Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-12-06

IamatiOn announcing INC uaihsS "
chosen, has been issued accordingly. n copy
thereof is now respectfully laid before Inc zen,
eral Assembly for their Information Il mas
became nv du.y, which perform with sorrow
.nd regret. 10 inform The General Assembly,
thai vacancy has occurred in the Electoral
bodv Of this Stale. o.casioned by the lamented
death Of George Buckner, Esq. OF earo''"e
county.
The law of the last session for taking the
sense of the freeho!ders Of This State, upon 'he
,,orr;.,v NJ calling a Convention for the re =
vision Of the State Constitution has also been
carried into effect. On the lst day oil Sept last,
the Council proceeded to ascertain the whole
number of votes, on each side OF that vitality
intere sting question, which had been return
ed on that day, and on The following day
caused my proclamation to be pubhshed iof
information TO the people, OF the ac'ua' num-
Der Of votes given on each side, as reported
The number in favor Of the call OF a Convention,
exceeded the number against IL, by majority
Of more than four thousand Returns had then
been receive, from ali the counties OF THIS
Stale except the county Of Harrison.
That return was not received until alter the
5th Of the same month, and OF course TOO late
10 be included in the proclamation. Inc re-
turns from tina. county increased the majority
above one thousand votes, which was imme-
diately announced in the Richmond Enquirer,
as the result Of the Official returns tIom thai
county. Copy Of my proclamation, with
the number Of votes given in Harrison county,
is now laid befvre the General Assembly.
1t mus, be presumed, after this decided e1-
pre- ssion Of the will Of great majority OF free
holders in favor of the call of Convention,
thai law will be passed during the present
SSH for Carrying that will into effect. Upon
subject momenlous, as all entire Tauicai
revision Of the fundamental laws, il is surely
desirable that its examination should be con-
duct, with the most dispassionate, impartial
and deliberate consideration, directed solely TO
the disco very Of truth, and TO dong justice.
In the passage OF the law therefore. Tor calling
q Convention permit me 10 express hope, that
IT nav be done, IN the absence Of all former
prepossessions and local prejudices, and in a
spirit Of fair, just and liberal concessions by al!
parti S. Under he guidance Of such spirit,
nothing but good can be expected by the pro-
posed recurrence 10 fundamental principles,
whilst evils Of great magnitude only, can be an.
ticipated by permitting angry passions, false
pre- possessions and local prrjudices, to be in
termingled in the enquiry. How desirable
then, would il be for the people also In making
their primary elections for Representatives to
the Convention, to be guided solely by the de-
sire of choosing citizens The most renowned a
mcngsl them for their public and private vir-
thes and talents. From so benign an influen
the Convention would consist Of the best tall
en,s and integrity in the Commonwealth, from
whose deliberations all dis;rust would be ban
ished, and nothing but the best results antici.
paed Its whole energies and talents would
be directed to the discovery Of the true eemen.
tary principles OF political science, and most
fervently hope thcy will be found competent up
on these great p inciples to lay The solid foun-
da,ion of perfrc, Commonwealth, as far a,
ieas', as any uursao- .-itunai T. permitted 10
approach perfection.
Thy General Government: has now been in
practical operation for nearly forty years.
During The first thirty years Of its administers
,inr it was generally conducted with respect
full regard to the written provisions Of the Con-
s,ituiion. Al Intervals however during most
Of that time, indications IF spirit Of encroach-
ment nay be seen. Wihin the last ten years
the administrators OF the General Government
have, as conceive, set up claims to powers TO
az indehnable and unlimited extent. They have
substan' iaiy, 10 my judgments asserted gen.
era, jurlstlic lion over The SOIL over the liberty
of the person, and over the rights of private
property within the limits Of the States respec>
lively. They have, as conceive, asserted the
power and Unlimited con,roal over the whole
proceeds OF the labor, Of the community, as the
grea, desleera um Of their political economy.
In this claim TO ualimitcd power will be found
the essence OF all modern despotism II would
satisfy, as | think, the whole pretensons to
power of the mos, absolute Au,ocra' upon
earth. 1t substantially assumes the PROPOSE
zion that all rigEs held by individual man are
the gifts OF the Government, aud no, the gifts
Of his God. |, thus converts individual man
from anatural being endowed with rights from
his God, into an artificial machine, the slave
and property of the Government. Here there
is seen federalive government originating in
external causes, created for external objects,
declared, echoed. and ye-cchoed to be OF unli'
mi,ed powers, insinuating itself into the sane
tuarv private rights, in,ermeddling with in
dividual occupations, & dealing GU, portions 10
individuals Of the whole proceeds of labor Of the
| community ,pleasure, no, leaving to the State
Governments, according 10 my best judgment,
one exclusive sovereign power, which would