Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1825-06-14


those who choose TO COnstrue their motives with
me candor due 10 every subject, and to every indi-
Ndrai; bet more especially 70 the motives off res
pectable people, .vowed for the most solemn pur-
pose. bNtracIs from that memorial, and their late
resolutions, are hereto annexed, and will NANTES,
TO every impartial iaiad, Tie injustice OF the impu-
tations cast, almost exclusively, indeed, upon
man, who has been honored with their confidence
iOr hiteen years, but which, if true, attach with
superior force, TO people, the majority OF whom
nave been ever friendly to convention.
How has IT occurred, that the address of the Shen
andoah Committee, OF the l4th ofMarch, expressly
fi.SU7ng . q coareRtiCn iCithott the consent Of
the General .fsSen,Jiy,' has hitherto escaped tie
anathema OF this father OF the Faithful! This ad-
S'ress was followed At tie late election of that pop
u!ous county, by vote OF S3l, TO 80 freeholGers
~ favor oil a convention Ii was published and
circulated throughout the conlinonw ealth, before
me Loud00n Committee created, and the
sa'ter part OF their address evidently sought to
moderate the ardent zeal from which the former
spfang Had Ike 10 seasitice GieRd anons
le respectable subscribers TO that address whose
feelings merited his coHsiGerdte regard This
"tdfeSS einphaucaisy expressed c distyust of
ne Genera! -3SSemjiy, and dispensed with
t'eir and, IN the work of reform The Lou
""oh committee, discerning the origin OF this dis
"-s'' ehdeaSored TO aprease it. This was to be
edected, >Sot by the aer..ai of u Tiybt of the
ueciaratiOR prebNcd 10 the constitution but bv a
ooubie apPea! to the reason and understanding OF
tHe opPOacnts OF a convention, aud TO the good
temper ana moderation of It's most Jealous friends
Ana thh appeal, which circumstances required
~ be brict, " Mason OF 76'' pronounces 10 be de-
I''"'l'!Sh; ana not only omits, in his long quota
uon nom the t.oudoGn address, but by emitting
he Intentionally gives to the address itself ournort
SoA'rAdict"ry OF its true and obvious intent The
Illuminating doctrine" which the committee de-
P'ote'!s contained an the ''s3metwenty iant lnes''
Ni"'"iy Omitted and denounced mere decllma-
"0h' IL IS thus expressed: g Does there really
oNs', ask ne Loudoun Committee, '' a right
""''" cH""ot De Exercised, and is the solitary and
mourniul example OF 1t to be found in that of the
people OF Niremi to Eovnrn themselves, or 10 de
'eiinihe 0y iohGt constitution they shall be gov
e'heu! rms IS Tie doctrine which the commit
Tee ueem huiniliatng, AID which they deduce bv
uAahSwerable argument, from another doctrine by
no means confined this writer alleges, to one
~ '"e most distinguished members ol the Senate
that me General -As senbly cannot authorize the
sense oI the people 10 be taken on the proprieiy Of
change OF their present constitution or furnish
Is pushed 10 tina extent, any facilities or aid
u' -eHec'iiiS any such change Hence the Iou,lonn
au"Fess Mountains, the irresistible conclusion fol-
lows, 8 that no chans e can be made of the cons,i
''ol Oh INC STATE, but ~ eniangering q" GRaychy'
and g cORculSioR."
ingenuity mus, be Dc rived from highly honorable
profession, often the glory, but sometimes the dis
grace OF society," 10 omit this declamaiion for had
ne called The attention OF his readers to its manifest
import, what would have become the scatfoIjin-
81 VIC Stage which he 20 laboriously erected for
sue saefii-ce OF Sir Mercer? And what now be-
CONES OF las ,earne quotations from the history OF
u onwell, OF the charge OF seeking to nromote ,
seyoia'ioA Of JacoLin.m sc. SC. "Gorcons and
c'-efas tlre, TO he simpel tools and instruments
III me names OF tins ancient magician!
|Ae TOPIC more, kind reader, if you have patient
iy accompanied me 50 far, aad HAY G done
" tns di'cussions Of The expediency of any al
tera!on oi the Constitution, at meeting in Rich
moad m 1921 of which we are iust reminded
the writer Of this yndication although native cit
zen ara inhabitant of the commonwealth had nil
recently, no other knowledge than rumor gave him.
lof' "heh those discussions occurred lie was much
occupied ut distance from Virginia, and so con
uaned long after his return to the State The
uletec' no doubt, the notice of the whole corpnuni
~ certainty wo'id nave commanded his but for this
Hhlo"afd circumstance. He is very recently an |
pfsed, Tor the first time, that among other toric
"Ach tey presented 10 the public, was the question
"S'h revived, whether, IN Just apportonInent of
ehe representation of the Commonwealth regard
should be had exclusively 10 its white population
inns subject Is now stirred in the argument if il de
serve the name, of the writer whose ESSAYS have |
reviewed his opinions shall be given in his own
language, which, whether declamaiory or not isal- !
ways Ineligible After ascribing to 4 speech Of
ihr MERCER ;, which IT IS presumed he did not hear
d. 'pe late election in Fairfax, what is Untrue
mat ne either proposed 60 to ABOLISH any of the
present qualifications for suffrage or Advocated its
HHtverSG! extension, he adds = Does he nor siren
dousIy maintain the principle that the representa-
non sHal ne apporiionec according to the free |
white population? know not what the I,ouaonn |
committee h..
constitution, only know what one of them once
esteemed so. l know not what these gentlemen
VIII consider shaking of the fabric of social or
1'f 20 us centre'-but IkHoto and they ought To |
HH0tc, That, whenever the ATTEMPT shnHbe Iand,
10 apporuon the representation without REGARD
20 The sfdve Popui0tiOn---tO place that propertv
III the absolute power OF those who have but lit !
Tie interest 10 preserveit and the strongest inter
est 10 oTerDurthen IT, it will be attended with sucb
contest between the people of the diTeren,
parts Oh me state. as the Loudoun Committee
moeea may think wholesome agitation of the
poitlc"t atmosphere, but, as shall think, a con-
yulsion portending the most fearful consenuen
ces' such q prophecy is truly awful! But. to !
INSPIRE just alarm, the prophet should be himself
inspired III mas been said that the nearest approxi
nation 10 real prophecy by uninspired man is found
ed, In that application Of analogy which deduces
what IS 10 come from what has happened; and this
sentiment, OF which do not boastt to DC the author
has always seemed 70 to be replete with
wisdom. For the consolation, therefore. of The |
good people Of this d" beloved'' commonwealth. |
Tor whom, dare say, entertain as much regard
as any @ Mason of '7G" now living, l beo ieave
20 inform ibem, that this pejy question, has not
only been agtdfed, bus acted upon, in Virginia.
aye ana IN tire very Legislature Of the State with
ont producing any 60 fearful consequences - nor |
even conv1lsion portending' them Nor did
tis peaceful result happen because there was no
wise man present to prevent it, There was one
though certainly Io nroobot n - -.