Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-05-17
FLOR the Phenix Gazette. !

| sI.s.rs Suo,cden g Thornton: In the adj
d-ass Of the Corresponding Committee OF
7 o,doup. sto the friends of Convention in
tho several counties of Virginia, " recommend,
ing a meeting at staunton, and which has ap'
neared in your paper, find myself associated
in the signatures with the very respectable
gentlemen who have issued that address.
That 1 had been placed upon such Committee
in the proceedings at the courthouse, on the
day of our late election, had learned on get,
ting there after the business was over. Had
been present at the nomination, l should
have declined the duty, as inconsistent with
the sentiments | entertained as to the course
of proceeding.
without entering into an examination OF the
circumstances by which am made to appear
4, s;gner. 10 an address which never saw I'M
til read ii in print, and to the object OF when
"a staun,on meeting) never gave my sane
tom, may be sufficient to mention that such
is the fact: and whilst deem it duty to my
| SELF in justification of my own consistency to
disavow the act, !, at the same time, readily
acauit those concerned therein of any sinister
view or unfriendlv motive. In making known
nv nonconcurence with my friends on the
| Committee, for whose opinions have All que
respect, feel myself bound, very briefly 10
state nv views in relation TO this matter
For many years past the question OF the
,ropricty of Convention, for the amendment
Sc the Constitution, has been, from time to
time, agitated. In this examination nave hot
hoen amongst the number OF those VINO were
ANXIOUS to push on the measurc-althouSh
,,;rccd that there are some defects in our
form of government, of sufficient Importance
m make it desirable that they should, at con-
content time, be amended. have never felt,
however, that the grievances We labor under,
in consequence of those defects, were very
burthensome; and not being certain, that IN
their removal we might not adopt other errors
equally injurious, l have perceived no ade-
quate motive to precipitate the experiment.
And here, perhaps, it may be asked Of me,-if
not now, when will be the favorable time to
amend the defects which you acknowledge in
the constitution would answer, let us wait
a little longer-the political atmosphere is not
quite purifed-there yet appear some impure
vapours floating therein; let us give them
time to subside, whilst we look around us
and study with anxious attention, the effects
of the various experiments of our neighbour
states in the modification of their systems, and
of which they seem ready to afford us every
variety. would wait, too, until public SEN
timent, which believe is progressing TO that
point, shall call, with more unanimity, for the
desired reformation. When we so into Con-
yention, could wish that it should be by more
general consent, and in the spirit of harmony,
not under the influence of high wrought local
jealousy, but free as possible from every en-
element. | cannot but fear that the Staunton
meeting will have an unhappy tendency in the
extension of unknd feelings between the Peo-
plc of the East and of the West-already too
suspicious of each other
And what benefits are we to derive from this
said meeting
The address says II is 'to devise lawful and
expedient means to procure convention, to
amend the defects of our State Constitutions"
and where, let me ask, so properly look for
such ''lawful and expedient MEANS" as at the
hands of our representatives, convened in
General Assembly from all the counties
in the commonwealth Shall we be
told that the representation is unequal: |
would ask, will the partial assemblage that
may be expected at Staunton, give taircr eX-
hibition of public sentiment The sages who
formed the Federal Constitution, made it ne
cessarv TO It's adoption, that states out of Is,
should concur in their appreciation; and 50
with respect to amendments i'll that, and in
the State Constitutions generally, when
any provision is made upon the subject, two
thirds or three fourths of the body or bodies,
TO which the matter is submitted, must con-
cur to GtfeCt anne hCh ~ INN PiS1
portion of the people of Virginia, or even
decisive majority, shall declare their wishes
for an alteration in their form Of government,
doubtless their representatives will be found
ready to afford "lawful and expedient means
to give effect to their WILL That this will be
effected in due time, and in due order, and
better effected, without the influence Of arti,
! fetal excitements, have no doubt. But
have done: the sentiments of an unimportant
retired individual, would not thus have been
presented to the public, but from the circum'
stances into which found myself casually and
unwllingly thrown.
] CUTHBERT POWELL.
Loudoun. County, Nay Is, 1925.
Corn can with difficulty be obtained
in Our market for "love or money
Our country friends appear to have for
| ootten MS during their preparations fol