Virginia advocate. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1827-1860, 1829-10-09

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difficult emergencies, from the most i'm
Portant OF which trusts have lately retir
Led, cannot otherwise than feel with grea
senslbility. this proof Of the high conf
denco of this very enlightened and resoec
table assembly. 1t was my earnest hop,
aud desire, that very distinguished citi
zen and friend who has preceded me il
several of these high trusts, and who had
ia just claim 70 thstsprccedence, shoult
have taken tbisstation, and deeply re
greet the considerations which have Undue
ed him to decline il. The proofs of hi.
very important services, aud the purity Of
bis life will go down to our latest pos
terity and his example, aided by that o.
Iothers, whom Ineed not mention, will give
q strong prop to our free system of govern,
regret my appointment from another
conSidefation: a fear that | shall not be a.
bic 70 discharge the duties of the trust with
advantage to my Country.-I have neyeS
before held such station, and am igno-
rant Of the rules of this House, have
also, been afflicted of late, with sinHrfiiiy:
which still exists TO a degree, to form
serious obstacle. - Being placed. however
here, Twill exert my best faculties, phys
zeal and mentaI, such as they aye. sieve
~ pazard - ~ $. 5szfi, 80, ,h..
Country.
This assembly is called for the most
important object. is to amend our Con-
stitution, and therebK give new support
to our system OF free republican govern,
ment; our Constitu4oh " as the first that
was formed in the Union, and it has been
in operation since I'VE had at that Pc
rod, the examples only of,he ancient re-
publics before us,--we have now the ex-
perIence Of more than half century of
this, our own Constitution, and of those
OF all our sister States. ifit has defects
as l think it has, experience will have
pointed them out, and the ability and in
tegrity Of this enlightened body, will re-
commend such alterations. as it deems
proper TO our constituents, in whom the
power oil adopting or rejecting them is ex-
clusively vested.
All other republics have failed Those
oil Rome and Greece exist only in history
In the territories which they ruled, we
see the ruins oil ancient buildings only
the governments have persisted, and the
inhabitants exhibit state of decreptude
aud wretchedness, which is frightlul to
those who visit them.
On the subject Of order, and the method
OF proceeding, | need not say any thing to
this assembly. The importance OF the
call. and the manner of election, gave am
pie assurance that no danger need be ap-
pretended on that subject. Our fellow
citizens, in the elections they have made,
have looked to the great cause at issue,
and selected those whom they thought
most competent to its duties-They have
not devoted themselves to individuals but
have regarded principle, and sought to Sc
cure it In this [ see strong ground to
contide in the stability and success of our
system. 1t inspires me with equal conf
dence, that the result Of your labours will
correspond with their most sanguine
hopes.
Mr.. Gordon then moved that the Con-
vent'on proceed,o the election of Clerk
and nominated Mr. Spotswood Garland
OF Nelson. as suitable candidate.
Mr.. B. w. Leigh proposed the name oil
Mr.. Geo. w. Munford Of this city, late
Clerk of the House Of Delegates.
MIR. Doddridge, that Of Erasmus Strib.
bling Of Augusta.
Mr.. Morris, that Of Edmund Pendleton
of Caroline.
Mr.. Green, that Of David j. Briggs, and
| Mr. Stanard, that of Thomas b. Barton
These nominations were accompanied
| with recommendatory remarks, and ir
some cases with documentary testimon,
In favour of the respective candidates.
Two ballots being had, the second re-
suited in the election of Mr. Munford.
Mr.. Doddridge now stated that at a for
mel Convention, the rules of the House o
Delegates had been adopted, SO far a:
they would apply, to regulate the proceed
ings in conformity with that preceden
he then proposed the following resolution
ResolUed, That the Rules of the late
House of Delegates, be adopted by thi
Convention, as rules to govern its proceed
ings and deliberations so far as they apply
The resolution vas adopted
On motion CT Mr.. Mccoy, the Conven
ton then proceeded to elect Serieant a
Arms.
Mr.. Powell nominated as suitable per
son for that situation Mr.. VIM. RandolpI
of Frederick county.
MIR, Cabell nominated Col. James Saw
rNf Loo -