The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1826-09-25


1,oibsy Hanipg sunday mnrning.
"a, FIRE day-brrak, the alarm ot fire
sgIyrl. hut with The n4nal good fortune
afi,nchbnrg, ii was "xingushed before
a,m,pp VAS done.-Np need noi re-
.,,,, mat we are almost totally unprepsr-
). rb.rk fire ~ rase il should make
.ay mead before It is discovered. Thre
q -. a pfett, large supply of powder in the
n,iohhnrhood of the fiee, which would, in a
=, went, have prevented the Necessity of
.,g,,,ps or water. The lives of the chi
80. which would have been endangered
l,.vt,lnaIous Is . matter nj but little con-
.,a,ncr or some rfnrts would have
h,ro tluuhllpss made by this time towards
,,.. s,rrrinn of Pow der Magazine in the
.,hnrbs A word IN the WISE" &c. 81.
Sote Convention. 1T has beeo frequent
!, asked. why tins Question, which l. 80
;1,imateIy connected with the vital inter-
.etq and the future prosperity of Virginia,
;e permitted to die away Why the peo-
III. are not. occasionally at least. remind
Ell Of its deep and lasting importance, and
the necessity of keeping an eye 10 il, that
t,ey may he prepared To- estimate proper
IL lbe part which may he acted in rela-
,,nto Il by Their servants during The next
session Of the NrgIlia Legislature It is
not to be- concealed. that many of the
CArm opponents Of Convention itself
have been scot to the Legislature by
rpnnties adorable 10 the measure, under
the impression that the question which
a. LII a k.
|, A. to The proplipty Of taking the seose
nrthe people; when, indeed nothing is
further from the fact. Even if this were
no. however, 1t would still bchoove the
u nplr, to BE- strictly wachfnl as To the
u rlicllar votes of those me hers, who,
hyug secured seats by piedeng them
Selves to support a bill simliir TO that
whch WAS ST. unacconhtably rejected by
ihp last Legislature, viii feel Themselves
perfectly free to render il as obnoxious as
possible and, failing Ia procure lis defeat
in this way, will then endea,or to make
II, IN effect, almost wholly imperative.
Tue Janusf'ced policy SO frequently ex-
hl,ited by members Of Legislative bodies,
giving 10 measure openly reluctant
support, whilst they secretly poi it, de-
ieAt Is not now, for the FIRST time, to be
exposed, nor are lis consequences now,
for the FIRST tins, TO be deprecated and
guarded against. This cpnsurahle course
does not lack for defenders, and able ones
tOa, VINO lDil their Conferences with the
sophstlCal doclrin", that, in recording
their vote only do Thy act IN their reptc-
sentative character. aht that, in eXerting
THEN ioBaence an an opposite direction,
they commit no wrong. having lost all re-
sponsibIllty to the electns power, aud
acting ONLY as unofficial ndlvlduals.-It is
against influence of tins sort-this unoN-
elal tegerdemnin, which completely leaves
the people IN the dark, as Ia the real views
Of their representatives, and as 10 the nd-
tpre of the support which, in Obedience IL
Their sovereign behest they have given to
particular measures, that the public mind
ougbtto be cautioned for il requires no
"ghost from the grave" To tell that the
next Legislature will be thronged with IN
dyIduals Who will give to the Convention
bill, III all its shapes aud forms, whethrr
objectionable in lis provisions or not, this
e'aslsG GounlrnaDce--" hpIdiog the word
Of promise 10 the ear. and breaking it 10
thr hope" We would not be understand
10 say or 10 mean, that every member OF
me mkt Legislature who Is opposed To a
Convention, but who will enter the Halls
nj the House fettered by selpnn pIedg
aud The more imposing consideration sliII
OF representative obligation, To vote for a
OH s'mlario that rejected last winter
VIII pursue the course Indicated in the
preceding r,,,t "a
4 not noBy of Them who would sruIn the
'oea o lhas lampering with their couscl-
thcrs, and hartcrng their inie gritty for OF
nee. But Is II rot an indispuiabe fact,
'nal men, even The most honest, are apt To
argue themselves INTO wrong conduct, by
assuming wrong PREMISES We are as
'' from saying that every man who should
!'"y ms uuubie game is necessarily dis
non'st' as we are from belle, ing that all
d ""l play II. But il is not the less proper
y" MS account, that their conduct should
oe noted an the guilty punished. If a
man commit error, even rom good mo-
MS motives are not allowed IL Iustl-
wen II they extenuate the wrong. He
mus. ne at least admOniEhed &; ard if lhl-
~" 10 enfct cure, they who suffer from
"'f'f"r haNe right and it is Their duty
'ui II ana restrain him. SO with the
S''"'"r who acts upon the pernicious
4 'G>h mat, although compelled by the
n Nc VI MS constituents TO r0te for II par
Il '''f MEASURE, he is at liberty to disobey
Il Yf" OF Their Instructions. by election
a's against It, in lobby meetings aud
n ~ P'''e cotrrteS, because, in his opinion,
II pregnant with mischief. He must be
,Doa' mat he is delegated to perform Ger
np''es, the fist aud most important of
NUN Is Ia give eilrci to The ashes of his
r,,. ',1enls aud that he his no right,
,' he IS apparently Going This, secretly
uerhandrdly to endravor to thwart
v.9', Nus eydencing that even his vote
,'u nave been employed as hal heen
PERSONAL Influence, did ilr not know
nat would appear in Judgment against
INV, Al me poIls.-il is not worth while
nn, lament that the friends Of Con.
Msa, uid not 'nore strenuously exert
IN oil.