Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1825-07-12
RICHMOND, JULY 10.
FOR THE ENQUIRER.


tensions Of the alarming evils likely arise from
any amendment of the constitution, or from the
means which arc in agitation effect that object
his conclusions will be regarded almost oracular;
but to many, and own aun among that number,
who 10 not discern many porten,ous signs in the
political horizon,--his reasoninss though support
ell by greet vigor of STYLE and considerable ngenu-
ty OF invention, to be altogether illogical and
unsatisfactory.
1t Is not my present purpose, il it ever shall be,
TO answer, or TO attempt to answer, the arguments
which designed to prove that the address of the
Loudoun Committee, is entitled TO those angry
epithets, and indignant denunciations which hav e
been lavshed upon it;--nor to consider seriously
the question, whether the proposed meeting at
Staunton has really any parallel or similitude in
the memorable Hartford Convention;--or can be
embraced by the TERMS or the spirit of the farewell
address of the Father Of his Country. should be
quite willing refer the solution of these questions
10 that sense, or intuitive perception of
right and wrong which, in greater or less degree,
belongs 10 every man in the community. 1t is suf-
ficient to observe, that in season OF profound
peace and tranquility, some of the most distin-
guished and respectable citizens of the common
wealth, propose from various quarters TO assemble
togeher.-to consult about their rights and grieu-
qnces, be them real or imaginary.--Is there any
harm in all or if evil should perchance grow
out OF it, which, confess, utterly ~ loss 10
conceve-at whose door is it more likely to lay
than al theirs--who have exhausted all the powers
of rhetoric, of reasoning and nvective,-, blight
and wilher the whole projectin its infancy, and to
;mprecate the public wrath upon every step of its
prosress-to goad by and irrate by as
cribing designs, which if not absolutely wicked,
are said 10 be characterized by folly and imbecty !?
My purpose, IT this time, is 10 notice few of
the positions taken by the writer, which held to
be utterly unsound and untenable; and in the first
place. the inconclusve assigned for the esti-
mate he has formed OF the sentiments of the people
on the subject o! convention. The first, is de-
rived from the letters of Judge Brocl1enbroush,
from which Mason infers that the Judge doubts
whether there is majority in favor of conven-
ton. &c No man, (says Mason) "will doubt his
competency to judge, or tile fairness of his judg-
ment.' Really this is an argument which il is
impossible 10 treat seriously. Had Judge Brock
enbFough also strengthened his own opinion by
referring TO that of 90 Mason of 76,'' the argument
would have been complete. No man, then, would
have had the hsrdihood 10 resist the combined iudg-
Inent OF these two gentlemen--Al irony apart
if this were subject upon which Judge B. was
really competent WITHSTAND instead of doubt
ing, would, upon his corporal oath, declare that
majority OF the people OF this commonw ealth were
decidedly opposed % a convention then should
be bound In courtesy and through the great respect
which entertain tor that gentleman, 10 believe bis
testimony. In the meantime, / shall take the lber-
=
or, not willing 10 rest his assertion entirely upon
the Judgment OF one Individual, however able and
respectable, refers 10 what he calls a. the remarka-
Die fact, that the Bill which was passed by the
House OF Delegate. at the last session, for taking
the sense OF the people the expediency of calling
a conv enton, was rejected in the Senate, where
the representation has been equaized and appor-
toned according the wisheo of the most Jealous
reiormers, b. majority of two woes, representing
about 80, 900 free white citizens" e. Here CON
tnues he, Is IS crideace enough on tohich side
the majority hes. But this is not all; for nelieye
there were other Senators, and knoto there was
one (for lie declared it publicly in debate) who
voted for the Bill, TO submit the question to the
people, and who would not have voted 10 call
convention"
This reasoning, specious rs il may appear, will
be found on examination TO be destitute OF ali force
solidity The disguised sophis,n, consists i'll
the assumption OF the fact, that all the Senators
who voted against The Bill necessarily spoke the
sentiments of their constituents. Let me re,ort|
Mason reasoning. beiieue, nay, / kno,o with
as much certainty such knowledge can be obtain
ed that not Only one, but at least four Senators in
opposition to the Bill, voted contrary 10 the senti-
ments OF their constituents. If this be so, and
will endeavor presently TO prove it,-et us balance
accounts with Mason, and on which side of the
question will his 80 900 free white citizens appear:
Giving him the he claims and taking the four
q
ing his own mode OF reasoning, that a majority 0.
one hundred and sixty thousand citizens were ia
favor OF a convention. But these vague calcu-
lations, do not choose TO rely. In every Senate
rial district there indiv iduals who think differ
emily upon the subject. In some the relative pro-
portion is greater, in others less. Pursuing the
same train OF ideas, Mason says, in combinations
" that although the inequality of the representation
is the chief ground of objection the Legislature,
on account of its present constitution; yet, in this
instance the complaint is levelled not against the
House of Delegates where the representation is
unequal, but against the Senate where it is equa''
The inference which Mason draws from all this
is, that the House of Delegates, which passed the
Bill was incompetent by reason of ITS unequal re-
presentation TO express the real sentiments OF the
people, and that, therefore, majority of the peo-
pie were in favor Of the Bill.--Admreble conclu-
sion!-NoY observe to what directly contrary re-
suit every calm and unpreudiced mind will be car
ried In the House of Delegates, with few ex-
ceptions all the large and popuous counties voted
IN the affirmative. The small and less populous
counties in the negative Now, | freely admit the
gross inequality OF the representation in that House
But suppose the representation had been equazed?
Will Mason want the candor to say that the Bill
would have been lost Must be not rather ac-
knowledge that, in such event, the Bill would have
passed by an Overwhelming majority Let Mason
take the pains, Il have done il with great patience
and think with accuracy TO compare the popula-
tion OF the counties for and against the Bill, and
pledge myself that he will find large majority in
the affirmative.
How long has Mason embraced the idea, that
Senator representing large district of country and
population Of forty thousand, is better able to ex-
press the wishes OF bis constituents than the dele
gate who is in the daily habit of familiar inter-
course with them ?--On this subject, Mason will
not object, if quote 10 him very high authority.
He no doubt recoIiects very able publication writ
ten hu n disiin uiIished gentleman entitled &c A