Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1825-06-17

are well content with their existing institutions"
and until all the counties, majority OF them,
shall at session petition the legislature to aid In
assembling convention, it will continue to be as
serted that majority OF the people are opposed to
the measure. The friends of reform and OF liberty
in this part of Virginia, DESTROYS of eicting an ex
| preston OF the real opinion OF the people, and
thereby convincing the legislature that there is at
this time large majority in favor OF convention
to amend the constitution, have taken measures to
effect preparatory cenye ntion at Staunton, with
n view 10 The attainment of that object.
If a considerable number of deputies, from var-
Gus parts OF the s;ate should assemble at stanton,
the friends OF a convention, will be enabled TO as
certain by their report, the real state OF public O.
pinion in their respective counties on the great
question OF refom TO put forth, with the sanction
OF many respectable names, just and temperate
statement OF the grievances and partial disranchse-
mcnt under which large part of Virginia now la
bors; and lastly and chiefly to form and provide for
the execution OF plan whereby the sense OF the
people throughout Virginia shall be taken in !
peaceable, orderly, and lawful manner, the great
question of convention Having done this, and
having collected proof that is the will of the peo
pie that the constitution ofthe shall be amend
ed, the friends of reform will sound appeal so
distinct and audible 10 the next General Assembly,
as to produce, may hope, AUST respect TO their
rights" In other words, they will bring to bear
on the Legislature, the irresistible force OF public
opinion indisputabIy ascertaincd, and clearly n
pressed. "C This be treason, make tchdt you
can Of it,
Is it not passing strange that this peaceable,
legal and salutsry measure should be denounced as
=" lacobinics!' should be compared to the de-
servedly odIous Hartford Convention--should be
described as &c course which professedly eXcom-
municates large portion ofthe citizens, and which
Is calculated to &c stifle discussion that its
friends and promoters should be charged with a de-
$40 - u. IL,
community, to organize themselves into distinct
society, and Ito every practical purpose that con-
Germs this great question: acknowledge fellow
citizenship with their opponents! Is 1t not strange
that of talents, for such the writer in
question most certainly Is, should venture to
throw off all this light and windy defamation,
in the discussion of grave and important sub
Jet,
Can any thing be more idle than the censure
thrown upon for inviting the friends only of
convention to meet at Stanton? We, OF the lar
ger counties, who are each of us but the ftcen!y-
seCent6 part of free citizen, wish 10 rise to the
dignity OF units, by taking away, by Just and le-
| gal means, from our iellow-citizens OF Warwick,
SC. the excessive and undue portion of political
power which they enjoy. And we, POOR
fractions, are gravely asked to invite the lordly
unitS OF w arwick TO aid us in devising means Of
raising ourselves and depressing them
| And 1t Is said that in excluding the enemies Of
4 convention, the assembly ut Staunton now
proposed differs most essentially from the meet
ing which was held at the same place in ISlG.---
Then the invitation given 10 all men of tchdt-
| scorer opinions" The writer has here fallen into
a mistake in point OF fact, the annexed extract
from the address &c To the people of the common
wealth of Virginia - which produced the meeting
at Stanton, will clearly show;
The undersigned would therefore respectfully
submit TO their fellow-cizens throughout the stat
| NJ sir.I
tion, and the trainers of this address are of both
| political parties,) the following proposition:
. Let the people of the different counties, trhO
are tIiendly 10 the objects Of fls address, assem-
| bic in county meetings, the 4th. of July next,
| or as soon thereafter practicable, and depute
nom each county two respectable and intelligent
individuals, 10 meet at Stanton, in Augusta coun-
| ", Monday the 10Th day of August next, for
the purpose of devising and adopting measures for
| ehecting convention OF the people OF this COM
monw ealth.''
On the second communication of Is Mason 81
| '76, have few remarks 10 make By the aid
OF the bold and gratuitous assumption that the OBJ
Ject OF the proposed meeting at Stanton is TO OBJ
struct the execution Of the laws" and that =" its
real design is to direct, control, counteract or awe
The regular elaboration action of the constituted
authorities he has been enabled to show that the
| holding OF such meeting is incompatible with the
sound and excellent principles contained in the
&c farewell address, of the father Of his country
| We disavow the intentions imputed and DENY the
application of the passage quoted.
There is one trait in the second publication which
feel myself constrained to notice. l mean the
lofty and self-suifcient tone in which the writer
has thought fit to Indulge. Having given his first
furious TRADE against the Stanton convention and
! its promoters four DAYS to operate on the public
mind, he declares in his second publication that
80 he will not believe that the good people of Lou
! dunn and Id. i-fnN ba,
sist n' the of sending deputies TO Stanton
do confidently hope" he adds, g that at their
approaching June county courts they will recall their
! deputies, to whom they have incautously and I'M
Internally delegated their portion of the sovereign
| ty."
That is to say. I" Now that you understand what
'ce an Richmond think of this matter, now that we
have explained TO you our notions of the i'm
| proPriety of all such irregular proceedings as
Staunton conventions, &c. we doubt not that YOU
Will see the folly you have been led into by the petty
demagogues who have taken the lead IN this matter
and will hasten to show yourselves daily penitent
by cashiering these upstairs to whom you have in
cautiously and unintentionauy delegated your por-
| ton OF the sovereignty.
% Given at our palace at Richmond, &c
In the same lofty tone he expresses his astonish-
ment to see subscribed to the Loudoun address the
names OF Col. Ellzey and Messrs. II. r. Henderson
and William Temple Thompson Mason and has the
1nheard OF presumption 10 add that It is be hoped
that they too (alluding to Mr.. Cuthbert Powell
disclamer) &C may disclaim, Is actual subscrp-
ton, NJ least Tie intention to subscribe such sen-
ments that they subscribed this paper it was only
because they gGUe IL too cUsoyy an examination
TO aPpreheDd its eract import"
Now this is your real ." Cambyses' vein''-
your real kingly tone an act ofarnnesy in favor
OF such of our misguided subjects as shall come in,
confess their offences, and crave our royal mercy.