Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1828-03-12
V.--No. Ii.

- '''f 500 SlNhl pm teG 80 Ia
e" whe have sufficient evidence OF rcr.nancnt and
? i.lsn interest In, and attachment 10 the comma.
4 any interest. OF class in the community
have a p~Fedominance over. other interests
'e landed interest Should. yet nevertheless.
=, "V 0i,cf interests OF almost equal importance
should in all well adjusted governments. Lav.
j!It influence preserved; | mean the interests OF
.s''ient Iabourer, The mechanic, inet mei chant
are aur&iiiry ADD Indispensable appeadages 10
''iueu interest. Although III manyffstaDces and
Patucplariy, where lands are cheap, aud easily
f3@iFed- many Individuals of the classes referred =.
- ''nd holders;yct the fact cannot be doubted, ,I.ar
are not SO generally. But few comparatively
libg can be land holders; or why tae great dj7na.
- " numbers, between tile ffeehciders ~aual,fed n,
hHtae nf'inSef offree Sbite maie citizens aboye
itis against political Justice, that the Gle ct;ys r,s,,.
cH,se Shonld be made To depend SO much upon az
Ciaeh'; sho6'd embrace so few OF the substantial men nc
we country. The valuable classes referred &c. from
=. 81 ule oi Tue business in which they are engaged,
whhst prosecuting their respective cajipae. haYs mr.
o'oi The means of acquiring lands; nor womb fhe.r
business frequently admit of Withdrawing So much -
tres capI'ai' as would enable them to purchase land.
hence Inc reason why they have moi land uenarou,''
.hey are moreover burdened will taxes hound ~ 80
Ger personal services, incapable of exercisino The H.
making power, without agency in eiecting those win,
make The laws, by which they are bound tn subm;, -
loss OF life, liberty ana properly.
me member from brunswick (RTr. DrompooIel
- u !Oe ''!ennS OF convention with too great
.anune's ior innn' alton; with a disposition TO rend in
P'eoeS 'he sacred charter of the first scientific o..
Vernment in tue world-mith the unhoIv desire
Po!iu'ing a temple, reared by our god like ancestor.
ueu'cated u liberty; IN which they worshipped. " ~,
cIeah Gands and pure hearts, in spirit and in NM.
ana asks us 1t we dare apply our ruthless hands tn ti,.s
roty "cTh! lie accuses them of want of veneration
'oF !ie ''ilstrioos dead, in presuming TO MOLLY lin.
ancient work OF their hands.
tic has passed in review before us. q Inns, n d;,,f.
g"'shGu statesmen and patriots TO whom the cause of
iIee Government throughout The world is indebted
>, Sm 4 ,eH- q no taH' IN gratitude anu respect, fc
stG seiFlCes' ana SACRIFICES, OF these who have none no.
IoIe rs. The sensation produced BIZ the elonuen, rec;-
d % me member from Brunswick. is yet vibrating IN.
on my heart; but I cannot consider the work Of q re-
form, contemplated By the friends of convention =,
evidence, either, OF fondnesS for innovation. or nsn, 20 -
respect 10 say that the people of Virginia, after the
experience # half i century, with The hene6t or eli
10 "a oeeh spoken ana written upon Conslituticu,
II w -!",Hent are inccmpcteEt, 10 remodel, their con.
su'u'on' Is al once 10 strike at the first pr,pcinie az
he- government that the people are capable Of seTjr
S'cfFnmc"t' SIr, Va design only to carry nearer n
Pei"cI'cn, The grand scheme of civil liberty. of self on,
veininent' we wash 10 present, in bold relief tho
beauties which are but partially revealed in the pre-.
sent constitution. f'eT
The opponents OF convention, instead of E,,,,y ..tr
A"nhIy' meeting The question, appeal 10 tie fears ana
pIeludices OF he people.
iiey contound convention, ana revolution. and on.
|eH'onI 10 'nGuce ofherst 10 believe, that every hing g
10 be changed; that every coed is 10 be put IN ienn,[dt
nat new goVeIniDeHt'is to be formed. roonn cn,i,or;
new principles. The temple OF liberty. In yyLich 49,, 1
N'ehd has pointed Us With so much eloqneRce and nriIl
= ''"'t d ooi tCHlCe, ana does great CrEI: n A..
state OF the arts, at the time of It's foundation. but IS re-.
~Veriheioss detective in structure. Like Tho Fs,5,.,
Cas"es OF oId, IL has abundant material, but wants liz
me PrcPoIuoHs OF modern architecture; it has too mrc.
Ci tte 6otnic, too little OF the Corinlhiar; sIi,o8 f. -.
ience, but deficient in comfort and taste.
The member from Brunswick, has told us ,bot
Story u Identified with the preservation of the prese;,t
constitutions; and that historians, would date ,he I,ss r.
our mora! ipEsence, from the alteration of ,L;s c,st,f,
Ton, as vas tie loss of Greuian liberty. dafoJ rom
Ls,'"Ip pai''": : "s may be said, with prophetic truth,
but with due Difference 10 the sagacjtv nj tbo ,on,Io'
|an' ] should rather predict, that historians " m recoTg
IL as another glorious ePCch, in the science Of fro -
VeFnfnch'i another stride, IN lie march of civil liberty;
as an event, when vii! serve 20 demonstrates, that AZ,
enlightened people, may alter, or reform their cove-n,
ment, without violence, and bloed shed: U,at IouI DO
nonstrafe, The true distinction between a rsrolu,io,
asd a Convention OF VlrtuouS and enlightened Greemeu
peaceabIy assembled, for the purpose of reforrirr, -.
Vernrnent OF their choice, and adapting IT more eXacti9.
to the altered and improved condition of the noo,a.
The spectacle, would be truly sublime; il would be =
pTaciicai commentary, npon oar republican institutions.
"oTsh more than ali the essays that were writer. pror
I government. previous to the American rey,lp,io3
II gentlemen, III arguing against Il convention. 70 81.
ter the constitution, we're co0tcut 10 sav-wc h,ys.
oesD happy and prosperous, as a nation. under tho az.
sent constitution, for fifty years, WHY then alter il
confess The proposition, would be calculated, TO caus,
all prudent men 10 pause. Happiness and prosperdr
are Sc @Oie' ENDS ct government; and if they are alaiG.
ed by the present, il surely would be worse than faUv
to disturb the existing order Of ibfr0s. Iirt bcr, 10
the difficulty. Has our happy and PROSPEROUS c.,di,,,n
Prouee3"d. rom thc excellence OF the present constitq.
ton; Or rather, has it not proceeded from Inc virtue ~
our citizens, The stability Of our national character, The
particular circumstances Of the country GuriDr ths
greater part of the period referred 70,
Gentlemen however, are not wiling 70 Tpst Gc-r
cause upon this view Of the subject; and challenge ~,
10 an examination Of the provisions of the present con
sliSulioO; choosing 70 rest their defence upnp its 1c,..
iar merits; aud here their cause fails them. II woull
ne the height Of iHgratrude, were YIrginiars 10 d,ev.
nat hey bad been as happy and prosperous, as Inc pels
P'oo any oiber State or nation; but haze rot some 81
our SISTER states been happy and prosperous too, under
governments, differently cDnstiiutedo and have not o..
ther states altered their constitutions, and continued T.,
DC happy and prosperous? no convHlsions; no violence.
accompanying the alterations? Yes sir and Vrvini,ns
can alter their constitution, and be happy and bTosrs-
ous too. '"Eo'
Sir are all tie sciences IL q state Of prorress .
Improvement bit the science Of governments
was ua tsarch Cf intellect upon this s51bicrI a..
rested MY years 'go, and considered forever as,