Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-05-14
RICHMOND:
FRIDAY MORNING, MAY IA. 18,,

| ject eea Conreniion. 90 '"0'
In the last sentence but onc in the first nara,
graph of his letter to MIR. Jobnson. Mr. R,ndo,r,
employs the follow ing language. Divide connie,
even unite them if ncce,sary--eoual,,c- ,,xo.
arrange anew the Senatorial pst,;c,s--h,t 7 COW
Jafe YOU never surrender TO any but the Represen-
fatires cffeehodcrs, the power of ,og;s,,,;cr-,,x
TO pass fttndanentoilans." Mr.RandoIpt has b.e,
'0noy hed up oy his personal friends and the little
party OF TERTlUM euIps, who some fifteen wears
ago, broke oil from the main body of the RepuhI
can party and setnp the standard Of new sec.
OF which he was the head as the peculiar efenae,
olfhe sanctty of constitutions as a sort Of moder,,
res'df P'Tgin, who had voluntarily assumed the
honorable task of protecting these sacred ,nstr,
men's from pollution or extinction--ue In, ca FAR
canned on the esteem of the dominant rartv in Viz
gina as to be forgiven his alterations from lis po,
''cs'- and symptoms have even been evinccd Of y
spos'u"n on ms part to court and of CORRESPOND
's disposition ON their part, grant his read-ns-
$40" '"'o the republican sheep fold. This signal
revolution has been altogether effected By his stca-
dy opposition to Fedora! cncroachncnt Yet Mr..
kandoiphin subsequent passage in his notes.
which we have not yet reached, declares that III.
Constitution of the U Sta test a mattcr.of eo,,nro-
MISC and therefore Conly) good-whilst his whole
composition is defence, of the intrinsic; worth an,
exccsiency of the Constitution OF virginih-lye da
not design to ecnsure Mr. Randolph for his vsilant
devotion to the Constitution of the United S,a,cs
vi tue contrary we thank him for it, and coniure
MN 10 keep up his vigils, which If they are no, re-
~afded IN this world will certainly be in that. to
which he seems to look forward with such n;ou.
| nope and consolation. But in the cxtren,i,v of
his zeal for the federal Constitution, which os,,,
all contains no intrinsic merit has he NJ, a1rc,;o
no bowels of tenderness for that of Si.r;,io 6,
grand in its conception, 50 h,ppy in the adjustment
Oh Its parts, SO great, equal so salutifcrous in m
operation! He has-but his love is confined TO l..
defects and its er,ors
| DIVIDE Commissioner unite them il NECESSARY
but conjure you" &c.-This eloquent aeliura,ion
OF co3HUt'on TO Mr.. johnson, is Eeitfer more mr.
less Than an invitation to that gentleman to y;oa,s
Tue constitution OF VirSinia-The Constitution M
Virginia gives 10 every county that cxiscrl as such.
al the time of its adoption, the privilege Of bsipr
presented by two members, in the General Assem-.
bly, oil Virginia 1t is matter of great doubt, If the
dirision ofcounties pracised by- the Is~.,,.,,, or
Virginia, at almost every session is not itself vim,
q
construction, 50 strcnucusly con,endcd for by TIM
nsPuoNcan party IN Congress, SHAT Congress Coz
the Lesis!ature) have right to exercise any new,
eE'' ou' SUCH as arc granted" or such as are
strictly ihcidcntal--be applied to conatruc IN.
Constitution OF Virginia, there can be no dor,,
Oh Tie subject. Mr. Randolph himself is Nm advo-
cate for this st:ictncss of Interpretation and 10 Cit.
no other instance, il was from the exclusive opera
tion of this rule, that the incorporate Of theBan,
of tho United States declared, and is declared,
&c De Unconstitutional Is there clause in the az,
RI of the Legislature of $40, called constitution,
which gives &c the Legislature of Virginia, III.
power OF partitionins counties, infinitely; aud Of
increasing representation sas infinitely? Not on.
Ii the power be not directly gvenis it strictly in
c"'ental TO any othc. given power? We have peyec
heardi' pretended 1t is singular thing, that tho
class Of politicians and statesmen whose creed !; i,
taid we have signed iD TO tic the General Govern
ment down to literal Interpretation of its powars
should III ouf own Constitution, which ought to be
rs sacred, sanction, advise, and act the utmost lat
trde OF constfuction-The legislature of virginia
almost every year, pass some glalngIy unconstitr-
tional act-yet no voice is ever lifted M =, ,v,rt
IT, They annex new qualifications to those which
citizen capable of oifce-ihcy deprive hin, of the
rights which all Gien most valuable against
tie spirit ftc Constitution if not its letter-lhsy
direct free men, 20 be sold slaves for petit lar
ccny crimcs--aid white TO be publicly hocrcd
fol venal oIfenccs-and during the last session.
there was even an attempt made, to gag the citi-
l.zeu5 of this country and ue them more than ore
in ten is worth, for speaking Of Lottery Scheme.
Did MIR. Randolph in his bastard zeal for the nte-
Gritty Of Constitutions or did any body else con-
sure CT expose these fragrant and attcnpts as
they deserved No. But the moment an at
tempt IS made to correct the defects in the Const-
ZION which have led to these multifarious atfa.k
upon it, Mr.. Randolph and the pseudo devotces Ct
Constitutional security, Z" lift up their voice as i,
were that of congregation singing tho same tuuo''
against It, Nay, so far from lending his silent or ac-
tive cooperation 10 the design, Mr. Randolph adyi-
SIS rather than to seek redress of greyan IN o
the iiist:umcnaity of Convention, the only Icgi-
timnc mode, 10 divide countics--evcn unitc then,
if s~cccssary'' any thing rather (he mcans) than
resort to convention.
We cou;cud that the division, or the formation Of
new counties by the legislature, is an uuconsti,u.
tional usurpaiion OF authority. This may be doustI
ed by somc-but will any say that the anal
cremation or union of counties, which MI Ram
dolpi', the great champion of strict constitutional
Interpretation advises, is grossly demonstrations
al: Henry Clay himself would not DENY the pro-