Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-08-04

e very able, iaboiious, and accurate reviser, and
sot OF legislative authority. He views the state
,nents Of Mr.. Jefferson, and MIR. Writ in the same
light. From this statement it appears that the Bill
bf Rights, and constitution adopted differ
.ent days. The first, the 18th of June, l776; the
other, the Goth of June, l776 The first act, being
merely decaratory of the original principles upon
which the second was formed, the 29th of June
l776, must be considered the day, upon which
the principles introduced into practical use;
and therefore, the 29th of June, l776, ough, 10 be
considered the first great suspicious day, that the
blessed light of political liberty burst forth upon
benghted world, through the mighty efforts OF our
great lustirous fathers * ought to be the great ubi
lee day, particularly, for Virginia, s; universally,
4 for the whole human race. The writer is of opin-
4 ion that this subject calls loudly for authori,a-
Tive legislative inquiry, the approaching Gen
n eral Assembly, after the lapse of more than half
century, ought TO institute one, and thus commence
8 the commemoration of day, almost forgotten,
the most suspicious day for the liberty and hap
u pinrss OF mankind in the whole annals Of human
n events and rescue from ungratefu oblivion, the
names Of our godlike ancestors, who, with in
spred head, and one hallowed heart, the ORR
ginal authors of this unspeakable blessing TO all
N their kind.
II The following expressions of Judge Woodward,
taken from his letter to Mr. Jefferson, could not
fail TO attract the attention, and excite rhe lvees
sensibility of the writer:
America undoubtedly France. They
cmaneirans the Southern Continent OF the Western
liberty rhey viii eventually change the whole aspect Of
Affairs upon this globe The first which peps ed Tor prae
lime, IFS construction might comparatively appear, ethic
phenomenono ordinary interest Like the Of the
Nile which has attracted the attention 81 kings and natop
NOT much the intrinsic musuceuce OF tue Object that
eSeies the feasibility the rson of te i.ultng
II majesty AMI fertility
Judge Woodwartl's celebrity for talents, and even
for sound. well for splendid talents, is readily
admitted; but the writer thinks he have en-
I ployed those talents profiiably in his contem-
4 platop upon the merits Of the Constitution of
A Virginia, especially its comparative merits, with
other written constitutions which have been
subsequently formed. The learned Judge renar ks:
g The first writer constitution which propos-
ed for practical USE becomes therefore, however
rude in The progress Of time, at, construction
might comparatively appear, an ethic phenome.
y Of no ordinary interest" The Constitution of
Virginia, being admitted to be the first therefore, is
90 an ehc phenomenon of ordinary interest. -
But the learned Judge seems to think, il has become
rude, in the progress Of time in comparative
construction trith those aUhich base since been
adopted Now the writer thinks, that the Virgil
nian Constitution is not only the first iUritfen
ciGl compact, that ever made, but The best that
hos eUer been get made; and that this will most
evidently appear, fIom its comparative construc-
ton, with all, any OF those which have
been subsequently adop'cd, and that those are the
worst, which have made most innovations up on its
original principles, until, in the iantascal refine
fnens introduced into those of the recent dates
/ they hardly have left even the sembance of prac-
teal constitutions. But their refined U,opian au-
thors, perhaps without intending it, have ell! nigh
thrown the whole human family, within their
,2ecye spheres, back TO state of nature. The
Judge proceeds Like the source Of the Nile,
which has attracted the attention of kings and ma
lions, ii ;s so much The intrinsic ma aificence
The phi xrt.a he .to
Sulting majesty and Jffr;aiy"-The learned
Judge seems not TO be fortunate in his oriental
style OF illustration, than the fashionable political
schemers of the day, who endcavour 10 hide from
view, the inanity OF their own conceptions, by a
coarse covering of tinsel ornament. Instead
OF any smilitude, nothing Can be in more COM
pIete contrast, than the supposed insgnIficance
OF the source of'the Nile, and the real intrinsic
magnihcence of the Yirsnian Constitution, the
original, great and pure political fountain of living
waters. The he admits to be an ethic phe-
nomenon of no ordinary interest, but seems to con-
scer lis only interest TO consist, In its having been
the first 90 ethic phenomenon whereas its
greatest value and wonder are, that It is the best
OF ITS kind, and that its majesty and utility consist
more In its being the best, than the first " eihic
lana the learned Judge might have added great Po-
iiticai) phenomenon and directly conirased with
the source Of the Nile. This pure originals oun-
tain mparts nothing but fertility around 1t; whilst
Poisonous drugs OF fantas,ical theore,ic notions,
which at this moment threaten the very existence,
as the writer thinks, OF the whole republican body
polite" Ecce Signa''-Onginal fountan-Con-
stituon OF Virginia.
Sec vii. " That the right OF auffrage in the cleo
ton of members of both houses shall remain as ex-
ercsed at present'-This right, as then exercised,
was the freehold right OF suffrage. There is no
delusive catch of the Imagination, nor tinsel
ornament in this sentence. 1t is all wisdom
oil solid virgin 1t is in the opinions Of
the writer, the wisest sentence, that ever was
written in any constitution unto this day -
and of more real value, and utility in itself than
all the provisions in all the other subsequently,
written constitutions put together. 1t fixed the
constitution OF Virginia upon terra friHa the on.y
lndestructible substance made by God for the use
OF man. This great principle was of olden time;
the wisdom of the sentence consists, not in the
Invention Of novelty, but in the application of
this old principle, TO a new state OF things The
4 principle not Originate it had existed from
d time, whereof the memory runneth not TO the
contrary 1t was known 20 have existed above
fifteen centuries; and whenever, and wherever, it
did exist, il always was also known to have pro-
duced good results. Its opposers cali it prej1t-
ace OF more than fifteen centuries standing
\ such prejudice is pretty well backed by expert
! ehce. IL must be on steady, stubborn prejudice
4 mat was backed by fifteen centuries good report
IN times OF war; in times of peace in times of CT
WI commissions. 1t this experience which gave
the character of wisdom, TO the adoption Of this
principle. The blustrious authors OF the Yireinian
constitution were under very different mental i'm
pressons and excitements from those of the Utopi-
I'm schemers Of the day. Those were celebrating
with ropes round their necks." Those knew,