Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1825-07-05
RICHMOND, JULY s.
FOR THE E.NnQUIRER.

with view to effect important changes in your
invaluable constitution. That instrument which
was the work of wisdom, of patriotism and of vir-
tue, ten times refined in the crucibe of the reyo
luton: that instrument which has been handed
down to us by our forefathers as the Palladium of
our liberties, and which it behoves their children
to preserve as the vestal fire. is about 10 be
committed TO profane hands, and 10 be made the
sport OF idle theorists and political adventures
wicked and designing handle has been made of
some slight defects in our constitution TO secuce
you INTO willingness for amendment, which when
once effected, their real design is to introduce nno
vatlons OF the most alarming kind, and to magnify
their own importance. Mighty champions are ris-
ing up IN every quarter Of the country, who were
never heard OF before, arrogating 10 themselves
inc collected will and wisdom of the people, who
are wIlllaS that every thing good and valuable in
the republic should sink, SO they alone NAV swim
others again OF more notorety who having lost that
Importance which perhaps they may have once
possessed, and being unable TO resuscitate in the
lar heid OF political enterprise, In the absence now
OF all those materials 10 work upon, furnished by
state OF high public excitement and political war
iaIe, have determined TO raise tempest of the
Fiest passions, that they may ride in the yvrl-
wind and direct the storm" II is in this state of
fhinss that l would arrest Your attention. You
are certainly not unwilling 10 pause to listen 10
deliberate. In presenting to you my limited views
am sorry That have not claims upon you for
audience, equal to those of 60 Mason OF '76, - but
1 rejoice that can never play the part of dema-
gogne under the false title ofo A Friend 10 Equal
flights can not pretend, 10 The wisdom and ex-
perience OF former years, but assure YOU that un-
der any assumed character whatever, by which
might gam the temporary applause ofihe people,
viii never essay the desperate shift of retrieving
bankruptcy in fortune and in politics.
That am justified in my estimate of the views
IN IkrAGn nj sIs.a. al.
remarks will suffice TO prove the considerate and
the honest do not intend, for do not consider
myself able, TO enter into general discussion of all
the topics connected with this subject but | will
notice some of those which seem to be the most
prominent with the zeaots of REFORM and close nv
remarks with few observations upon The manner
OF their proceeding 10 feet the proposed alterations
as ahording not one OF the least objections 10 their
conduct at this time
What would any stranger to our government
suppose, were the real evils under which we suffer-
ed TO read the several pieces that have appeared in
vindlcaion OF the Loudoun Address? Would he
not think that the people 10 whom they applied
were set of the most abect slaves writing under
a tyranny as intense as violence and corruption
could make II! Certainly he would. But bring
Ihs matter home my countrymen--and ask YOUR
selves few plain questions What are those cry-
ing evils: Unequal representation-is this one p
ii is certainly true that in theory this is an objection
TO the present stale OF things But do YOU suffer
yourselves 10 be duped by the slightest appearan-
ces! VIII you not look beneath the surface of
things? Let me ask you few plain questions, that
think, will aid you IN your inquiries. Do you be-
ieye that these DISCLAIMERS who rant so much are
either sincere, or that the practical effects OF the
evils oil which they complain, are such as they
would fain represent when you recollect the SIM
pie matter OF history that has occurred since the
year 1916, that when it was fully in the power OF
those ephemera patriots to have effected an equal
representation in both branches of the legislature il
was then thought sufficient for all the purposes OF
the day 70 compromise for an equalization of the
representation in the Senate only, and that too at
the enormous sacrifice of an increase in the landed
taxation - fold Ia the Western section of the
State, the quarter from whence did and does now
procee5 he whole ofthe ciamor? Has this matte
passed 0y, 80 long ago, that you should have for
gotten IL! Did not the same evils then exist OF
which they compaiHs And did not the de-
chalmers of that day represent your situation quite
as desperate as they do now! And if your situa-
ton was as plainly pointed out, and the evils then
existed, why were they not remedied? The an
swer is plain, they then wanted Banks Thi.
was their object, and the plshment of this has
IN my opinions proved be Of the sorest curse,
that could nave been inricted by short sighted lie.
glslatuIe upon any country! 1t has been this thai
has brought upon our state at large all our pecuni-
sry embsrr ASSN ents, made thousands of honest "a
miles begglrs, aud has diffused deii o.azinsr in
fluence over the whole OF our populations that will
affect our habits TO the end OF lime Yes, they hac
their views then, and they have them now VIII
they ask what they are? Perhaps they expect &c
confound US BY this bold question. Unfortunate
ly for the happiness Of mankind, wicked men seek
ing Tor power have generally had discretion to wal
their movements until they had appearances in then
favor, and thus, acquiring effrontery in their
manner, holiness of interrogatory, and The sem
blance of candor in their proceedings, they hay,
succeeded in gaining for themselves that inIlu-
ence and confidence that belong aloe 20 legituat,
objects and viftuous motives. Even sdmittin.
that we could not furnish an exposition OF thei
views, should this justify chat cannot jusif,
themse es! But fortunately cam in thi. IN lance
we can tell them in word what ;hey want--the,
want potoeT--they want tpfueuce-they tCOulC
be great men," Yes, my ielow-ctzens, TAX,
the word of an humble individual that ihi- is IN,
great object. But let US pursue this mode of uues-
ton and answer little iarther--Wil they attempl
toTelease themselves from the embarrassment which
the statement above must place them in, by saying
that they not, upon the former occasion, IN,
principal actors in the scene' If they do | can
with equal force, and perhaps with much NOR,
truth, answer, that they were then in the country
that they knew oil existing evils, and that oppor
tunity was presented for redressing them. Ant
how, let me ask you, they excuse themselve
for 30 criminal an Indifference to your rights; the,
who now pretend so much sensibity towards them
Will they say that they did not then discern thu
evils 10 the same extent? If it would not be sufIi
cient to answer, that the same language, the sam
topics, the very same cant phrases (such as &C NJ
free government and the blessing Of equal Ftcv'
can be PRESCRIBED to any people wiiho1
recurrence to fundamental prIn pies. aud III ike
were then used, as those that are now Employed;
would futher answer, that have not heard it, no
do expect it viii be pretended, that they have jus
arrived at new era Of political illumination, o