Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-06-14

language of the venerable saees of the RavoI,,;pn
"that government is, or ought TO be instituted for the
common oeneht." is the fact admitted, that, in the pre-.
sent exercise OF the elective franchise, a freebold -
estate worth a few dollars, may outweigh another NJ a.,
value oil many thousand, that husband NAV vote ON The
dover OF his vile, If it comprehend 6fty aero. ~
waste land, but crnnot vote on an estate of a tbo,s,nd
years uuration, IN as many acres of improved land' II
must, also, be admitted, 'that all men, havinn ,Gc;on,
eNuehce OF permanent, common interest with, and Mt
cachtnent to the community, have' not, nj present The
right oil suffrage" The Loudoun memorial tn tho l,e,
General Assembly, traced some of the consequences
OF these defects in the constitution; and were thero
NO more than these TO be discovered, they would war
rant a convention to amend them. This is neither tbc
time, nor a suitable occasion TO complete the enuno-
ration OF those defects. 1t has been asserted onJ -
Peated, IN regard to them, that no two friends of n CON
ventIon concur in opinion. Is not this a spresnmn,iou,
oerogatory 10 the character of the friends of political
feiorHi, ana not only unsustained by fact. but urred !,
open contradiction of their repeated memorials and
declarations? There are several defects of the copst;-
luton SO glaringly unjust, that | scarcely know two
men IN the commonwealth who do not admit them 10 be
SO. There are others, ii is true, concerning which \
greater variety of sentiment prevails; and the nrnc;sp
mode, as well as the exact extent of the lust remedy
LOT them, has not been generally agreed on. If ,njrcr.
SH consent were the only test of political truth, how few
woniu be ITS maxims. AL government would rest on
force or fraud.
Hence the utility of The proposed meeting al Staun.
ton, OF deputies to be chosen by the friends of n conven.
ton IN the several counties of the commonwealth vii,
wlilgo charged wltbthe opinions oftheir sconstituentsr-
The friends of a convention, ave shall TINS establish
say the committee. Sin the only practicable manner. tina
UNITY OF sentiment, and of correspondent action among
ourselves, so essential to our future success.n Surely
Tins proposition is too evident to require proof or illus.
trauon, and comptehends a measure as expe,hent - = il
Us lawful and just. 1--WE shalt,n the committee add,
NImpart vigor TO our operations.n Is not the anticipa-
tion oil ttls result one of the causes of the violent hostility
oil TINS adversary of the Stanton mecting2 We shall,
say they, 'repel the reproachful destinations of our op.
pohehtS'"-l4et him who has not read or heard such in
siliatIons often repeated, condemn the language of the
< o'ninittee, which 1T Is absurd TO suppose that they
meant 10 apply to every individual who simply iferet
rom them IN oPlnion as TO the expediency of Conyen.
tom 1--WE shall confirm" add the Committee. 9TH,
harmony, and increase the number of our fucnds.m A
Just people have Uuly to be assured that those renroach.
es are unfounded, to sanction the PROMPT amendment
OF the defects which time has created, or experience
disclosed, IN their system ofgovernnrent.
While %told,tlIat, under the promise of reform, thc
most dangerous innovation will be attempted, and pro
paoly accomplished; while men Of high character Sc
cretly winspef or openly proclaim, that, sSsD long as Mr.
~ jefferson lives, there can be no safety IN a Convention.
iphough limited 10 the simple ufiucs-e of F-aiHinc-an sui
uniting amendments of the Constitution To their constf
Etuents, is II wonderful that alarm should be sprea,
AaInong the ignorant and the timii? And is there an,
IyhJusticc or inPropriety in calling such meu, discrce
as tliey may deem themselves, 'alarmists, who inces-
sanity proclaim that the judiciary will he overW I,elmed
and intimate, in language not to be mistaken. that
single man has possession of the understandings anc
conscleilces ot a majority of the people OF Virginia. /
uoeS TX become those who use this language TO take
offence when they are sad TO difiuse uufounded alarm
abroad.
1t is remarkable that this alarm pervades with mos
effect the smallest counties of the commonwealth. an,
The sparsest population. ii scarcely reaches Slicuan.
ldoail, L frederick, Fauquicr, Loudoun, and j. fferson, O
geYen AcCOmack; but is most sensibly felt in certain
coterles around the capital. 1t distinguishes no part
kcular party, but is bounded by certain meridians an,
ATTITUDES. Peace and tranquility be to Mr.. Jefferson
Time and much disappointment in my search for perfec
ton III man, has allaycd wiIateve r unkind feeling eyer
entertained towards him; and | would not willinpI,
pam him, By repeating the language OF his forme
friends. certainly ann not his enemy. But were
50, and did dread his influence, / would wish him Il
1--we, since death might serve only 10 bury the recolIec
tIon OF his fraIles, and give sanctity to the opinions hi
may bcqueath TO posterity. This, ofall the current ar
guments against a convention, IS least founded in tn,
principles of human nature. There was a time wher
the venerable name of Washington was banded abon
by hIreilng writers OF two-penny pamphlets; and dcnoun
ced by wIgwam orators on the floor OF Congress. WhcI
the proot-sIeets of the hbeis on his fair fame were sub
mitted to still higher counsels, for correction, and theiI
authors rewarded with pro1use liberality. Now, wher,
are his accusers? Some of them rest in the grave, ant
are slleBced with the oTacles from which they quoted
others trcmble on It's verge, and have made their peace
with the sainted memory Of the Father of his Country
by honorabiy rctracting every uukind expression the,
ever used towards the fallible man; for so are all men
Ills wisdom and authority are now unqleslioned, an,
the tomb OF the dead cOunscls the listening ear, in loud
er and deeper tones than the voice of the living. ST
may If be with the sage of Monticello.
lie is too old aud infirm to attend the Convention
IN person: but were he there, in the full yigor OF reno
waited youth-where are Marshall, Madison, Monroe
and the Younger Washington-fw witt motif unjust,
add tU these, the respected name of johnson, whose un
wearied vigilance and care, over the couusels of he
Senate, have retarded the descent of this decIinin,
ooinmonwealtb'-wil not such men as these, cum 1nui
Us dtts, OF junior age and less noted merit, guard thu
constitution against the excuses ofintenperate innoya
tom Could a more favOrabie pcriodthan the pFesen
be- desired, for amending those defects Of the Constitu
ton, which exporieHeeb as disclosed, and tiTue mustap
gravate? Defects, which twice, in The last ten wears
the House Of Delegates have admitted to exist; and con
corning some of which, no doubt is entertained, by
large majority of the people? But / am violating liz,
injunction which laid upon myself, in a prior stage o
this vindication Of the Loudoun address, BY entering, a
present, upon the defects Of the Constitution.
That paper distinctly avows its design in calling fol
an expression, at Staunton, Of the sentiment, not of
majority Of the Whole community, but of the friends of
convention: and the last purpose which it announces
sis TO ''sound an appeal, 50 distinct and audible, to tr
next General Assembly Of Virginia, as to procure, W.
"may hope" its ~authorsex press, "a5ust respect for OH
rights" Against this object of the address, has beer
levclled a charge, but litde short Of treason; and, b,
anticipation, a counter appeal has been made 20 tht
! pride Oftbe Senate, in order to foTtfv its late decision