Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-07-02

Mr.. Johnson, to whom Mr.:
Mercer pays that high compliment, Il
w;sb, for nv friends sake, it were less
cross towards him, and disrespectful
s. the BODY he belongs to- have ever
sr;nced the least disregard to the will
e !. majority of the people. The sense
II ofrbe people never can be despised in
.nv country; and in this, to despise ii
we're folly as well as iniquity,
The Friend Of Equal Rights, DESTROYS
- rsconcile the veneration he profess
~ for the trainers of the constitution,
nth his reprobation Of their work,
,,res a very narrow and imperfect view
Of The inequalities Of the representa-
ION. and insists that the trainers ofthe
constitution did rot, and could not,
sorssee the enormous increase OF the
INEQUALITIES which then existed in the
counties. This is no place to give a
,rus view of the representation. | ap-
usal 10 any man, who has ever given
n. least attention to the subject, whe-
,b.r the inequalities in the counties
have not been continually decreasing
from the foundation of the common
wealth to this day; and | insist, that the
trainers of the constitution actually saw
There was no occasion for the exercise
of their foresight) those very inequali-
ties, In l776, James-City, York, War
wick, Elizabeth-City, and every small
county in the maritime part Of the
s,are, excep, Matthews, were already
formed: and there existed the large
counties Of Berkeley, including all JEFF
ferson and part Of Morgan; Culpeper
including Madison; Albemarle includ-
ing Fluvanna; Amherst including Mel
son; Bedford including Campbell; A
Nell, including Nottaway; Brunswick
including Greensville-I will not con-
tinue the enumeration. say nothing
ofWest Augusta, for the policy ofthe
crown had in great measure prevent
ed il from being peopled.
MIR. Mercer is Just as much mistak-
en- in the. opinion he entertains OF the
Share witch the small counties in the
lower part Of the state have taken in
the present controversy concerning a
conversion. Charles City and Glou-
cester have manifested a strong oppo-
sitiou tcsall schemes of reform on the
other hand, few of the small counties
voted in 1924 for convention. The
far greater part of them have preserved
profound silence. The state OF
public sentiment in Richmond, was
mentioned in my last number. OF the
counties connected with this town by
trade, only Buckingham, Charlotte,
Prince Edward and Amelia, (if | re-
member aright,) have taken any pub
lie part in the present contest. Con-
tent reposes in quiet; discomfort, is
busy and loud. 1t is high time, in my
poor opinion, that the contented coun-
ties ard contented citizens of this
commonwealth, should raise their voice
in defence Of the institutions they
hold so dear.
l knew, as we'll as Mr.. Mercer, the
whole history Of the bill for equalizing
the representation in the Senate, which
was passed at the session of l8l6-l7;
the principle on which the representa-
ton was a2portional; and the part
which Mr.. Tazewell as well as tina,
which Mr.. Mercer took, in that trans
action. 1T is all indelibly engraved on
my memory; and | agree that there is
no way for man to Judge of the future
but from the past.-Whether / am a
false prophet or not, will be determin-
ed, whenever it shall be proposed to
equalize and apportion, on the same
principls, the representation of the peo-
pie IN that house, ,chich shall be sntrast-
ed Nth The po,cer Of originating money
bills.
/ intended TO have corrected some
misapprehensions Of my meaning, in
to which my commentators have fall
len. But, for the public, explanation
81 unnecessary, and on them it would be
lost.-Those rapid views, which are "a
lone suited to polemics of this kind,
they decay as defamation; and they
would not fail to regard more regu-
lar development Of thought as mere
sqpaistry: words of potent efficacy, in
deed; and so extremely convenient
wlthal, that | by no means wonder at
the frequent use of them.
For my own part, i will continue to
defend the institutions, which have so
long preserved my country free, tran
qmi and happy, while it shall please
Tod to continue to me the enjoyment
OF my faculties; which, humble as they
are, his goodness gave, and which it
we're impious to abuse, and thankless
not to employ. If allies shall unite with
me In defence of the common cause Gas
nave just right to expect) / shall take
the part that becomes me, with alacri-
ty and decision: if shall still be left
alone; have been wont to stand alone
and teel, that sustained by the con-