The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1825-05-26

To The Friends ofa Contention.
Nh. 4

! We have read with no small degree of
interest, and with an attention commanded
| by the abilities of the author, an Essay in
the " Richmond Enquirer" of the Goth INST.
over the signature Of d" Mason of e.
AS advocates of the measure Which he so
strennonsIy opposes---ha,in ing at heart,
fcqually with himself, the interests of the
State-and equally d.prccatlng any mea-
sure Which may tend Ia retard lis prusprr-
| ty, we feed called upon to make a few re- =
marks III relation tot, al this Crisis, hen
so much depends upon the frnn.ss and
decision Of It's friends. If they WAIVER ur
hesitate. their cause is lsst-their defeat is
inevitable. Friendly to Convention from
the first moment OF the agitation OF the
question, every days experience has more
aud more convinced us of its necessity -
Indeed, if we bad needed additional cyi
drnCe 10 convince us that a Convention is
absolutely dispensablr, we should have
gone no farther TO seek for it than the vote
gwen by the last Legislature, denying to
the freeholders the means of acting in cun
cert upon this very question.
So far as" Mason has devoted his Essay
70 personal attack upon Mr. Mercer, We
shall have nothing To do with it. Dir. NJ.
ii W. mistake not, is able to defend himself
and his opinions. We shah coniine our re
marks 10 Il consideration Of the conduct of
our opponents, aud am investigation Of tlu
defects of the present constitution.
Il was with no small degree of surprise
that we saw an appeal made TO the "s"her
Giends of IA Convention" to refuse their
assent 10 the proposed meeting At stanton,
by an opponent of the measure, while the
decision of the last Legislature was yet
staring him in the fare. What are we TO
do? Have we not pettIoned; And have
not our petitions been secuted from the
House? Are we, then, tamcly 10 submit
To- grievances, which, whether real or ina
sinary are still grievances to those who be-
leye them such The people Of Loudonn,
IN their address and invitation tn the PEG
pie of the several counties of the state,
have Violated no principle of social order,
they haNr erected ~ exclusive standard,
as i" Mason" FIRST erroneously supposes,
and then gratuitons!y condemna-Thry APP
peal to no particular elass--they call upon
thepeople otevery county to send delegates
to Stauntou 10 propose such measures Gas
their comn,"n dtlberattnn shall suggest
and apprye" What else could they do
Jlu NOT TIC E'tll'AS WI htlttAi w hh'Pb biio
cnurse2 And Indeed, WAS there any other
step left them tn pursue They were bound,
by every consideration which should imnei
lreemen 10 action, and by such as we hope
the people Of this country viii ever he under
the influence Of To take the matter IN their
own hands, where the Legislature. content
ed it was only deposited. SO far rs the
Legislature is concerned, the question re-
solves itself into very simple statement.
The power of calling convention must re
side some,Cheys. The people may perform
this act, IN their original capacity, or they
may delegate The authority, rs in other
cases, 10 anuther power. II with view
to ASCERTAIN, in the only practicable mode
the sense of a majority Of the people, they
appeal To the only tribunal which can At
ford the means of obtaining this object,
and this tribunal refuse, what, then, is the
alternative Are they to fold their arms
in tame and quiet Submission Are they
70 remain inactive and supnr, and still sub
nit to what they conceive To he system
If injustice and oppression Or rather
ought they not AZ their fathers did, to take
the matter into their own hands, and vindl
cate their rights There surely can he no
hesitation as to the answer. Having a
majority in the Senate, where the Offices
are held by such long tenurrs as 10 place
the representative beyond the fear of fail
iuS under the punishment, even II he do
under the reproach OF his constituents, the
anti conyrntonisis might continue almost
r,ernally to pat oil the day olretorn, and
laugh To scorn the petitions and sh'ciia
tons of their opponents. "Oh, It's excel
lent To have giants power; hut us ~
rannous To use IL like giant y Is VI not
wonderful that the anti c0nyentIonlsis
should complain of the course recommen
drd to be adopted by the loudoun com
mittee, when their very plea for refusing
the nterposiiion Of the Legislature, last
winter was, that the power 10 call con
venlion belonged to The people, and to the
people alone ? They promulgated tins doc
irinr, as completely justlicatory OF th"m
selves, and now WHEN the very measure
which they commended Was that which the
people ought To adopt, is accommodates
they grow alarmed--ihey tell us that lbr
princplcs of social order are sub'cIted-
that the most angry passions are called INTO
exrrcisr,--and with Il whining cant about
the danger of such proceedings perfectly
in keeping with their previous presumpt'"l''
solicit the j." sober friends Qfo contention I"
cons,der,' the consequences ct the course re
comdmcned by the PeoPleot l"odonn' ana
heS them not 10 join IN the measure b''t
we hope that the people, with the act OF uhc
last legislature still before thetn-and WIN
out any reasonable hope OF change IN
the sentiments of that body, will not even
pause for an instant. They have reflected
long enough upon the suhjeei--they nave
borne long enough with ,h'ir grievances,
they have sought 10 procure their removal
in the most practicable mode. But al IN
vain. Their patience and endurance have
been met by iasnit and cante'nPt""ns
disregard Of their wishes. Their appeals
have been laughed at. They have oeen
called Jewellers, disorganizrrs, Iacnh'ns ana