Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-05-24

,a,i .. a ." Oh the constitution, or Il general an
- W .he people, whatsoever they nle,sco Ind - ~
~ o' immediately INDUCED to the exI.n, nf tbc;r 40
"au-, shah they be justified in raising the ,ry of .c
uuN ~ eAc'hs dstruS of the Legislature of thei,
country, on account offs present constitution il, r
t'6 q. once 10 measures, 10 which hitherto men
nave fesorted only under the pressure of dire necc,sy
80 80 - ~ eleess oppression: This is an ''ovidecc'
u any 'ninS rather than '>iorbearance and moderation
little patience and perseverance, would nrob,Is t, b,
resulted IN the accomplishment of their VIII. -; ,t
10 the extent of ing the question subm;,,aJ re- ,
people at large But noC, If every spark of Vrmn;
spirit be not extinct, If the Iecislaure re.;,
sense OF dignity, If 1T be not treacherous ,o a., Iii;
"ea IL VIII be animated by Insult 10 ,ror and tirInpes
- ~ ",ehace ana fessiahce against conpui-
SION, OF what kind and from what quarter soeycs
cannot orbcar 10 express my asionisilnent ,I,t tho
Loudon Committee should have imputed TO their ~,
poneHts without the least discrimination that thew den,
UT question Tie authority of the General Assembly
" "ofe NE sense of The people the prop ;ev of any
change OF their present constitution" know that enc
and very dlstingushed) fieud ol the constitution did
deny the right OF the legislature TO fH :, cooroo,,
Dul even inns (which is somewhat dies eni( opinion
was cohhned 10 him. All the maintained li,,t such
an act 'cas within the competency of the LEGISLATURE:
hAt me friends OF convention bound in duty TO
auacss themselves TO that body and that il Their object
was accomplished without ts cntiu would be
feroit"'on-for which it then supposed no man al
an events no Ten men III the commemorative were ripe
Inc i-oudnnn committee, in the difficulty of finding raa
IONS 10 justify It's own principles inputes doctrines il, ms
an "ich all tut one have rmly discained-I shall
not notice ITS defamation this topic If there no any,
man WHO thinks the doctrine of obedience to I,yf,,
government aDtaInount the doctrine of massive oJe
u'ence and non-resstance TO tyranny and d. sposm il
were VAN 10 reason with, and useless if il were noss
bic, to convince him.
am al a loss 10 understand what the Committee of
i-ouuoun can possibly alludc to- when they sneak of
repellIng the reprOacfH destinations of Iher onno
hehts" When the question of convention was dis
cuSseu IN the public prints during The spring ana sum
Her OF 984, there pages pubs he'd of renroba
tioh OF The constitution for OF defence The subject
was discussed with earnestnesss Cur part certainly
out remember not single angry word against die
friends of convention, and though do not think ,r
was much anlmoslty either se, all The reir,chcs
ever heard came from them They said we were moi
republicans; they called arStocral,: a. e., n,pu} an
attachment 10 the constitution 10 love of anquated
ABUSES: they armcd that only principle of o fun
was dlsrus of the peoples they compal ed US with the
tories al the commencement OF the Revolution | re-
member single paper, IN which these idle reproaches
were laughed at. We knew that these were NOT H.,
general sentiments of the friends of convention. and
trust lhey arc moi going now couneuance the Lou
doun Committee, III the eoitt has made to cupcn
der spirit of luminosity, of which very little any has
hitherto mixed in the contest.
Another passage of this strange address TO The friends
Oh convention yet remains 10 be exhibited in its true
colours'We have sought (says the committeel thus
cdut'0"&y 10 obFlac even the apprehension of d. noer
and to defeat the efforts olc c,.ss of u, ornaments
The G|drmtSfs. Whilst they piesunpfuousiy assert
hal no two friends Of political reform agree as 10 il,
proper objects, they confidently predict that corye,,
tlon Ill destroy the fTireS FIXTURES of The constitutions
THAT the independence Of the judiciary will be subvcr
ed and the fabric Of social order be shaken lo lis cen
ire! ihey would silence Me s1Gcye3. Tram e;,fj,
"eUis by threatening HIM viii, The n1ic i'm, nj ,,t
~ he seek relief from Ir application OF suitable
| corrective"
Is II not wonderful that in the very ran,e breaty IN,
whic INC committee IS rGiessS that il is acting sou
ttoHsiU," II has invented new denomination tr tIa
oPohe'' calculated for no conceivable purpose but 20
e''Dhler one portion q" the people against another?
he be an al A't'tSt, who would give warning st ron,
danger: If ttat assertion be ''yrslptDu0S which -
r'ns the truth can bear, with perfect eeluanifitv al,
The reproach and contempt, which those epctlets we've
intended 10 insinuaic.
Tins committee of ten may have had some conference
with one another; and cy, therefore may possibly have
some common opinions and views concerted among them,
on 'ie SUBJECT But have Convcrsti itiluu lie le,s
reserve WIN very many OF the friends OF coI!vau ton
Ia read almost every essay that has been unfinished
On the subject; have taken the utmost pains e, una,
stand and comp re tneir various views. auJ ,.I,o
'Ciciniy that have with any two of hon,
who concur throughout, lardI, in single material
point as TO the nPeTections ofthc constitution Of which
heN complained, viewed in conneXion with the correc
yves thtY propose have found them differing l,noo
themselves after remarkable manner not o,I1
rs to detail, but in principles. ct perhaps may be-
wrong iherc may 6c aS many hco them who do
agree throug hout.
No one said that the friends OF a convention
would each AMI every one, go the whole leuc.l of abo
s!n% the II'c,t :eaturesn OF the constitutions II was
Sad by one OF their opponents, that considering the IA
rto"s otecI02S he had heard urged against l,e con.
sutton, the particular vices and defects that were al.
icgei to sew tie Pr"priey of instant reform and the
corr'cvea that were proposed desired: far from ac
"kno"lcdgnG the mpcrfcCtions complained Of Ire was
'only the more nCed that there was no real cause
FOR d'scorent and the alarmed the extent Of
"tie revolution 10 Which these schemes of refrrra,iu1
"tend"-Ihat ''tbe whole frame of the government in
every department, ETccVf1Ue, Jdiciui and Lrgisjrc
'wcre reprobated faulty be longer endured by
an intelligent and free people, And has the Iouloun
committee never heard read, does il not certaiuI,
Know, that IT IS most earnestly desired and recommend
ed by many OF the friends Of convention to abolish he
executive council and 10 substitute a single executive,
and not only TO vest all the powers of that Department
IN the Governor but 10 more power in the depart.
hchE docs The committee not know, that it has been
seriously proposed, to aunul the independent fcnurc ri
the judicial cfce, and TO make the nIges elective for
term Of years, Does il know. that il IS tlc object of
some, 10 diminish almost TO anbilaton the Jurisdiction
OF the county courts, and to abogae tie courts of
chancery' Did. not MIR. Mercer HIMSELF in "A public
speech TO the people OF Fairav, declare himself in favor
of the abolition of the freehold qualification OF suffrage