Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1828-02-20

III,
are 10 be hoodaiued and blindtolded and led TO the
Drink OF prccipice beeug clilr from whence fear
mere WIZ be no poor Tom 10 lead off in safety.
Bet too happy sir if like poor Old blind Gloucester
we come oil with whole bones, and little innocent
spaw!ing in the dirt No sir should get there,
fear that we must even go topping headiOng down TO
Tue bottom. nor know what hurt until get there
| Convention or no Convention? That is the question.
NOW SIR pray you 10 prop0Uni this luminous or
hci this siical question 10 goo of the n,egen,
men IN the commonwealth aud for fair examples
sake, let ii be uhdique collas membris, 10 the en-
lghtened members of this legislature We shall all no
douot readily agree sir, that this Mr. Convention is
very strong man. nay that he Hercules; but whilst
some imagine that he is TO be quietly and peaceabiy
led forth uron the STAGE spanceled aud inanaclcd or
with one hand at least tied behind him, TO reduce him
- an equality with the frcehodeIs he presents himself
10 others inurated BY The garment Of Nysus and
welding his club for indiscrimnatc destruction;
whist 10 the most susceptible fancies of Others he is
! conJon' monster, compounded of the Cyclop and
bFiarens with single eye looking steadfasIy towards
/ The west, and hundred hands TO tear down ali that
is venerable for It's antiquity Consecreaed for lis
useiu ness ! confess sir, that under this appalling
aspect he has not ueqrently pcrpleXed amongst
Others with the fear OF change. In fine sir, cur per
cCptions with regard to him, lust rs widely differ.
ent as ebony from .opaz, they are in relation TO
the gifted author OF this most happy conceit. Now
sir, in Gods name. let Us al Danish these vain
densye psian'asnagoria which VIII otherwise continue
20 n!sead and TO PerpieN Us; and H. rs actors in the
oiiticai drama, Of which this bill the prologue
we really serious, in wishing TO derive cur cue
ron Tie people, who ait ne have the right TO prompt
all our actngs, let us at least submit 10 them some
nieiiiGib!e plan of the piece be acted. Let us
suh''t to them some plain and simple question, which
WI! convey The same idea 10 all minds, and which
?ili enable u.s. SUCCESSORS TO co..s here prc
pared 10 do or to oppose deiuitc subs anye act
re shc'" the utter lnpossbiiiiy OF coming any agree.
meat, or concert, any other mode, will state in
further illustration OF what have said that whilst ycty
many perhaps majority Of those wItl when / have
conTcrscd, seem never TO have dreamed ,t any other
than fecI2nicrs 10 be admitted as pactcinants
nis id ,,,y
mind rs great soecis;n as would that OF a convention
o! the Lends to amend The constitution of England
whist mHny seem to imagine that Tie convention is
10 be confined within certain preestabshcd limits, e.
be prescribed God knows how, when, or where land
"iit 'ha"k gentlemen TO tell me- this idea presents
10 my mind as great an absurdty does the command
OF the npoent Canue 10 the resis,ess waves Of the
tempes'uuus ocean From these vague ard conflicting
ideas, thus aitnat IN the community how la the name
OF Gud, sir we 10 deduce any satsfactorv inhu
ence rs TO what the people actually Dc wish c.
dam: Why. simply, sir, BY p!opounding 20 them some
question winch they and winch NC can understand:
some such question for instance this-Wil YOU or
Will ynu not vote 20 instruct your Representative in
the General Assembly 10 pass such laws &c ma
be necessary to Inc calling of a Convention to b.
composed OF delegates chosen by all the free white
male citizens of the Co nuUnweaih, over u wears Of
age, who shall be empower c Gla@e alter OF amend
The Constitution as 10 them their constituents
shall iit. Should this substitute be asopted |
shall propose TO il, shall at least be guarded
al: surprise; "e shall have fully AMI 2iIy submitted
to view ell the elements of which the convention
will be compounded; and all the PASSIONS prejudices
aud interests which will be brought into play and
from the signs IN the pnlit;ca! horizon we shall be en-
abed to ~ edcl fair foul weather. instead of bldiy
u Submitting destiny be cast in the Lorocor. o
set of political jngg!ers, who substituting their u,yr
IF Interested views, and false cocC ptiuus for those
is ,t'h and jnsli"e, viii commit sea of !ro 5!cs
= without rrddcr, chDft compass without land
d mark, beacon, polar star guide Us on this dal K
C and doubtful voy%sc of uDtiel discovery. And
sir, shall nj feast be saved from t!e melancholy
necessity Of hereafter eXcainiig in The bitter agony
u of Disappointment Oh what men nav do What men
i can do, what men daily do, not knowing what they do
10 In line sly, as the enemy of conventions am pre-
pared this question: do all that its arnles friend
reasonably ask, that myself as one OF them il.
Is conscience could do justice. And repeat tba
if if the friends of this bill shall choose 10 present them
r selves to this House sure that thew will dc
/ dong justice, and seeking more, that howeYe
unable | may be 10 accord them my good will, " Il
= accord them Justice aud abide the result; hornr how
ever that u viii be very different from chat which the
Of anticipate. do hope sir dat tue waters which b
e the temporary, and tUst harmless incietnent G
this levIalhan, have been unwiltiuo!y dashed int
SIS tempest may be permitted TO subside; tat he wi
by orsalIe the tumuIt he has rased and be in tie dee
lac bosom of the buried. For enc sir am dispose
g To pour oil upon these angry waves that the beat
i'll OF passion and of prejudice may pass smoothly oYe
D. them, and that the good ship which has so gallant
E. breasted many storm may yet ride out this IN sale
at For sir arm disposed, rs are ! hope the COS
,c people of this commonwealth, 20 give to this polite
n Monsieur FunsoD, whose restless impctuosy lias
lc, often disturbed our rePosc. reception mild,
OIL gentle, courteous as doprccang, though hope
ch more elTectua than that of the poor little pcrs
~ cued much enduring; FrenclnaD; the earneat no,
Dr. tiat be VIII not come aSau bat that drugged sit
sweet obyou5 aniidotc he VIII at length be.ak
liz himself quietly 10 bed'eere sir, rcquicscat in pace
he Had Ills substitute not been presented sir, shou
Of have merely conenlod myself with suggesting TO III
friends OF the bill, the terms upon winch lone cou
ug CoDscientousIy accord it my support had rot il
ir tended TO have offered to il any amendments for
he IN the first place, was unwilling TO tie M
ly .i' The triic though inaPplicablc reply, Of Time
IT, ianuos ct dona fcrentes in the 3D. believed that IL
we friends OF the bill if disposed would more likely
&c able to TX upon point Of approximations at wbic
CT we might meet IN good fellowship in conclusion 81
in repeat that do most sincerely desire rccona,i
e. ton. sincerely wish 10 submit this question ul
lf and fairly 10 the enlightened AMI understanding dec
sion OF The rechoders; but for one can couse
Of 10 be instrumental in doing that which believe tJ
ding hill L.---n--r 49,