Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-05-11

sorai woIla) now pasing in Virginia. ad.nonish me,
Of the ditficulty-l hay almost said impossibnity-
of governing people III debt. To this same cause,
and to the bartcrng by brethren of us southern
peopc,likc Joseph, into worse than Egyptian bon
dage, not for Midianitish silver, but tor political
power, We owe "GREEK CRUSApEs," aud
Z "INTERNAL lHPaovEBrNTs," ard ~TApIrr
BILLS: measures, against which Virginia lifts up
her voice as it that of congregation singing
to tn same tune. That her sons, who are my bre-
thren, not of the haf-blood of Bihah and Zilpah,
but OF the same womb---of the venerable and
reverend mother, OF the antient aud renown-
Ell commonwealth may take this into their serious
ana! sober considerations, is the earnest PRAYER of
Their attcctionate brother and fcllow-citizon,
p. S. shall, if practicable add further illustra-
<i0Is 60 the = Notes."
NCopy Of letter fros r. 10 c. j. Esq dated Jaaua-
ry %, 1917.
SIR: have read with assoni shncnt and alarm
Hc proceedings of the blouse of Delegates on the sub
Ject OF convention, and have this moment seized
pen TO suggest some considerations that deem ma
terial to that momentous question, but fear il will
be impossible throw them on papcr before the
mail closes Thowaver 1t shall please God to spaIe
one night, you shall have them nv to-morrow's
post. Meanwhile beseech you, do not strike the
nag. Fardon this presunption-Its springs from ma
tiIral affection TO the country where I first drew
breath, ana where hope TO lay my boncs-for tina,
mother whom, however may stand in her favour,
VIII never cease to honour aud to cherish, while
have life aud reason left Divide couaties-evcn
white them il assary-equalizc taxcs-arransc
anew the Senatorial districts; but couture you,
never - surrender any body but the REpR Els EN-
fATIvE5 OF de FREGHoLDEas, the power of lc-
sislaiion nay, 10 pass FuyDAMENTAL Laws
buonaparte appealed the peoples but not by their
representatives., when he u5urpcd tho crowns of
France and Italy.
To destroy the influence of Virginia, has long
been the darling object of the whole federal pha-
lanx, with some highly honour bic exceptions Ind
OF no small portion VI the other party, (out OF the
STATED who have hai 1t equally at heart; jcalou,
OF her weight III this confscracy, which she derives
yet more FROM the character OF er institutions than
from her territory and population To attack these
institutions, which draw no small portion of their
value from THEM STABILITY, is strike at the heel OF,
Achilles. Look at the public prints of every dc
scripton-thc New-Fork Evening Post, the Cou-
rice, the Federal Republican, and even the Virai-
MIA Patriot:-thcy are all set to the same tune In
Rts, Duane and Bnns agree and the strongest adj
vocatss for monarchy in this country 10 renouuce
to The lead.
Let the Freeholjcrs look to it Let them rcrnam-
{ber the fable Of the Woodman and his ase-le,
them remember, that the bundle If sticks, which
dehed attack when united, was easily demo-
lished one by one:-and let every man of them
who doubts his own competency to judge of
question the most complica ted and difficult that ca
he presented to the human mind or ,rho doubts
from any icltdierer: sekh fucc against H.
Let not thc worthy and Industrious youth who Looks
forward (and who does Tot &c thc possession of
lhis own freehold and III side, join cause that may
Mead 10 the taxation of his land and his slaves by
them that have neither. Let the murmurers spend
ssut half the time in honest abotlr that is vast
Jed in idle complaint, and they may easily accuir.
right OF suffrage. 1t be of little value to him
who will not take the pains obtain il. lie can
y mean TO make but very poor use of IT, who win
n nd AZ t,rit e.
fu exercise evidence Of his possessing nerma-
nent common interest in the munty-a stake
in the public hejgc--a security less than would be
required to build an ordinary county Jail or bridge
No man can tell what ire to be the results of an,,
Change I'D the constitution, radical one especially
The owners Of the soil, in such state of society
ours are Tie .ghtful governors of the country In.
whose hands can the government be more safely
iodgea' To refer to other states,* (cveu of this
CONC .4ty) s to resort to false analogy Sbcv,
NE any Of t1en that, upon the whole arc better
governed, bappier, eeF from apprehension or tu,nut
" BY !neir fruits shall yc know them"
individuals post Neir land, as It's callci--some-
times associations o. individuals: But it is of the
Of landed property. that one can Sc, foot
upon it, without the owners consent unless as ?
trepasscr. Deprive it of this quality. and you de
prive it Of the character of property Our consti-
tuition is warning Off by the whole body of propri-
etors, of all persons who do not like their rertJl.
tions, and seek to 5ubvcrt them. do not speak of
SuCn Sfdte as inJCll less OF Venice
Tyre. | would as so3n refer to Connecticut FOR Il n
example Of annual election of Judges I'm no
other country could seat upon the benchbe as Sc
cure if for lief | will however refer to her for
striking example of great Fundamental political
aSom-tho superiority Of constitution resting up-
usage, which the people know by practice, which
Is III their hCIds-aye- aud what is moro, i'm their
hearts TOTO book that they can't read hut
that viii depend for its meaning upon the reading
given to it by cunning clerks AMI attorncys.t Con-
n3ctict Is al instance of that which the moon
STRUCK y Vt of hypo;hcscs VIII not see thr til
umph OF the HABITS Of Il people over any positive
Institutions whatsoever. France has furnished an
other AMI an awful example of the same great truth
Yes, Let The F,echcijcrs look TO il. If the paDer
aristocracy ofthis country already threatens to .n
US out Of posse jsi0n, great title in human AZ
fairs, what Will It do when, like plaster of Paris
IT has pabutg, TO feed on? The nliserably poor 4
the yet more miserab!y ignorant arc the clover OIL
that systcln.j
II mast sell oar birth-right, let us at least.
like Esdu, get mess Of pottagc. Let us not be
paid for It in Charters, not of Freedom, but oil
Baaks--iu the profits Of which the mass of the
people never can participate which is coming out
Of tn land and abour Of he country. Let not IT,
surers and nadmen be Our lawgivers.
GIN imitation ofNorth Carolina wcdcstroycd our
old district court system. Hers which she demo!-
shed was even better than ours. The coscuuenccs
have been miserable aud sill yet be worse.
Since this Letter was written, the land of stead
habits has been revolutionized.
! The various readings ofthe Constitution of tho
u. States at this time especially april 10, 1924
ought to put every honest man on his guard.
;lShsep clovefI weeB. At that time 18I7 the |
bubble had not bu It: the land has since become clo-
T:r and plaster sick