Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-05-08
p. d.
FOR TIE ENQUIRER.
CONVENTION.
To The Common Sense Of YIginia.

No. .
FELLOW CITIzENs BY IL promise of the
preceding number, l am here To give YOU an
analysis of the Constitution ofVirgnia. When
that promise was made, [ was not entirely in.
sensible of the magnitude of the task inn
posed upon myself. But, IN prosecuting the
subject with that close scrutiny which the oc-
cas0n demands, presently found all former
reading too loose, and deficient in accuracy, to
be relied on for this emergency: nor did
iag To discover, also, that some additional
light would be thrown upon the subject by
submitting the constitutions Of all the states
10 perusal; nay, in many parts, to triple
perusal. This | avow To you, that you may
not Suppose make my statements from too
slngnne reliance on memory, at The hazard
of mistake and euOr, or with Willingness 10
deceive YOU, for the depraved qualification Of
momentary and unnatural triumph over the
defects OF the constitution OF my native state.
1t We're indeed an occasion of triumph (fram-
ed as IT was IN the infancy of political science,
without subsequent amrndmrnt,) did it sus
tain better comparison with the CONSTITUTIONS
of her sister states, framed and new In odeilrd,
as most Of them are, upon the experience of
nearly halfa century. But she approves her
self more or less eclipscd by them all, per
haps with irre.rievable shame, though, in
some instances, as in the case of New Jersey,
same circumstances, not n month apart, and
have. like hers, hut with brtter reason, so re-
NAMED, WITHOUT amendment, - the present
sGay.
Assuredly | did not adventure upon this in
yesiigafOn without prec0nceived system of
Options formed by the loose mode in which
rs common To read and muse upon subj ects
mat so remotely and incidentally affect our
Interests | had formed opinions, many of
A,
the Virginia constitution, and upon good au-
thorly but, to sustain those opinions before
The public, whose interests are deeply inyolv
ed in their soldity or fallibility, required
more than ordinary accuracy, more than
summary Hinut,ness--and have endtayoTcd
10 conform.
IN the frat place, had conceived that the
principle Of suffrage, the System of free and
equal representation, is identified 10Th The SO
rsreigny Of The people. l had conceived
That to guard this principle from corruption,
from retrenchment, from any manner of in
Engagement, pure and unbounded as he right.
iul sovereignty Of freemen from whrh it
lows, is an Indispensable shield 20 ward off
The Notwithstanding encroach ments of restless
and aspiring usurpalIon. have sought, and
l have found have run the parallels, and
nave marked the discrepancies and the con-
!ormitjes Of the constitutions with this funda-
mental principle If republican faith and my
purpose now is to give you the results.
But, in discussing this subject, | am to con
me myself, as much as practicable, TO the
plainness of common sense and natural logic.
am not TO indulge in recitals aud aIlusiOng
mat tend 10 enlist your passions, even thougii
It were in the cause Of truth. | am not to
tell you that il WAS to- maintain the abstract
principle, Hat The right Of representation and
The right Of Ltralion should be insepnraJie, that
your ancestors denounced the memorable
stamp act Of 1864; aud not because the p,l-
wy duty on tea was in itself so oppressive -
that your own Hose Of Burgrsses of Virgil
MA were the FIRST who formally resolved TO
resist these encrOachmeDts of power, because
ihey knew IL they submitted to small infringe
nents Of fundamental and unalienable right,
precedent would next be pleaded as establish
ing the right 10 rivet grosser abuses, which
would acknowledge no restraint but The poIi-
cy of the usurpeTs or the resistance Of the
oppressed and that ii was more practicable
IN the onset, as well as more cOnsOnant with
,,he Indignation Of every freeman at the first
plush of wrong, TO chastise the aggression.
say these are not the themes that am TO
Zeal out 10 your passions, tho they emb0dy
The very essence Of the principle oo which all
'ePublieansrn is based, that Of free and equal