Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-05-11
RxCIIN1OND.
TUESDAY MORNING, MAY IL, 1894,
JACK RANDOLPH.

this original, (who like Bishop Borne,t's dcserip
uoh OF Titus Oates) is an original in oil things, {
the Editors of the Enqoirer, signed R.-accompa
MED by letter to Chapman johnson, esq., an. Ger
tam notes which MIR. Randolph was good enough I,
prepare for speech to be delivered by that gentle
man, IN the Virginia General Al spm5ly of 8I6-I7
MS ie''er and these notes. elected by the crisis
the Staantoa Convention, and whose use events
'hat period rendered unnecessary, have since tina
time slept in Mr.. Randolphs secretary---ane
our Tor the renewal of the Coiivention question
would PROBABLY have there continued, until Mr.
Nanooiilhs executors favored the world with his
"Posshumous collections written for the instruction
and illumination of his eontempora-fes.'
Ii Is said 1--WE heard it said publicity that after
reaoihe 'hcse iucubrations to q friend, MIR. RAM
doiph turned round with much triumph, and self
comp'acency, and yet says he, " Hiey saw, can,
reason. Had Mr.. Randolph reserved this remark
Tor his late speech "on the bill authorizing SURVEYS
Tor Roads and Canals we are persuaded the pub
c would have more willingly aequiesccd in the JUS
''ce OF MS inference. AS itis lac has posed most OF
ms readers by his profuse quotations frcui Salus,,
startled them by the abruptness of his conclusions,
arrangement of his notes. and flied them will, adj
mirauon at the superfluous display Of his learning
There Is however, no reasoning, and consequently
no eonrfefcn. There plenty of conclusions, but,
Throughout no premises, cliaih of logical deduc-
TONS His conclusion is position, and his posi.
ton 10 conclusion. He springs from the ono to
the c'ier like tiger from his jungle TO his prey
The tiger ieaves no intermediate footsteps to mark
the interval, fer he makes noue-nad Mr. Rendol,h
leaves no trnces Of his progress from start 10 poll
because he makes no tarry in the middle. If any
therefore, are convinced, who were waverins before.
1t is because Mr. Randolph siys there ought to be
no Convention, and not because lie has given sstis-
factory reasons foc his opinion. What has Lucius
Sergius Catiline, ana s band of conspirators to do
with the question of convention in Virginia As
mach as Virginia had to do with them, when they
were living. What parallel is there between the
advocates Of Convention in Virginia, and Gait
line, Lentulus and Cethegas' As much as there is
between Mr.. Randolph himself, and Marcus Tul
US Cicero, the father of his country" If Mr..
Randolph meant any such comparison, by the intro
duction of the biography of Ca lnes conspira tors
the comparison was unjust and opprobious-if he
did not, what did he mean? Let Us ran over the
letter and notes.
In his letter to the editors Of the Enquirer, Mr..
Randolph uses these expressions Events as sud
den and unexpected, as would be en- Earthquake in
the Natural World now passing in Virginia ad-
monish me of the dfhculty-I had almost said inn
possibility--of governing people in debt" This
is the sort of language, that should ina zinc one
Monarch would use to another, IN speaking of the
refractory conduct of his subjects. He speaks CT 60
vernins the people, if the right do so centre,
IN his own august person. No reference aiiusior
Is made to their right of governing themselves-bu
the subject is treated between one potentate con-
| doing with brother potcntatc, on the unruy con-
duct of his people But to dwell no longer, on the
arrogance of this sentences Mr.. Randolph of course
means by it, to attribute the desire Of Virginia for
Convention, to tile fact Of her citizens being in debt
Where is the evidence that her wishes originate in
this cause? Is the desire of Convention confined
10 those who are in debt? Men who indulge in pa r
ticular fancies, generally have reason for it
they imagine particular benefits which will accrue
10 from the accomplishment of their wis
es. But i'll this case, what have the unfortunate
Mr.. Randolph would represent as the exclusive adj
vocatcs of a Convention, to gain by this event p
Will it pay their debts, diminish their burdens or
in reference TO their pccuniary condition, benefi,
in any degree their situaton? Why should Mey
therefore be the exclusive friends of change in the
Constitution: gheie.is reason for it, and the as
serton is destitute of truth, as it il of reason TO
sun Mr- Ran nj nh loii
that this prevalent desire for Convention at this
time, is the result of the embarrassed situation of
the country-ani this would authorize the further
Inference that but for this embarrassment no such
inclination would have been exhibited. But ia it
true, that the attempt to call Convention is
peculiar to this time, So far is it from being true,
that there has always from the first foundations of
the government, existed party among the free
holders formidable iu numbers and talents, who
pressed the necessity of the measure. Attempts
have various times and in various forms, been
made TO effect t--and believe that almost every
section Of Virginia has, time or other, in our
history, petitoned the Legislature TO facilitate such
an event. The date Of Mr.. Randolph's letter to
M. Johnson, and the incident Of the Stanton Con-
venson, proves this, if other evidence had cen want
ing. 1t is perfectly natural for man in the pos
session Of wealth, religion, or other temporal or C.
;eiUal good. to ascrbe what lie disapprovcs in the
conduct Of others, TO the absence of the advantages
hat nc himself possessed. When religious gem
cman las Mr.. Randolph was, and perhaps is dis
Germs some improperly in the department of friend
Or neighbours lie cxclaims, =" an poor soul, he an;
convertcd.n