Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-07-12


a newspaper of this town, has, at the instance
of " Mason of '76,n been published in the
Richmond Enquirer. The object of its au-
thor is to fasten upon the friends Of Conven-
ton the charge of having ",cheedled and be-
guikd' the freeholders of Fairfax into an ex-
preston of sentiment directly at variance with
their real opinions; and to prove that Our re-
port of the proceedings in that county was
intentionally unfair. The piece was pointed
out to US when it first made its appearance;
but carrying its front seeming doubtful
ness of candor, and dragging at its rear q
pitinl subterfage, acquired in its journey
through the press, we conceived that an an
swer at that time would be entirely gratuit-
Gus. 1t has now. assumed, however. an adj
ventitious importance, as well from the at
tention bestowed on it by the able writer,
who has kindly yielded to become its common
tator; as from the responsibility of the chan
mel through which it has been reconveyed to
the public eye; we. therefore, feel ourselves
bound to notice it and shall do so as succinct-
" as the case will bear. That we may be
fully understood, let us, before we proceed,
copy from our report an extract embracing e.
very thing that We said in relation to the con-
vention.
"When the resolutions had been read, Mr..
Mercer addressed the people. He said that
having proposed similar resolutions in Lou
"doun, and supported others in Prince VIII
liam, he felt himself called on, as represent
I" tative, in whom the voters of Fairfax had so
often manifested their confidence, to urge
&c the adoption of the re solutions, and to as
"sign his reasons for doing so. He explain
"ed, in concise, eloquent and convincing
manner, the glaring defects of the present
Constitution the causes which led to the
"adoption of the features complained Of; and
the suitability of the present times of peace
+" and political harmony, to examine those fea-
lures deliberately, and if found inconsist-
ent with justice and enlightened republican
principles, to expunge them and substitute
others, which experience and progressive
reason had long since dictated. He dwelt,
particularly and forcibly, upon the anoma-
lous feature which gave to Warwick, and
King and Queen, an equal influence in the
Legislature with Frederick, Shenandoah,
Loudoun, and all other large and growing
counties. He boldly declared his convic-
ton, that the right of suffrage ought, and
could safely be extended to all free white
I" male citizens who had a permanent interest
''in the state, notwithstanding their poverty
or their vocations might deprive them Of
the freehold qualification; and he explain.
" ed, we thought, with sufficient clearness,
that this could be done without subjecting
" the state to the Inconvenience, and the
"people to the corruption, which were said
" to exist, through somewhat similar extern
{" sion, in Maryland, New.York, and else
"where.
"Messrs. Mason and Thompson, the late de-
"legates, explained the motives which 60
"verned their conduct on the same subjectin
"the last legislature. Mr.. Mason declared
"himself wholly opposed to the resolutions,
"and to proposition for convention in any
"shape. He spoke with great animation,
"elegance and ability; used all the arguments
/" that his subject would admit Of, and was LIS
"tened to with great attention. Mr.. Thomp-
"son justified his vote in favoroi ascertaining
"the wish of the people, and added several
"powerful arguments to those ad vanced by
"Mr. Mercer in favor of convention and of
"the resolutions proposed. Mr.. Tyler one Of
"the candidates, acknowledged his hostility
Z" to any change in the constitution, but ex-
oppressed determination, if elected, to be
{, governed by the will of the people. 1.-THE
"people by their votes, that day called for a
convention, as their representative, he
"would support them by any necessary legis-
"lative act. All the other candidates made
"the same declarations.
"The resolutions were adopted, and when
" the polls closed there were found to be
'sFora Convention ia.
"Against IS.
SO the freeholders of Fairfax have followed
"the distinguished example of Prince William
"and Loudoun, and the Representatives of the
county are pledged to further their views"
The allegations against the correctness of
the above report, as far as We can discover
them, are only two
First-For an omission to state that there
were many persons present decidedly opposed
to the Convention, who did not vote at all
on the question; going upon the principle
that proposition when submitted, if not car
RED, was of course lost {; and that in order to
be carried, it must have the support of ma
j@ify of those entitled 10 rote upon 1t.
And secondly,-For unfairly stating that
the freeholders of Fairfax had followed the