic.ent wisdom and virtue to be the
S4s az s"'e "eats OF accomplishing some, if no,
all, the amend .nents we desire. OF the various a.
en,imeniS Which have beef. suggested, (,lo' some
difference OF opinion exists in rotation 10 parl) a
Sufficient number are unanimously approved, TO rem
der the great objects i'll view worthy OF being mr.
sued with tempe ate and judicious zeal. We do
not pretend to BE- ta(aIi5te, have the Gift of
prophecy; bat such powers are rot necessary "a,
the substitute III question contend) to is-
THY our acting upon this occasion. I, is enough for
US to feel rational assurance, BOUNDED or our
knowledge CT the Pir,ita,. character.) that 2,,ci
good, would in all human probabity be ACCOMPLISH
ed by convention. full persuasion of This,
ought to induce every considerate mau who enter
cern."
IL should also no; be forgotten, (and be i, dis
tinctiy undcrsood) that altho' we generally Thru il
ps1edient to bcstow upoa the conyenton,tile unIiu
Ited power OF proposing any amendments il NAV
mink proper, tor acceptance rejection By the
people yet- we believe il to- be the wish of every
flehd OF convention, that the power of acceptance
or rejection OF all such amendments, shall be retain
Ell by the great body OF the community such pow
f OF acceptance or rejection to be exercised either
in primary assemblies, OF by subsequent con-
vcnton elected for that purpose, as, on reGcc-
ton, may be deemed advisable. Tie convention
Oise ali other delegated bottles of Iaen0 cannot
possess greater powers than conferred upon il:
py its constituents H. therefore, Il he appointed
expressly, Gas 1t ought to De, for the purpose OF de-
viiiii& and recommending amendments to the con-
sitution assa,eaiy, it can have 40 authority to
bind the people, or 20 establish any change without
their consent.
we acknowledge that sHgAi objections 10 ,l,s
tsgs7 teSunl, the fundlmcntG! laws of our coun-
try,' ought not 70 induce change but we huinb,
con2eive th% restitution Of tnc right of suffrage 10
ttecbo!ders or!y-ihe inequality of representation
and sn?erAuiy OF members in iEe House of Dele
sates,-;he highly incon:eaient aud irresponsible
organization oi tue hS-cutigc,t the expensive cir
c-itous and complicated 81 tenn of the Judiciary
aic iodtd'es 81 the Con3Jtion 3Oi Siigtfy but Sc
Ts2t.sfy objectionable. We know that defects ma v
- found III all the works % man: we are not 90
~ politics. ~ in any thing esc bat does not fol-
low, that II 3 Che PGrt Of wise and free people
- be conteut with rs,y IL. fecfiye Constjtutiop
when 1t IS III their p0wcro amend it, tcsHtoUt digi-
city irits0wt Ica,, fUlUR or d:sorder of ann KIM
The friends Of Convention, when they declare
their willingness TO trust Hlc sop}e for thi, pur
pose, " do mt set up the presump:uous and absurd
.. fl.s,Eg