The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1827-03-30

~ iit t~tAllh4 u utlpi biih. htt izHIf#I II
Ct / nay use tire phr,sel IA tie rafoys Of the
nigtt--that the s'f,jeri aud the character repre-
sertine II should he fl emhcms OF e. h other -
th1f gym aels might read an iuminate. 10 sails.
" more tasg TIE starving tuirst OF H. proseni-
tors after immortality
But tie squirting which this modern principle
bears towards tyranny, merits another seri OF
treatment than that which the spirit of rid-nle
mig hi dictate. lis effects have been felt by too
large a portion Of the respectable aud eneht-
cncd citizens Of Virginia, not 10 merit ',ome SER
Gus consideration. Those citizens pursuing the
honest dictates Of u disposition. which they be
llcve would he beneficial to themselves and 10
the STATE lave expressed wish that a CONVEX
ton might be organized ior the purpose ai re,l,-
INC and correcting our present constitution \
mother portion Of citizens aciuatcd perhaps nv
motives equally honest, have opposed Inc call OF
a conventions aud the friends OF thlt m asrrc.
not wishing 10 take the advantage OF any nrans
for thu accomplishment of 'lIcn purpose winch
m1hf not Operate equally IN every mdi,tdni OF
/ the Siate--not willing to subject themselves o.
their cause 10 the charge Of mtairlrss ~ Ger
ruphen--nos seeking to palm any uupositiou e.
yen ON til lumblest member Of the community.
! have applied through Jhe agency oil a bill To
their servants Of this Legislature far aid ~ the
! Advancement ola preliminary step BY which the
| pruprlcrv or nnproprlCtv Of the,r object may he
: fairiq ard con.tltuiionaIlyl determined 1bc
{ Justice ofti4t I'll I believe, has never been
Questioned ,-dni yet has been rejected in
| th successive sessions Of our legislature, b.
the party spirit aud argument OF its unconcllia-
| ting adversarcs on an", err Slbiect As II fear
! fu of lis Justice they have eluded tie dis, sson
/ o. rs merits: and with an obliquity of purpose
! hetGet suited to the in .dOus vgtry 81 eNtsi H.
| than the honest and fearless follower oi trhlr
trey have refil,ed the object OF on. r,qae,t .hro
| thr imposing agency OF an argument ona To-
! rrign theme. i was not the UnIr#t II ne coa-
ycntio0ists that they SHOULD discuss the mefts of
4 conyention,--sluce these cobsrmtr a sull Ct
| upon which they have 40 other right to de,pIe.
! than thar pt the poorest private citizen Of the
! state. Nor vet Wis II their purpose To exhaust
the treasury offs moucy, fa the purchase Of
some yards Of oratory, which has not enliehi,n-
ed them, and which is widely aggressive fion
the object of theh wishes. Iheg object was,
through the means of legislative assistance, To
COLLEGE the aggregate viii Of the majority OF the
Sta; and through that majority TO hsyc a ron
voHtIsn 81 10 suppress the discnrdant spirits Of
;hc day INTO rest And VIII hctc mthr tat
suggestion. that while tue decision OF the lrgs-
; ldture operates as a rejection II The bill III quGs-
ton. il may also be regarded substantial
and gratuitous expression Of that bo,i}'s apn-
ions on the subject ola colrejfim. IN fheir
legislative capasitv. the meuh, Is oftlGat bofy
h dino rieht Il discuss tn merits otthat meas
IRE md If they had not Ff respectfully
SugEest the enquiry 10 tneIr memorable ma lorty
who grf'eadoa to discuss tLc prioeu4es Of t'fs
rejected bill why they diyresSed s., widely from
their proper subject, amt after NV predatory
remarks IN their cxhauStirig and exhausted
speeches 10y way of eLcucGtg tlieic intended dI-
grcssiUn roniae their OlatOrv exclusively TO the
SUBJECT Of Il convention ! know thcy viii not
answer me-. and will answer for them. They
Sought to suppress The Ofd convention in the
absence OF every argument against the proposed
measure for efectnfg il. And then very par
dnp3he forbeSrancc-rardonabl 5cetuse il WIS
tie only altenafve--3a exercise their ingenuity
alone uppn the bill winch was Before tli-m IS, in
NV humble thought, taTit though foreihle
sent, mat It's propriety could nat be controver-
ted
But the formal aud eIicient rejection Of the
"iIl an the absence as its enemies allegc Of every
aothn.ify to pass il This Is the act surprising
all Of " GIeck Or ROnrtn same ave, thia IS tie
! principle which beats" all the legislative ali
! ,Irdhls, of auciCnt aud modem tmrs, all hll-
/ luw---th- agic influence % our Governors
Aratory and cru chto the 6 ntralv not@thstab-
| ling. I could have passed by ali the other prn-
]
! opposed and defeated win some degree Of for
| bra~ance but aB sure that none bu, those
who have blinded themselves by an mremediabe
! prejudice, would suffer this principle 20 escape
! without besioWBg some rlnaIl degree of Gisap
! probation on the powerful attraction 1t presents.
| | had Away, been willing to c9gcede that the
very nature ofour Application, unified the pow
er IN ctr legislature to dispose oft as all other
/ subjects ar disposed of: but if that body WiA
disclain the right 10 pass the bill winch we have
sent to them will refuse my concession and
| suggest the consequent conclusion that they
| hIYr u8tight tofejret it. There IS point III
! every controversy, at which an argument must
stop as being unncc essary and useless. And it
! am met with the assertion tia. the figlt to &c
Jet bill dos not imply the right TO adopt II,
will pass il by as being urlit tor the redeeming
| sprit Of augmentation 20 work upon.--and
viii pas, Ii author by too, a, Il political 1gnord-
! mus possessing an understanding, OF a ant Of
! il. vheh Is fpreenabie 10 'he operation ofeFc-
/ " th,ag like nationality and truth. Bat II h9s
! beer mace IN tho act % a mayri'y OF our lcs1,-
/ au.l.,. aud mn si'~c -h5t hut for tls blazc OF
o71qua4cr when has obscurc5 II abs nd,fg ard
! trn for tne hiah cl2rdctor ofthe authority rom
I WHICH Il las stHa1at'd, it would already hive
been sren IN y, rfopcr co'ors, by every mdiyid-
ull VINO NAV ha9c tcoo informed ofi,s pazs1ec.
4 y
! ,n assertion would nave subjected poweress
author 10 everlasting contempt; but the authorl-
t, Of loe>l fnre clothes in The garh Treason,
and lrrz'.nt, + 70 a dciuded world in the absunae
/ ut very suspicion a 50 st. dh-u dlty.
HUT ifthe rejection ct the bin n1phcS no au-
thor ~ fe pass II. ans az q loss 10 conceive
N11t ,hr obIect could have hccr ofaiI the splen-
nd or8torisl efforts which nnee appeared IN is
Js e1,slbe opposition. The mere assertion With
which tnc orators cajr.,, it tt,hss tber nsea
,ti ID socreaes thai there vas no riG1f With .Ac
/ gi,afara = nase r -"anla h7-r te"n sufficient
fo, the ru~nrse q, irs rejection AMI al thcir
c>tj,ni.-us e4opueuce in the discussion oitae eE
urdrucy o. . ouFH "utlon has been srhor glH
tuition, am uselcss--ur II is proof Of their ad-
mission thar m eqaa authority did exist eitaet
to rcfect the appdcaGon cr to pass II. And II
the latter branch of 'he proposition be true,
there is then disciajmty OF one halfihen antho-
rtv. pcthmg else than mere voluntary rosig-
nation Of rowea. wherein they have Fuorin2lF
deserted their reis .arvc dyIrS tofHe ii aonteai