Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-06-24

reform IN the method by which hc proposes TO aocom-
fiIsh 1t. And he may Ice assured, that do nos and
never did apprehend, that the friends If convention
viii lake Linn for their leader; tue contrary arm per-
suadcd that nothing have said on this subject
since the 9t agitation OF IT. has excited suchliycly in
dgnaton in the great body Of them, the suggestion
made which they esteem injurious tauut that they
are capable Of acting in suboI dnatiou to him. He
never wall, never can lead them. There
among them, m contact with whose bold and reckless
energy las irritable spirits will shrink like the sensitive
plant. His powers suited 20 the calm politics which
belong 10 established, settled things; the
more 6enIlccn lin poor oPin'on) more psalse"or
thy works of regular egislaOn; though, here
little IS 10 be abated from his practical utility,
count OF his continual efforts after unatainable perfec
ton IN all his plaus. He not formed by nature "o
ride IN the whirlw ind and direct the sOrrD.n
The Friend Of Equal Rights reminds us Of Mr. Mer
GERS services, while he member af the House
Delegates to the great interests of education and inter
nal Improvement; and is assured, thai. 'his memory
VIII he cherished long after who affect Friendly
COMMUNICATION for his weaknesses down
The stream of oblivon.n I am well content This wri.
ter did not perceive, that, in his awkward mixture OF
The sarcasm against me with the panegl ric Mr. Mer
Ger, he has assigned very short date TO his friends
Immortality am one of the last men who would de-
tract from any real merit he possesses: and shall do my
best to save him from being ''tidmalG TO fame" Let
him not avail himself of the stock of credit acquired by
former meorious services TO dash into wild and bound
less spccuations which hardly prove profitable, ii
successful, and in which he must hazard his ALL and put
IN jeopardy the interests OF the whole community. 1t
gaming adventure that he Is intent upon; and sue
same kind, which can only eventuate in rrerievable
disorder and ruin beg he will remember, if he will
not take this warning.
Both the Friend of Equal Rights and 9rislogiion are
stung with The venom they suppose 10 be contained in
The epithet OF Deccr1Ui which applied the Loudoun
Committee; epthet Suggested simply by the unuchy
number, of which the committee at FIRST appeared
consist. These writers snitten with admiration
OF our prevailing taste in composition that they will not
tolerate classical alusion unless be pushed TO
most extremity OF its application: and dare say they
1 InfaT laTf a., r
zens who lave read Godsnith's Roman History that
when 7ppinS ChtudiuS, the chief of the Dccenvir
burning with lawless passion for pirgni0 had found the
nllder method OF seduction vain the continuance he
sorted to at last to obtain possession Of her. was To hare
heftfee condition brought o question, and to ajudge
e1 STARE: but had his passions never been inaned
hat the maid been kind, her freedom would nev er have
been doubted, and she wond have been spared the
/ pubic shame OF such a tTi. l.
II the contnmelious ephct OF oAymistg and tfe de
hunciaon oi those same Gidr1nisjS as pyestaa pous
contained III The address of the LoudOun COMMITTEES
were not intended 10 be applied all hold the same
Opinions on tins subject that do, and me ia
particular; why does MIR. Mercer speak of my ,coded
'fae' ana why does 4TISt0SSt0n describe gen
eiuaD who complains bitterly cannn5,OitseL
mid designation of alamst?" They are conscious OF
eir own meaning They absoved from all the bonds
oil private friendship which had bound 10 silence from
The PRONUNCIATION OF the Loudoun resolution till the
publication OF the Address. little expected andhad
no wish, 10 be absoVed They curted this contest
WIN what colour of reason, them they COMPLAIN
tat was the aggTessor? Did they strike and expect
that the blow would not be returned? Gid they strike
first, and do they now complain of hard blows Do they
really think, that the offence of blow should be ,nco
sured By the pain, and not by the insult? shall take
no trouble TO aPpease their resentment. Ellt desire
10 stand luSied IN the opinion of generous public
shall be sorry, very sorry, tolearn that any truly i'm
partial man has discovered i'll my former licces anv
personal plquc, much more animusv against Mr. ATer
Ger or any other person Whatever of satire rrav be
found IN them was dictated solely by an opinion found
ed on very careful observation that in controversies of
submits IN
or contumey from IFS adversary in effect surrcndcrs the
contest Shall MIR. Mercer, and his brothers of tIo
I-oudonn committee, openly proclaim their contemg
for their opponents, By describing them as niaiss aud
rouse public Indignation against them by denouncirp
them as Presu,ptuouS-ard shall dare doubt
the availability of their WISDOM or question the political
virtue of their schemes? Shall they suggest and iusti
~ dsrust Of the Legislature of their conut.v ..oD
account oil ITS present constitution" and shall pre-
sumo TO express dtrust of the Staunton Convention
on account = Its constitution? Shall they assume The
tone OF conqueors, and to deprecae or submit
They hold up and tue institutions Of our foefacrs
topubc scorn and detestatioD; but themselves and
their plans they claim exemption from all discussion
and examInation-"altguSt their deed and sarred be
their tdme!" Then may well surrender the com
monweath into their hands at once and to those
promises of modcrntion which Mr. Henderson makes
as literally and confidently, if it were within his
competency to fulfill them.
do not doubt the sincerity Of those promises But
III pray tins gentleman TO readt Hampshire resolutions
pa nd 10 observe that The friends Of convention n that
county vehemenly dsclain the authority of the ia
laure 'at the delegates they have appointed TO meet
hm at StauntoD, instructed to "take measures 10
"ena6c the people TO choose The members Of or 10 form
conoeno'l to alter the constitution of Virginia. and
that full power and authority" given to any one or
more OF those delegates to act in such manner as NAV
'be deemed most ADVISABLE TO effect iJl ob;ecf ~, L
injecting 'c1ch IS IN take place ri Stqunton or at such
"oher place, as may be selected by hose ,oto arc in
'y"Vor9 a conoenton" If this do not abae Mr.. Hen
dersons confidence IN his own power to fulfil the pro-
mise he has pledged to the public for the moderation
OF the proposed convention; do not open the ewes Of
all men to the true principle and dangerous tendency
OF all such schemes do not the friends of
convention themselves that, 10 seek I2eGyzn on the
principles and by the methods ~ [eroiion al least
as likely to demolsh to amend; can nothing
capable Of roUsng tue attention impressing the un
/ Outstanding.
All the three writer's whose commentaries am cos,s
dering seem think, that have assumed tue name
of dson 2f76 am bound 70 sustain the character of
that great IN perfect consistency. This i, rather
unreasonable rcquisitlon; yet. DO comply with
it, the failure will be owing to- want Of abip not of in
clinatOn or LOYALTY to his PRINCIPLES TIM. 9,;too;