Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-06-16
NO. go

which they now enjoy. And we, poor }rac-
tions, are gravcly asked to invite the lordly
UNITS of Warwick to aid us in devising means
of raising ourselves and depressing them!
And it is said that in excluding the enemies
of convention, "the assembly at Stanton,
now proposed, differs most essentially from
the meeting which was held at the same place
in 1916. Then the invitation was given to all
men of whatsoever opinions" The writer has
here fallen into mistake in point of fact, as
the annexed extract from the address ''To the
people of the commonwealth of Virginia."
which produced the meeting at staunton, will
clearly show:
"The undersigned would therefore respect.
| fully submit to their fellow citizens through
out the state, of both political parties (for
this is no party question, and the trainers Of
this address are of both political parties the
following proposition
s'Let the people of the different counties,
,pho are friendly to the objects Of this address,
assemble in county meetings, on the 4th of
July next, or as soon thereafter as practical
BILE, and depute from each county two respec.
table and intelligent individuals, to meet at
Staunton, in Augusta county, on Monday the
18th day of August next, for the purpose Of
devising and adopting measures for affecting
convention Of the people of this common.
wealth."
| Or the second communication of "Mason Of
76;" have few remarks to make. BY the
aid ofthe bold and gratuitous assumption that
the object ofthe proposed meeting at Staun-
ton is to "obstruct the execution of the laws"
and that " its real design is to direct, control,
counteract or awe the regular delberation or
| action fthe constituted authorities" he has
been enabled to show that the holding of such
meeting is incompatible with the sound and
excellent principles contained in the +" fare.
well address" ofthe father of his country. We
disavow the intentions imputed and deny the
application Of the passage quoted.
There is one trait in the second publication
which feel myself constrained to notice.
mean the lofty and selfsufficient tone in which
the writer has thought fit to indulge. Having
given his first furious TRADE against the Staun-
ton convention and its promoters four days to
operate on the public mind, he declares in his
second publication that che will not believe
that the good people of Loudon and Fairfax
will have the wilfulness to persist in" the mea.
sure of sending deputies to Staunton. edo
confidently hope, he adds, "that at their ap.
preaching June county courts they will recall
their deputies, to whom they have incautiousIy
and unintentialy delegated their portion Of
the sovereignty"
That's to say, "Now that you understand
what ,0e in Richmond think of this matter, now
that We have explained to you our notions of
the improperly fall such irregular proceed
ings as &aunton conventions, &c. We doubt not
that you will see the folly you have been led
into by the petty demagogues who have taken
the lead in this matter, and will hasten to show
yourselves duly penitent by cashiering these
upstairs to whom you have incautiously and
unintentionally delegated your portion Of the
sovereignty.
"Given at our palace at Richmond, &C."
In the same lofty tone he expresses his as.
constituent to see subscribed to the Loudoun
address the names Of Col. Ellzey and Messr.
r. II. Henderson and William Temple Thomp:
son Mason; and has the unheard-of presump.
ton to add, that "It is to be hoped that they
too" (alluding to Mr.. Cuthbert PowelPs dis
claimer) "may disclaim, if not the actual sub.
scrption, at least the intention to subscribe such
sentiments; that if they subscribed this paper,
it was only because they gaze it too ewsory an
examination to apprehend its exact import"
Now this is your real Cambyses' vein"-
your real kingly tone-"an act Of amnesty in
favor Of such of our misguided subjects as
shall come in, confess their offences, and crave
our royal mercy" l forbesr all further re.
mark, except this, that the presumption OF
such language addressed to such men, beggars
comment
cannot think that the writer has made
happy selection of his nom de gu,re. The real
"Mason of rs" was one of those true and
enlightened friends of liberty who would not
even submit to the theoretical assertion, by
the parliament of England, of right to tax
the colonies. His political creed was, that
"taxation and representation should go toge-
ther." The modern "Mason Of rs" is the
vehement advocate Of the opposite doctrine.
He thinks it no hardship that the county OF
Frederick should pay its full share OF the tax
es Of the state, though she have not the uthe
of her proper weight in the body that imposes
the taxes. In the nineteenth century, in the
bosom of free republican community, he has
preached anew the servile doctrine of the pen
J stoned johnson, who gave to his labored pam
inlet in favor of English usurpations the title
ofaTaxation no Tyranny" tisto be hoped
that such men and such counsels may not at
length drive US to the doctrine Of Franklin's
, responsive pamphlet. " Resistance no Rebel.
: linn -