Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-07-09
HVTN TIE WIfIG
THE CONSTITUTION.

FOR TIE WIG.
THE CONSTITUTION.
There are but few undertakings which have prov
nj more difficult than that of removing from thu
mind prejudices which have been encendcred nv o.
ducation and fostered by the sanction and n,pcri
Gus authority of law under their poten, influence
and domination reason and philosophy are silcnced
and enslaved, and their throne us.rpcd bv bigotry
and persecution. When those preju,ices threa to,
TO conflict with the welfare and happiness of ou,
country, the man who processes dcvotion.t to its in
teress IN endeavorng to eradicate them should mo,
Tor moment permit his mind to yield the sugees.
ton, that his labor will prove Improbable, or abor
uve.-The veneration and respect which we cherish
or the memory CT our ancestors, induce us TO how,
with reverence to, and faith in, the wisdom which &c
ascribed to those institutions, which they wer. ,na
bled to transmit to their posteity, by prudent ex
ercse OF their virtues and their talents This is an
honest and conmcntablc propensity of the hca,.
when it is confined within the bounds prescribed nv
reason; but when that noble faculty of man be :
comes iettercd and CONSTRUCTED by its INDULGENCE ar
influence 1t Is justly to be deprecated as an c,u
pregnant with most pernicious consequences: its
operation then, upon the human intellect is as dele
ferrous as the Eupas is said to be to the soil
aud vegetation which shaded by its vcrtlant vet
poisonous foliage is humbly conceived tnt tho
man, who boldly essays to dissolve an cncIan;meut
which has staggered the minds Of some of his coun
hymen, and arrested the enquiry of others into sinh
future safety and happiness, entitled 20 some share
OF their gratitude Services of this kind are seldom,
ouiy aPpfeciatco on account of the formidable aud
obstinate oppostion which they, almost unayni,,,
e-y,haVeto encounter: This consideration alone has
deferred many, and will doubt discuur, ne ora,,
VINO may hereafter, have the tcmcrity, or
To undertake the arduous and un,haukG,l ,,sk of
reforming the Opinions, and correcting the errors of
mankind They will rcaec: that they are IN hn -.
pfoaIhea ioi innovatins on long established customs
DC fe'iied as the enemies of order, and stigma
uzed as the promoters of faction, and the f,er,p
Of discord and general discomfort: tia, h,, n
whose interest IS TO rvcf prejudice more stopoI
on The mIiid they may be accused of the most nal
paoie ignorance and Of the most cupa BILE misrcnre
sentations; and that by others under tte snec;ous
guise OF patrioiisin they Will have the arrows of
sarcasm aid ridculc pointed with the all of priv,,,
malice and revenge, insidiously shot at their repu
tations, on occasions when, and in stunt tar
il Is almost impossible TO divert the Iuischieyous
olasts WIN which they are winsed.-Such calcula-
IONS, however no matter what weight they ma
nave with the md and ifresclute, should not shake
fe purpose OF him. who is firmly persua led that bc
can, in the exercise of those faculties which th, CO
OF nature has endowed him with, confer bcnet;, ~,
his countrymcn, though it may be but partial ar re
mute in its operation. 4 hasy RETROSPECT viii, he
sufficient to convince him, that doctrines from which
the world has derived the greatest advantages and
most substantial happiness, were at first unf,vor
-
nenty opposed: The selfishness, envy and interest
OF few and the hisotry and prcjudices OF the ILL
feFate part OF mankind, III connection with other
causes, conSprea TO Eeprcss for time their general
yet, the tombs which point out the
remains OF their authors, arc visited by their poste-
rity with sentiments of devotion and gratitude -
They should DC pcrpeua,cd as instructive lessons
To erTing man-as beacons to warn him AGAINST tho
rocks aud shadows which prejudice OPPOSES To tho
attainment OF happiness III his voyage through this
world Tho bosom OF the philauthrons,
burns with Indignation when he recollccts the suffer
ings which those bGncfactors Of mankind endured
and the perils which they bravcd But their works
and the fruits of their tolls remain thew have sur
yivcd the masnity of enemies, and escaped the ra-
wages of time they unfading and impcrisiabIc
Of their virtue, their patriotism and their
heroic fortude OF mind aud are hal0ed by the rays
Ok light, which thcy have emitted, in illumination n
world that superstition, and prejudice had benigit
ell.
What hes been promised was done with no other
view than to prepare the p,5iic nJtd for the nvcs
tgation of subject which am abou, To submit 10
its impartial, liberal aHi critical examination. |
mean an Aci OF the Virginia Assembly, passed in the
year l17t, entitled, the ConsifufiOn and which i
generally regarded, and believed to be So bv tic
people of Virginia. Ii may he bold assertion in
TO say that it does not deserve that title; never
t,Ieless do venture to declare it, my humble o.
pnion and my diI,dence in doing So is diminished
III hot ehtieIy suOhuci, on rejecting that sup
ported IN that opinion, by of the most rcspecta
BILE Internationally men whose talents have secur-
Ell TO them an undSputed ascerdcncy as politicians
and sound Ones-iu the estimation of thrcs
iourths of the people Of Virginia. am Supported
IN my assertion, by ono whose talents and whose
virtues, as statesman, stand too proudly prc.otni
nent to subject his heorems TO the ilibcral denun
Citations Of a fashionable class of mcndica nj and
time deserving poiticians.--Thcre are such poli,ici
ans in our country And they strongly enough
impregnated with corruption, infect the politu I
atmosphere which floats around them, and which
bUoys up the throne which they rcign-If there
be degree of pognancy asperity ia the expressi-
on Just used, hope that one will be sensitive
TO II, except those WHO under the denominati-
OH that ought to be subject to 1t AID those If they
should consider themselves agrievcd are at Iiberfv
land Bsey have my consent, TO redress themselves
through the medium of the press, or in any other
sTref which their fertile fancies can devise There