Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-07-09

ally did, by what authority does MT
/ Leigh make their votes the majority
Part of that majority they were; but il
a quorum Of the senate were present
they would have been but two, out OF
the seven, Of which, at least, such ma
iority must have consisted.
Counting this majority, in his own
way, Mr.. Leigh exultingly exclaims-
Here is evidence, enough, on which
side the majority lies! Be it so.-
The friends of convention may readi-
ly close in, with this confident appeal,
leaving the evidence, which induces it,
the utmost sway, except where better
testimony Of the sentiment OF his con-
stituents, than the mere vote OF the Sc
nator, himself, mobiles or contravenes
this testimony.
| And now. then, "a Freeman of 1926"
not only unequivocally denies, but is
prepared to disprove, the truth OF MIR.
Leigh's conclusion. To be relieved
from this labour, however, and to cut
short partof this wearisome argument,
he entreats you, Messrs. Editors, to
supply his place, by better advocate,
in all respects,-he means the intelll-
gent author Of a late essay, published
in the Constitutional Wing, and adj
dressed to Chapman Johnson, ESQ.,
/ Along with several merited compli-
ments to this distinguished member of
the senate, some Of which are nearly,
il not quite, as gross, as the "Freeman"
paid him, and, for which, he stands re-
proved by Mr. Leigh, steadier friend,
1t is to be hoped, Of this senator, than
he has been Of Mr.. Mercer, this writer
firmly, but respectfully complains, as
every real friend Of Mr.. Johnson must
regret, that he did not accord to his
constituents, the opportunity sought to
be afforded them, by the bill, against
which, he voted, of expressing, in the
most unequivocal manner, their well
known sentiments in favor ola conven-
ton. Mr.. Johnson could not have i'm
aeined, that his vote would be used, as
his friend, Mr.. Leigh, has employed it,
to prove, in opposition 10 their own
sentiments, and to the evidence OF their
six delegates, that his constituents con-
CURED in opinion with himself.
The last exception to the Stanton
meeting, which "a Freeman" purposes
to notice, is that, which is urged to.the
mode of clecting its delegates; and to
the manner, in which, the sense OF their
constituents may have been taken on
the subject of a convention.
Where the unquestioned sense of the
several counties, as IN Accomack, Eau
quier,, Shenandoah, Sc. to the number
Of thirty or forty, as Judge Broken
brough has reported, who is good
authority, for he has counted them, has
been clearly asceriained, if the dele
gates, who may attend in their behalf,
shall not have been chosen by MAORI
ties, of very large popular meetings, yet,
if they are appointed by the universal
tacit consent of the friends ola conven-
ton, and have intimately mingled with
them, in their respective counties, so
as, to be capable of reporting theiropi-
Mons, the most essential purposes Of
the Stanton meeting will be effectual-
" answered. Ii will no longer be pos
sible to repeat that the desire Of con-
vention, if confined to some few discon-
tented counties, nor will il be declared,
by any man, who expects to be credited,
that no t,co, or but t,no of the friends Of
a convention unite, in approving any
one amendment of the constitution
Ifno better authority shall exist for the
charge of unfairness, in ascertaining, in
every county, the sense Of the people,
on the subject of a convention, than is
derived from the course pursued Unfair
fax, at the last spring election, then,
indeed, the friends of "a convention may
confidently abide by the result 1t is
not unknown to this writer, that such
charge has been made, and he is not
at all surprised, that it is now repeated,
by Mr.. Leigh: but its truth is neither
proved by making the charge, nor con-
frmed by its repetition. 1t has been,
hitherto, deemed alike unworthy Of
contradiction or Of notice.
In like manner, the choice OF the
Loudoun delegates, and committee,
was finally made, in the presence of
three hundred persons, without dis
senting voice, and the two gentlemen
recommended by Mr.. Chiffon, were
included in the delegation.
Having now, with what success the
public must determine, disposed of all
that portion of Mr.. Leigh's last essays,
which he would call argument, being
that alone in which the friends, or the
opponents Of convention, have any
real interest: il is with unfeigned diff
dence that l ask any part of The public
attention to the author Of this defence
of the Loudoun address and of the pro-
posed Stanton meeting. Taught,
from my infancy, to cherish public feel
| inps and IN connect nv own hapDinneS