Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-07-02
From the Richmond Enquirer.

subjects for public consideration: the princi-
pie ofthe scheme of the projected Staunton
convention: the temper, import and design,
of the Address by which the Loudoun Com
mittee had recommended that plan of opera
tons to the friends Of Reform: and the CIR
cumstances, on which the Address rested the
justification of measures, so questionable In
their character and so dangerous IN their ten
dency. Mr.. Mercer in his Freeman Of 1925,
Mr.. Henderson in his answer to Mr.. Powell,
and the Friend Of Equal Rights, are desirous
to mix with the consideration of these sub
jects, discussion of the merits Of the constl.
tuition. They forget that it is Of the very es.
sence of the scheme they are pursuing with
so much ardour, to preclude all debate and all
communion between the friends ofa conven-
ton and the supporters of the constitution,
and to bring the controversy at once to trlal
of strength.
MIR. Mercer accuses me OF pervcrtng and az
gravating the sense of the Loudoun Address,
in order to justify my reprobation of it, and
strenuously endeavors to shew, that, fairly un
derstood, it is perfectly moderate, calm, inno
cent. Had this been its real character, the
most ingenious efforts to distort its meaning
had been vain, and all explanation idle. The
very labour he bestows on the work of mere
exposition, and the method of explanation to
which he was obliged to resort, afford the mos
persuasive argument, that the import OF the
address is in the highest degree equivocal al
least, if it be not justly obnoxious to every
censure pronounced upon it. He separate:
every material sentence from its context, and
in one instance, single word; and shews
very satisfactorily, that no one sentence taker
alone, nor that particular word tthe word ap
peal } imports any sentiment, against which
the most captious ought to take exception
BY the same process, could prove the foules'
blasphemy void of offence. But, let 1t be
considered, that the address distinctly avows,
that is is the object of the projected conven
ton at Staunton, to combine all the present
friends of reform,to make proselytes, and tc
increase the weight of the party, by concert
and organization; that, whether the grand OBJ
iect in view should be accomplished through
the intervention ofthe Legislature, or without
or against its authority, is, from the equivoca
or rather contradictory language of the ad
dress, left doubtful; that the resentments
of the friends ofconvention are excited against
the supporters of the constitution, by de.
nunciation Of the latter as presumptuous, and
by Understanding complaints of their re.
proachful insiauations against the former; that
the address suggests, that distrust is enter.
tanned by MANY of the friends of convention,
Of the General Assembly, on account of its
present constitution and past conduct, and
vindicates and justifes that distrust; and that
it is in connexion with all this, that the design
is announced, "to sound an appeal, SO distinct
and audible, to the next General Assembly,
as to procure, they hope, just respect to the
rights" of the refomers. only desire, that
the whole matter of the address be considered
in onn1yiew. And then | shall be perfectly
content to leave it to the public jugdment,
whetherl fairly expounded, or perverted and
aggravated, its import, when said, that the
purpose it recommended, was, "to demand
{ of the Legislature, in the first instance, the
'cal of convention, as an indubitable right;
sand, to secure compliance with that de-
'nland, to sound an appeal SO distinct & audible
'to the next General Assembly, as to procure
"a just respect to that same right in effect,
to ''overcome" that body: that the iaapfu!
and erpedient means Of procuring the call of
"a convention, which This committee meditat-
sed, was to consist in pereInptory dictation to
the supreme constituted authority Of their
country; and the further evidence they vouch-
ssafed to give US, of for6eyance and modera-
ton, only vague intimation, that they will
mot proceed to extremities, till they shall
have tried the effect of terror on the Legis-
'lature."
said, and repeat, that could not clearly
understand, from the Loudoun Address,
whether its authors 'were decided in their
'own minds, to accomplish their favorite OBJ
'ject of calling convention, through the in
'tervention of the Legislature, or in open op-
position to its authority Mr.. Mercer re-
minds us of the Shenandoah Address Of 14th
of March last, expressly desiring conven-
'tion without the consent of the General As
'sembly;' that address, he repeats, (which
semphatically expressed distrust OF the &C.
'neral Assembly, and dispensed with its aid,
in the work of Reform And he declares,
that it was the object Of the Loudoun Address,
"to moderate the ardent zeal" and "to APP
pease the distrust," from which the Shenan-
doah Address sprung. Iforbear to animal
vert on the extraordinary method OF moderat.
ing zeal by infaming resentment, and OF ap-
peasing distrust by indicating and justifying
it. Let us disregard the unsuitablenesS OF
the means, and give full credit for the being
nifty of the design. Still, may reasonably
expect to be excused for not divining the mo-
tive and object of the Loudoun Address in this
particular; seeing that so jealous defender,
both of its address and of its author, as .aris-
togitcn, has declared in plain terms, that 'the
question for the Staunton Convention to de-
. eide, will be, to yhom and in ,rhot mode the
squeston of convention or 10 convention
shall be referred, TO the Legislature again or
sto tie people, and that the reformers Of lamp
shire, responding to the invitation of the Lou
doun Address, and appointing delegates to the
Staunton convention, have instructed them to
pay no regard to the Legislature, and to rouse
the people to the work of Reform (shall l
say'j or of Reuoiution-for, if they advance
one step in that course, whether Reform or
Rerolution will be the result, whether the in
tepnty of the State shall be preserved, or its
ACKNOWLEDGMENT accomplished, depends not
on the exertons of friends or foes, but on the
all-ruling providence of God.
tits very rightly supposed, that the shenan,
doah Address had not escaped my notice; and
the only reason why it escaped my animadver-
sion, was, that thought that spirit perfectly
innocuous and evanescent, till 1t was leasued