Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-05-08
Giizsns Of TIE zane D,stfiet. by afs. Af6rroe. aur
Ex- President

tihaenS OF the ecA.e Disiiet, by Air. I8Eroe our
| Ex-President:
OAK Hill, April s. 1920.
| DEAR SIR: have received your letter Of TIE
- 'ostani, intimating your desire, and that OF o.
Tiers of my feljow>ctlens OF the district TO cleo,
| me TO the Convention which is to be held, for the
amendment oil our Constitution, and requesting 10
| he iniorIned whether | would be willing to under.
take the trust, should they confer il on me- /
ire with great sensibiiity, dis proof of the high
coniiicnce OF those Of my fellow citizens who
have expressed this sentiment in my favor, be-
| cause see in il the appreciation of my conduct in
the service OF my country in the difficult con-
Junctures through which we have passed. MANI
| considerations admonish me, at this period, i'm
pared as my health has been OF late to cherish
retirement among which il fear, that il would
not be IN my power TO render the service which
might be expected from me, and which might be
performed by others in the district These have
doubtless been weighed by my fellow citizens
alluded to, and whe are willing TO make gener-
ous allowance for such defects as time and labor in
other stations may bave produced. II is cause
oil consoling reflection TO me, to recollect that ne
yer declined any service, however arduous, 10
which my fellow citizens invited me.
Should this trust be conferred me, shall,
must certainly, pay great attention to the very i'm
poriant points specified in your letter. Having
devoted my best faculties, with ardent zeal, throush
life, TO the establishment and support Of our free
system OF government. can never be indifferent
to any OF the great principles on which il rests
The support, however, of these principles must
depend on the union Of tho state as ii likewise
must on contentment among the people, s. hsr-
mony In ts councils II either part thinks itself
oppressed, II viii he Disconnected and ,unllapny
The affection of each part should he promoted on
equal and just principles, towards The others Our
system OF government Is new, and we find little
cause Tor consolation in the example ard fate OF
other republics, AL Of which have failed Mu.,h
light will be thrown The subject, in every
branch of the discussion which will be given to
IT, by the very able men who will be placed in
chat body. Should he elected to it, it will be- my
OBJECT to adopt such amendments as will corres
ponh with the great principles To which Won al
Jude; maintain equal liberty among our fellow-ci
liens; inspire confidence; promote affection; and
bind the State. in all is parts, closely ,oseth-
err am, dear sir, with great respec, and esteem,
your obedient servant, JAMES MONROE
Messrs. C. F. Mercer, and WIN. r. T. Mason,
have explained their views 10 the Loudoun Com.
mittee MIR. Ludwell Lee declines accepting
He modesly says; "When think of the gf eat re-
sponsbIiy of the office, the magnitude of the OBJ
jcct to he accomplished, the length of time which
has elapsed since my mind has been particularly
turned to contcmp'ations OF ths kind; and, above
all, when look round about me, and see the mass
OF talents, information, and civic virtue, possessed
by my conntrymcn, which must and will be called
out on this important business, feel cannot do
better, than, in humble retirement 10 wait the is-
sue of their useful abours"
Mcssrs. Briscoe G.. Baldwin and John II Pew
ton, have separately explained their Views 10 the
District of Augusta Further notice OF these in
our next)-Letters too, have been published in
the Staunton Spectator, written by Mr.. Chapman
johnson OF this City; which, on account of pecu-
liar circumstances. many of our readers are anx-
ious tosee-and being short in themselves, may
be thrown into the only space which we have this
day TO reserve TO this subject:
'Riehno1,a 18th .qpril, 1920
"DEAR SIR: have received the letter address,
ed to me by yourself and fourteen others OF nv
lripn in uf,ir Jae;-o 4
dress my answer 20 you; and avail myself of the
first return mail to comply with that request
should be very ungra,eful il were 10
withhold my sincere thanks, tor the interest which
This letter maniiests in my election and for the
personal confidence in me, OF which it is the
evidence. / wish could feel myself more worthy
Of Them.
90 The liberaIity and Kindness of your letter,
written in the spirit OF personal friendship not in
that of political catechism require from me an un.
IhesitatlDg and frank answer
" On the subject of the convention I have writ
ten iour letters to Saun,on, one to Mr.. Kinney
which you mention, one TO Mr.. Peyton, another
10 Thos. Niche, and the fourth TO Dr. Coalter
10 these, must beg leave to refer, You as
containing opinions which yet remain unaItered
" You are certainly right in surprising that the
arguments which used to dissuadc the people
from a call of convention can in no manner com
nit me as TO the measures which may be propos-
| ed in convention for reforming the constituton-
certainly used no argument which | did not
think perfectly fair, and entirely sound and as
Tar as remember them, am still of the same
opinion. But that occasion very different
from the one which the convention itself will pre-
sent IL was then proper TO offer all fair apollo
sies, even for the acknowledged defects OF the
constitution, in order to save from danger all in
it that regarded valuable. In convention il will
be proper TO enquire only how its good principles
may be preserved, its defects corrected. ( even
| then offered the best apology | could, for the
| great defect have always acknowledged and la
| mented, the inequality of representation 1t
would be my first duty now to correct it, While
| then said that the Executive department was
| not organized according to my taste, endeavour-
ed TO point out many advantages that il really DOS.
sessed asreasons why should not be altogeth-
| er out OF humour with i'll should not now hest
| tate to attempt its reform.
| "Since the large majority has desired conven-
| ton, one has been more decidedly ofop,nion
that it ought TO be organized, without further de-.
| lay;-and am sincerely DESTROYS to see all the
| acknowledged defects Of the constitution amended
NOT, however, with the hand of mere innovator,
theorist, visionary schemer, who dreams that
every thing may be made periect,-but with the
| hand of prudence and wisdom, which gives up
nothing that has been found good in practice, ex-
cept Tor something which practice also has proven
TO be decidedly better.
e On the subject OF the right OF suffrage must
again repeat that set great value upon the land
ed qualification.-Wbether the estate be freehold
| or for term Of several years, whether yon regu.
| late the quantum by the number of &C !. 4, or the
value, is not very materially the value at which il
was assessed on the COMMISSIONER books would
probably be best-and that value should not be
| fixed hight should be 20 regulated as to in
| clude all those whose landed possessions were not
merely nominal. At this point should prefer 10
stop if were left to decide for myself according
TO my present lights on the subject-becAuse, go.