Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-07-09


this inquiry So far as it is now used
to initiate against his capacity for any
public trust, he would remind the 8 Sur.
viving members ofthe Virginia Lepis.
lature, who served with both him and
Mr.. Leigh, and the friends who NAV
yet remain to him, at Richmond, of the
era, to which the chronicler of these
facts, goes back to sustain his charges
Ismpora mutanter!-Mr. Leigh under.
stands Latin, and has proved himself
fully equal to the task Of translating
the line of which these common place
Words make the introduction.
1t is true, and he is glad to have q
fact to acknowledge, that Mr.. Mercer
rejoiced, at the success Of the Sc.
Material District Bill Of lsl6-l7. AT
that time, more than 10000 freemen
west of the Blue Ridge, had the same
weight in the Senate Of Virginia, with
some hundreds more than q twentieth
part of that number, thinly scattered a.
long the seaboard. That bill relnedied
this injustice; though not without pow
erful resistance. 1t gave to the coun-
try west of the Blue Ridge, whose pc.
licy has ever favored the improvement
Of the Commonwealth, more than twice
its antecedent influence in that branch
of the legislature, where its hopes had
before, been often disappointed. The
act creating system, and providing
fund for internal improvement, which
passed the House of Delegates, by
large majority, had been carried, with
all the eloquence Of Johnson to sustain
it in the Senate, by a solitary'vote only;
and the bill, providing system Of edu-
cation founded on the necessities of the
country, and the wants of the people,
in support Of which, the same speaker
shed tears of patriotic feeling, while
he drew them copiously, from other
eyes, as we'll as mine, was lost by tie.
But does contentment with such gain
in lsl6-l7, require a like content
ment, with the present condition of
the other branch Of the legislature?-
Or, having made one create i'm
improvement, in the operation of our
government, and acquired by it, the
means Of effecting still greater, shall
the use Of these means, subject those
who would employ them, to the charge
of unsteadiness or inconsistency
The final question between Mr.. Leigh
and Mr.. Mercer, let it be remember
ed, is the policy ofcalling convention,
with no other power, than that of SUBJ
hitting to the people, for their consi-
deration, and their adoption or rejec.
ton, certain amendments of their con-
stitution of government. Where is
the expediency Of settling such ques-
ton, by reference to the faults or errors
ofeither Of those gentlemen?
lift has become the duty, it is never
theless most painful one, to Mr.. Mere
er, to be compelled to vindicate his own
character,at the expense Of his assailant.
If Mr.. Leigh supposes, that when
MASON of '76' first appeared, any Of
Mr.. MERGERS friends in this quarter,
imputed it to him, he does both Mr..
Mercer and himself, great injustice.
These friends, to man, had derived
from Mr.. M. too high an opinion Of Mr.
Leigh, for such surmise. The con.
viction came from Richmond; and slow
ly. At the time Of its arrival, the
Freeman of 1925 had not written one
line of that reply, which is supposed
to sound the agonizing cry of the tor
tured victim OF restless ambition. BY
the time that this intelligence did ar
rive, shadows Of distrust it is true had
crossed Mr.. MERGERS affection, but
without chilling altogether, its accus-
toned current. When the blow came,
it was felt, severely felt,i it can give its
author pleasure to know the fact. 1t
was succeeded by many sentiments,
already described, among which, dis
gust was predominant.
These sentiments, but that time will
not allow heart which is a stranger
to malice, to brood over its wrongs,
would be magnifed ather than abated,
by the effort which Mr.. Leigh now
makes to unite Mr.. Mercer with Aris-
togi,on, and to derive from the subse-
quent essay Of "A Freeman Of 1926 in
which conduct that ! forbear to cha
racterize, as it deserves, was extenua-
ted, by being imputed to "wounded
pride," a justification Of the antecedent
outrage upon MIR. MERGERS character
and feelings!
Aristogiton does not complain or
his own account. He has nothing to
complain Of, that the gratitude Of an
absent man to generous defender,
will not, hope, amply repay; and as
for Mr.. Mercer, he has ample cause @
The facts l. offer to the public considera-
ton are simply these THAT the most pros
porous political communities in the old and
new world-of the former refer 10 England;
of the latter, to the state of Rhode Island
the one but little larger in extent Of territory,