Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-05-04
a. th.. ti..n,s nfihc EnoAirer.

-.
SO ,ifser, to ,ire meeting nr:1 c't2,ns of Rich
IN mud, which, shall he cOn, ened To receive the
report q! gAe committee appointed at the Tor
mcr meeting, an the s,bl ect al t"NvBNriuN,
as Substitute ior ANY yspo.; which that COM
ini'iee s>'ai! present.
publish IT nav, partly because l think II
Iigh; that MY townsinrn should have an op
putupity To deliberate ON the principles 1t
maintains, aud the arguments adduced III sup
port of them, beSOre they are called on T."
give their opinion and partly because wish
~ sugges; To my fellow cit,heoo throughout
the Commemorative, the topics Ut argument,
which, in my opinion, it bcno'es them to con
slider.
thus publicly avow this paper, not from
any vanity dcludiu;, me into AN opinion, that
my humble name = i've ii any weight, 1.-THE
magnitude OF the subject Would alone suffice
~ st,le in my heart a sentiment SO unworthy
OF the occasiOn) but because the rarer was
prepared with view To he publicly ayowed,
and because the principles IL contains are the
deliberate convictions of my best Judgment,
aSd am willing to stake myself upon The pu-
am, with all respect, gentlemen, your ODE
dent servant, b. W. LEIGH.
SUBSTITUTE
re pE ~ r0 rE NEXT IN fE FIT
S sxrr o or r IN LIEU OF rE
This meeting is deeply impressed with the
dclicacy, the gravity, the dignity of the sub
ject, on which it is assembled to deliberate !:
and approaches it with unfeiSned humility
and awe.
Those who publish fheir opinions to The
world, and the reasons on which they found
them, design, if they he sincere and honest, TO
inforn and convince the public mind-to in
fiuence its resolutions by the force of truth
and reason alone. 1t behores all men to dis
card all partial views, to dismiss all hasty pre-
possessions, To deliberate maturciy, and to ex
anime with the utmost circumspecton the in
finitely diversified and complex relations Of
society, before they resolve ~ attempt, or
counsel, change in any tried system of general
laws whatsoever: much more, before they
presume to touch the ieges tgwm,the f:nGa-
mental laws and constitution Of their country.
1t is not the part of wisdom, 10 act, or move
at all, in such high concerns, without strong
and adequate motive, without means safe and
sure, without objects certainly defined, GER
tainiy good, and certainly attainable. Men
ought to- feel some serious practical evil, to
haotu that that eyi is imputable to some vice
or defect in the constitution, and to know,
with moral certainty deduced from the uni
furmity of public sentiment on the OCCASION
shat the proper corrective will he applied in
exact and due measure, before they endea-
YOUR to excite in the minds Of others, or che
IRISH in their ewn, discontents against go
vernment, SO mid in its character ours,
and so henefcent in its actual operation
They ought not to put in jeopardy or expose
To the slightest hazard, the certain blessings
shey enjoy.
Hu,nan reason, even suppOsng it uncloud-
ed by passion Oh prejudice, If that he p0s-hle)
when employed in estimating the prospective
effects Of political Institutions. or of political
causes put IN action, has ever proved iamenla-
bly f;sllibie. Modesty and prudence, as they
ct
nal tests, oftrue wisdom. Wise find in
the consciousness of their own weakness and
blindness, as well as IL the warnings OF all his
tory, the NEST cogcnt pcrsuasives tn the eX
rreneat caution and circumspection. OF
those OF our feilow-ci.zeDs who desire con-
teniioa 10 reform the constitution, no man,
liz is hoped and he!irved.] desires total
. change no man denies, THAT there is much
that is good and wise and happy, which ought
ny al! means 10 be preserved. They must all
i,r aware, that mrs! reason on different prin-
oipes, aud variousiy on the same principles /;
and arrive at the most diverse conclusions.--
How can any man know, that that which he
deems f,,Git will he corrected, or that the a.
mendmen, tis Judgment approves will be O.
dnpted2 How can any man know, that all
the vice. he dGplures will not be retained, or
that all which he most values as good, will
not be abolished How can any man know,
how g.: he feel ANY confident assurance, that,
ii the very amendments he himself thinks adj
s:sa5ie should be made, exactly and no more,
such reform, in practical operation, will work
good or eyil The appeal is addressed toihe
sober reason of the advocates for conven-
ton Let it not be esaded by the general an
swer-that they are piHing 10 trustthe people.
That argument will be equally applicable and
forcibie in favor of Couvcntion after COnyen-
ton, until we get Constitution in which no
imperrcctiQn can be discovered or imagined
such an institution, as 10 time, no generation,
will ever STE. If that argument prevail, we
must make up our minds, to forego the bless
ings Of fixed frame Of poliiy aud ii settled
order Of things, and to live,in state of per-
petual revolution. This were the most
ITfetched condition TO which humankind was
e1er doomed. We ourselves are part OF
the people, called to act, and bound to suffer.
with all the rest. Let not he tempted 10
imprudence Ey vainglory. That the people
in their sovereign capacity, can do no wrong
means only that they are irresponsible that
they tcW do no wrong, means only that they
will not wiifuIy betray their own interests
and blast their own happiness. But the friend.
of popular government do not set up the pre-
sunptuoms and absurd pretension, that the
people are exempt from liability 10 error
THE good sense Of the people will distinguish
between the language OF lntlery and thu
irlrudiy VOICE of truth.
Use and habit assimilate political insttu
lions to the body polite, and make then
wholesome. The people of Virginia are uset
~ the present furin Of government: thPJ
know exactly what it gives, and what ii with
holds their feelings, manners, opinions, de
sires, have been in q lnrasurc moulded by it
IL, Il l.