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

chile on which the meeting was con-
stituted, from the knowledge had,
that Breckenridge was the president,
and Blackburn and Johnson members,
all jealous supporters Of the constltu-
ton and that a full and free discus
sion of every question involved in the
subject, in fact, took place. | am thank
full, however, to every man, friend or
foe, who corrects my most trivial er-
rors either of information or of judg-
ment. The correction has given me
another proof of the powerful influ-
ence of example on the opinions and
actions of mankind. The former Con-
vention at Stanton is precedent tor
that which is now proposed; and this
will be precedent for every future
proceeding of the kind, to which the
zeal of party may prompt its votarles;
The mention made Of the Hartford
Convention, was not thoughtless al
fusion, thrown out for the mere pur.
pose of invective against the projected
Convention at Staunton. 1t was sug-
gested by real similarity in the COM
plants, the means, and the ends. l
will not enter into minute detail: the
points ofresemb.ance which struck my
attention, will be understood, from the
perusal of single resolution OF the
General Court of Massachusetts-'Re-
solved, that persons be appointed
delegates from this Legislature, to meet
'and confer with delegates from the
States of New-England or any of them,
upon the subject Of their public griev-
'ances and concerns, and upon the best
means of preserving our resources,
land of defence against the enemy /;
sand to devise and suggest for adoption
'by those respective states, such mea-
ssures as they may deem expedient !;
sand also TO take measures, if they shall
think proper, to procure a convention q
DELEGATES from all the United States, in
'order TO rerise the constitution thereof,
and more e6ectualy to secure the support
'and attachment Of all the people, by plac-
ing all upon the basis Of fair representa-
hor.' Now, l will not undertake to
condemn the motives, which prompted
that unhappy measure, as wilful, sedi-
tious and criminal: l do not, in truth,
believe that the prime movers and &C
tors in that transaction, designed to
commit treason against the federal go
vernment, or to dismember the Union,
any more than suspect the projectors
of the Staunton Convention OF such
designs against this commonwealth.
imputed to the projectors of the Hart
ford Convention, as have imputed to
the projectors of the Stanton Conven-
ton, that incorporate zeal for the at
tainment of their ends, which blinded
them to the dangerous and anarchical
tendency of their means; l imputed
the design to "direct or control the re-
gular deliberations and action OF the
constituted authorities" and to obtain
by combination, objects not otherwise
attainable. / conscientiously disap-
prove the principle of both conven-
tons. And shall still condemn the
principle of the Stanton Convention,
whether the scheme shall fail or sue
coed, and whether or no it prove harm
less, or even beneficial, in its conse-
quences. 1t is never safe, any more
than tits just, to do evil that good may
come of it.
Let me now call the public attention
to those peculiar circumstances OF the
Republic, which are alledged to afford
a justification for these extraordinary
and irregular proceedings.
1t is insisted that majority of the
people have manifested the opinion and
the wish, that convention should be
called to revise and amend the consti-
tuition: that, twice in the last ten years,
the House of Delegates has admitted the
existence Of defects which demand re-
form, and the Senate has obstinately re-
fused to take the sense Of the people
on the expediency of a convention: that
the proposed meeting at Stanton will
make manifest the fact, that it is not a
small minority, but decided majority OF
the people, who now call for reform;
and, Notwithstanding the dissatisfac.
ton of the committee and people OF
Loudoun, NTH the gross inequality ofthe
representation, they do not believe a ma
iority of the Senate will, in spite of the
sense of the majority of the people SO
ascertained, obstinately persist in re-
fusing to take the sense of the people
on the expediency of calling conven-
ton.
Now, in the first place, cannot for.
bear to complain of this strong intima.
ton of dissatisfaction with the gross
inequality of the representation in the
Senate, put forth in the very same pa
per which reproaches me with gross
ignorance, or wilful suppression. OF the
fact, that the representation Of the Sen
ate was equalized in 1867, and ap.
portioned to the free white population
IL L.,