Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-04-11
To The Freeholders of Fairtar Comfy:

I addressed to you, recently, a few plain re-
marks on the subject Of the proposed Conyen,
ton TO amend the Constitution Of the State
Although public sentiment was indicated to the
last House of Delegates, in terms too unequlvo'
cal TO be misunderstood, and the theoretlcai de-
formities and actual grievances OF the present
system stared them in the face, yet snch was the
uncomfortable love of power in the oosoms OF
those who hold in their breath the political des'
TIMES of this once great Commonwealth, that
they spurned at once the voice OF the people,
and the voice of justice They were merely
told that decided majority Of the people de-
sired reform, and intreated TO provide Tor taking
the sense of the freehoders, whether the ques-
ton should be submitted to you or not They
contemptuously and unblushingly declared that
YOU should not be consulted; thereby proclaim
ing to the sovereign people that they ,cere not 10 be
trusted. and should not be trusted Will you sub
NIT to be thus insulted by your servants? IT
YOU do not want a Convention say so; ii you do
want one claim the privilege of saying that
Let US meet the question. II the people are
willing to be governed by a minority-willing
to be eternaly oppressed. give them at least the
right to declare the humbing truth.
The people of Virginia are like one nailed TO
barren spot without the means of improving
his condition, and who looks around him upon
regions Of plenty and prosperity Will they
forever remain so? In truth will they continu-
ally behold their substance wasting, their in
dustry unaded by the fostering hand OF their
state government, which denies the right OF the
general government to aid them-thelr children
without education, their roads execrable, their
navigable streams, at least those which are con-
nected with your interests, totally neglected, and
4. -u1 arl
have already hastily sketched the contrast
which exists between you and those happier
states, where freedom and equal rights have
kept pace with the march Of the age. l forbear
to dwell upon the too mournful picture. Let
US cease to complain, and begin to hope-letus
arouse from our lethargy, and begin TO act
Ii is said that a Clerk from one CT the large
Western counties, repaired to Richmond last
winter, and appealed to the self interest OF those
who represented such counties as Nicholas and
Logan, saving, "Why do you mean to vote for
this Conventions Are you mad? Do you not
know that the taxes paid by your counties do
not bear your expenses here? Do you not see
that the large counties, and the Eastern coun-
ties are absolutely maintaining you hcre?"
And that the appeal had its effect. Now Fair
fax paws taxes enough to maintain In the Legls-
lature the Delegates from Logan, Nicholas,
Warwick, and Elizabeth City, besides her own.
Fellow citizens are YOU disposed to yield 10
such an imposition? Are we TO be governed oy
Clerks and others who hold fat offices, and VINO
keep us as sheep tor their annual shearlng! Or
shall we look TO our interests, TO our own
rights?
Not many years since the annual expenses OF
the LEGISLATURE were about S5o, 900 to $4,000;
at the last session they were Sll6,ooo, just
double and this at time of unexampled pc
cuniary suffering Surely this ought to be cor
rected.
Have YOU academies, Farmers OF Virginia,
where you may educate your children! Is an
ADEQUATE provision made for the instruction OF
the children Of the poor, virtuous and com
petent men? Let the drunkea schoolmasters,
who fog the future hopes OF the State in log
ped cabins, peep out through the oEinks, and
answer the question. Perhaps IL may be said
the State hal not the money for these objects
Let any one go to Charlottesville and survey
the magnificent buildings that expand them
selves to the view Of the .admiring traveller,
decorated wits all the beauty and Costumes OF
Grecian architecture, and he will be able to &C
count for the absence Of the means OF instruct
ing the unhappy children OF the freeholders,
and poor people Of the State Yes already We
~ nearly $500 900 have been laid out IN this
property; marble, carved in the most exqui-
site style, has been transported from Italy 10
the City Of Richmond, and thence to Char
lottesville, from 80 to 100000 miles, to charm
the eyes of The sons Of the rich, while those OF
the plain farmers and mechanics Of the country,
the bone and griste Of the Republic, are hun
gering and thirsring in vain for the cospmonest
helps of education. AT this very time the cost
of decent education in New-Yprk is only SIS to
81 per year. Why? Because, in place of erect
ing gorgeous palaces on some classic height to
attract the gaze of passers by, and fill the heads
of Young gentlemen with fine notions, and ena-
Bile them to come home and boast Of the Doric,
Ionic. and Corinthian orders to their fond and
credulous parents, the law-giVers In New-York
have sought to carry the more useful lights of
knowledge to the homes of the body OF the peo-
ple, Let me not be Inexperienced. am no
Toe TO the education of the rich. God forbid
Blu, thus much maintain, that 100000 Of
this money would have erected excellent edlh-
ces for The accommodation OF the students,
while the other $500. 300. or the greater part oil
IT, ough, to have been consecrated to the instruc-