Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-05-28

prnce~dipss 81 The 6es --Y,ur memor;,I;s,: ,tc,.
Sore invite the attention "fihe Genet.l Assembly to
the espetcncy at adopting such measures, as 10
your wisdom shall II" considered hes, calculated u,
facilitate aud expedite Convention OF gates Il.
revise TIE CONSTITUTION, proceeded = majority Of the
community shall have recommended such ae assure,
On or beiore The commencement of your session IL
the wishes oil The people shall not have been clearly
asceriained 10y that period, I'VE respectfully suRges,
the proprie'y OF requiring 10y law poll be taken
as soon ds convenent, To ascertain their u,e
upon the subjec,-and The Adoption Of such further
provisions us you nsy deem proper, promote the
views ard wishes of the majority, when declared in
'sso' OF Convention. We cannot believe that the,
who admit the tight Of the majority TO govern, can or
w'll OBJECT TO any neasure which has o,hei
than clearly To ascertain thar WILL to carry il mia
-hec,' when ia'riy ascertaned. Such law surely +,
rou'd not he regarded as equivalent TO q call Of a
Co"sen'on Your mrmorialists feet assured, that
me Legislature, who not sovereign IN, snbordi-
"dfe Z" the people, would disclaim the exercise Of
any sucn authority. But we confidently hope, that,
whaHser may he the views OF the General Assembly
as TO the proposed revision, the spontaneous express
sion ot sentiment upon this subject, IN many parts of
the Con'n'onweah, will at least claim your attention
and respect.
Your niemoraiisis are no disorpanzcrs-We are
friends al peace and harmony. Defective as we con-
sder orr Stare Constitution, would depreca any
revision oi that instrument, G believe the pres
EN- period unfavoTabie reform, that discord or
Indscreion would characterize the proce edngs of
Conven"on.-b But We are Of opinion, that no period
since the foundation Of our republic, has been
this subject We now enjoy "a profound peace, and
me VIOLENCE oil party animosify extnct in Virginia
Noo therefore, Is The time TO avail ourselves Of the
virtue ana nieiIiRencs OF our country men-and We
may add, Of the wisdom aud experience of the few
surviving patriots aud sages of the Revolution, Who
have long been The boast Of Virginia, and the pride
oil The Union. We believe that ihs subject will be
calmly and dispassonatey considered- Abundance
OF Time will have been allowed for rejection In
at present undergoing most serious examin Atom
ne pubic mind Us alive 10 every argument, for V
ri ma
all III" light and information, which a aeaIous, and
animated discussion IS capable of eliciting We be-
Iieve that our best and eniigh, eued ci,ixeBs
would compose the Convention that the previous
agitation Of the questions To he ed 10 their con-
sderation will qualify them render the most am
pie justice TO their country -and that the r,phi of
Tue people ultimately TO raty or reject, I'm such mode
As may he deemed most eligible } the REcoMEspA-
TloEs oi the Convention, will ensure n wise and
satisfactory result to their delbe, atoms While your
men'oral's's entertain all due Difference Tor the
'ue, snd wisdom oil our ancesors-we do not believe
thai even they, II now alive, would pronounce their
own work so free from mperfec,ion, as TO be inca.
pabe oil amendn,eh,.-Time aud experience have
developed its excresce and defects Indeed all
human institutions are liable to torrupiioo and
i he same constitutions and laws are MOI equally no
iic and wise, FOR all es and countries
Ley Us 'hcn prom ny the admonioDs of experience.
-Let US retain what we kHow to he valuable, and
rsa CT or amend thar which we have found defectiye
-FOUR memo, 'alisis would not for light and iran.
s'ent have engaged in the discussion Of this
| a M
P.'n' are :" our opinion, neither ig, nor transient.
we CONSIDER them not only we,ghy, hut likely 10 he
come permanent and oppressive. While, therefore
we the present period TO e peculiarly favor
"oie Tor teorm--and that the greatest caution and
de'iheraon would charac,erize the work Of amend.
"en'-we also entertain the fullest confidence that
mo'o- concessions and harmony would SWAY the de
iineratons OF orr counIrynien Onr sister States
have revised and re-modeied their Constitutions
i,easeahy Observation-Disclosures atisfac,oriIy We
therefore do moi believe that discor jealousy and
I W1
confidently hope that peace, justice, iiberali,,, and
PATRIOTISM will Arrays characterize the ccnuuc, of
VIRGIHIANs
The preceding Report being read, Mr. w. Leigh rose
to submit the Substitute, which has already in this
Paer-the said Substitute concludes with the following
Resolution
Rssofped therefore the opinion of this mee,inp ba,
II IS IN no wise expedient that Conve n,ien should he
called to reform or alter the present Constitution"
AIR. having read his Substitute, expaiated al some
length upon the subject.
Mr. rhas rutherford, osc rhe COMMITTEE then submit,
tea the two following Resolutions which were adon,,d
without opposition
Reso'ped, That the Report and Memorial which have
I" be end "e inserted in the newspapers Of h City
pe unity OF examining its contents Of deciding oelbe
r".ey, whether TO adopt the same.
Resoipsd, That meeting Citizens of Riebuord
be assemble at this place Tuesday the Is, Sa
the COmmtlee.' P' ~ 'epo" o
These Resolutions were passed without opposition
And the meeting then adjourned.
KENNON'S TRIAL.
We have received from friend at yV,sh-
ngton Copy of the Secretary of the Nsyv's
Report of the Proceedings of the Court Mar.
'lai al Norfolk. Ii fills pamphlet of 147 pa
ges.-lt sells out with correspondence he
tween Mr.. Stevenson, and the Secrrtarv-
the former enquir'ng whether the proceedings
vi the trIai we're to be published and the lat-
ter assigning his reasons for declining the pub
icatlon. Among others, he saws: Should
Inc Department publish the proceedings of
this court martial, they will be calculated TO
continue state of things in no way servicea
n'e 10 Lieut.. keDnon, Commodore Porter. or
the navy generally but would probably pro-
duce discussions, excite feelings. and craa,a
controversies, alike injurious to ali Tbere
are matters in the defence calculated 10 en-
croach strongly on discipline and good order
The peace of the service demands that the
matter rest as u IS, 50 far, at least as this De-
parrment is concerned"
On Mr.. Alexander's motion. however. the
Ii. of X. called for the trial, and il is accord
ingy published
The evidence occupies considerable space.
The most interesting witness, Of course. is
Com Porter himself No ingenuity of The
Prisoners Counsel (Gen. Taylor) could ex
tract from him the confession that be was th,s
author of the attack upon Kennon in the Sa-
vanDah Georgian:
Question. We're you the author of that
publication, or was it published at your 70.
quest, or by your directions?
.Ansioer. know the author fully concur
with him in opinion. and am prepared 10 sub
stantiate all the facts contained in that publ;.
cation ! decline any further answer.
Question. Is there any mysterious poliev